Inside my self-created spotlight, the pressure is on. I enter "spiritual settings' -- church, Bible study, prayer meeting, small group etc. -- and immediately try to prove that I am qualified to be there.
I get anxious if I don't have any wise words to improve the conversation or any jaw-dropping answers to a discussion question. When it's my turn to pray, I feel like I'm walking down the red carpet, "don't trip, don't stumble over your words".
Living under man-made pressure steals our joy and prevents us from living in the fullness of Christ's freedom.
Praise the Lord that He works through our weaknesses. We feel drained. We miss our quiet time. We stumble over our words. Our minds blank. We can't think of anything to talk about. We can't remember her name. We have no idea how to answer that question. Our thoughts keep wandering.
May we never let our weaknesses hinder our ministry opportunities.
We are free to draw strength from God's character and promises at any moment. May our frustrating, yet humbling shortcomings prompt us to take the pressure off of us and on to Christ, where it belongs.
Find Security in Him
Our relationship with God is not dependent on what we say or don't say. Nor is it dependent on what people think about our spiritual life.
If you desire others to see your passion for God more than you seek to follow Him when no one else is looking, this might be a sign you are serving man and not God.
Take a look at Paul's approach to speaking Truth to the Church:
God cares more about our heart than our religious performance, our inward devotion to Him than our outward display of affection.
When we walk into a room filled to the brim with God's unconditional love and an overwhelming desire to please Him, we will not need any affirmation or recognition from people (or even ourselves) to make us feel like "good enough" Christians.
We speak not as people dependent on man's approval, but as daughters already approved by the King.
If you desire others to see your passion for God more than you seek to follow Him when no one else is looking, this might be a sign you are serving man and not God.
Take a look at Paul's approach to speaking Truth to the Church:
For the appeal we make does not spring from error or impure motives, nor are we trying to trick you. On the contrary, we speak as those approved by God to be entrusted with the gospel. We are not trying to please people but God, who tests our hearts. 1 Thessalonians 1:2-6
God cares more about our heart than our religious performance, our inward devotion to Him than our outward display of affection.
When we walk into a room filled to the brim with God's unconditional love and an overwhelming desire to please Him, we will not need any affirmation or recognition from people (or even ourselves) to make us feel like "good enough" Christians.
We speak not as people dependent on man's approval, but as daughters already approved by the King.
Learn From Others
Only let each person lead the life that the Lord has assigned to him, and to which God has called him. 1 Corinthians 7:17
We know God uniquely created His Children. He gave each of us different spiritual gifts, personalities, and talents. Furthermore, each of us grow at different rates and walk along different parts of the Christian path toward eternal glory.
And that's okay. Instead of feeling threatened by another Believer with wise words or passion for the Lord, we can learn from them. God has so much to teach us through His people.
It's not about us. It's about God and how He wants to work through His children. He may not use you to light up the room with God's Truth. He may use your friend.
Instead of impressing people with your love for Jesus, God might want you to be quiet and learn from others. Instead of crafting a perfectly phrased prayer, He may want to bless you through someone else's prayer.
Trust God To Use You
God will use you in His way and His timing. And it may not look like leading a killer Bible Study or quoting just the right Bible verse to a hurting friend. It may look like quietly listening to someone's day or helping your hostess clean dishes after small group.God's purpose and plan does not rely on our ability to perform (Praise Him!).
The pressure is not on us to build up the Church. If it were completely up to us, our pride would render our works useless and our weakness would greatly disappoint us.
That's why Paul prayed this over the Thessalonian church:
To this end we always pray for you, that our God may make you worthy of his calling and may fulfill every resolve for good and every work of faith by his power, so that the name of our Lord Jesus may be glorified in you, and you in him, according to the grace of our God and the Lord Jesus Christ. 2 Thessalonians 1:11-12
Trust God to give you the spiritual gifts and power to do what your faith prompts you to do.
It's only by and through God's grace that we can minister to others. We don't have to depend on our own knowledge, energy, or spiritual "fire" because it's God's energy in us that fulfills our resolve for good works.
And when God does bless us with the opportunity to serve others in word and deed, He gets the glory, not us. Amen!
Let's rest in God's acceptance, humbly allowing Him to use us and others to shine the spotlight on His beautiful face.
No comments:
Post a Comment