Am I making myself available to the Lord, so that He can equip me with the good work He has called me to do?
It’s easy to get distracted with the busyness of life and lose focus on what truly matters. “Seek ye first, His kingdom first.” The lyrics to the song, my South African friend sang, playing in my mind. That verse popped in my mind this morning, as it did twice yesterday.
“But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.”
Matthew 6:33
If my first priority is abiding with the Lord, asking Him what is important to Him, what He wants, all other things- my needs, desires, concerns- will fall into place.
Often times I have this the other way around, coming to Him with my needs, desires and concerns. Not pausing to ask Him what is on His heart, when really, I want what’s on His heart to be what’s on mine too.
I want badly to steward His gifts well- my time, resources, money and talents. These are all gifts from God, not to be used for my own pleasure.
Over the past month He has been speaking to me about good works, expanding my understanding of what it means. I have been operating for so long out of my own strength, striving to do good works. He has been showing me over and over again that He is the one responsible for creating the good works, not me. My current memory verse is:
“May the God of peace equip you with every good work to do His will, working in you what is pleasing in His sight, through Jesus Christ, to whom be the glory forever and ever. Amen.”
Hebrews 13:21
He is the one equipping me. I need to be available and willing. He is doing the work in me, through the Holy Spirit. It’s for His glory. This verse is exactly what I needed. Every time I recite it, my spirit sits up within me.
The scripture I was led to, to meditate on this morning was:
“Let Your work appear to Your servants
And Your glory to their children
And let the beauty of the Lord our God be upon us
And establish the work of our hands for us
Yes, establish the work of our hands.”
Psalm 90:16-17
The Lord will establish the work for me, the work of the Lord will appear to me. I don’t have to create it. It’s for His glory.
My Bible in a year reading last night was about how difficult it is for a rich man to get into heaven because he isn’t willing to let go of his money and possessions to follow Jesus. I felt convicted in that moment about the times I have hesitated to give, forgetting that it’s not mine to begin with, but He is trusting me with His gifts, to steward them well. Every time I give from what He has blessed me with, He blesses me again. He is the living water where I drink and He promises I will never go thirsty.
I was blessed to get away for a few days, to a place I have never been before. To marvel at the Lord’s creation. Whenever I am in the presence of mountains, it humbles me, reminding me of how small I am and how great He is. If the rocks cry out in silence, so will I. Everything was created for the pleasure of the sovereign Lord.
“For you shall go out in joy and be led forth in peace; the mountains and the hills before you shall break forth into singing, and all the trees of the field shall clap their hands.”
Isaiah 55:12
God, I surrender my life to You. You can have it all- every thought, action, behavior and desire. I want You to be glorified through me. So here I am, Lord. Take me, use me, send me, change me, clean me, transform me, love me and love others through me. Take all that I am and use it for Your glory. In Jesus’ name, Amen.