“Pardon me, my lord,” Gideon replied, “but how can I save Israel? My clan is the weakest in Manasseh, and I am the least in my family.” (Judges 6:15)
I’ve got a whole list of reasons for why God shouldn’t use me. I talk too much. I’m a hypocrite. I care too much about myself. I don’t exemplify a servant’s heart. I have too many opinions. The list goes on an on.
The truth is, when God asks us to do something, we can all come up with a lot of reasons for why God would be better off looking for someone else. I’m afraid. I have a shady past. I’m not very good at _________. I’d be better at _________.
I’m not sure what your list looks like, but my guess is that you have one. What that list really is is a list of excuses.
If we truly saw God for who He is, then we wouldn’t be at all concerned about our inabilities because we’d realize that God’s glory is magnified when He works through those who are completely incapable.
More than you being good at whatever God asks you to do, He simply wants you to be willing to do it.
God can do incredible things through the life that is in full submission to Him – regardless of that person’s abilities or inabilities. His power far outweighs the excuses that you or I can come up with of why we can’t serve Him.
The next time God leads you to do something, take a few minutes to rethink your list. Your abilities really don’t matter in the situation; what matters is your willingness.
Father, I am so quick to come up with reasons for why I can’t serve You or why I am not really the person You’re looking for in a given situation. Please give me courage to overcome my list of excuses and to simply trust Your promptings in my life – knowing that You will make up for my inadequacies wherever You call me to go and whatever You call me to do.
[…] It’s not that God wants weak people, per se. In fact, as you look at some of the people that God has used over time, there have been some very strong people (like Samson, David’s mighty men, Saul, etc.). There is, however, an important lesson to be learned that builds on yesterdays devotional thought (see “Rethink Your List”). […]