May 3, 2010

 What's Stopping You?

Do you know what God has called you to do? Do you know where your Canaan is, to teach, serve the elderly, preach, encourage, visit the sick and shut in or console the grieving? Whatever it is there are people waiting for you to act. Your silence or inability to act serves no one especially not God or the people that He has specifically called you to help.

Many of us have had an idea about something God called us to but have been afraid to walk in it.

• Afraid of the rejection.
• Afraid we were not good enough.
• Afraid we did not know enough.
• Afraid that someone would find out about our past or our issues. Somebody might just find out that we were not perfect under our Christian mask.

If you are afraid remember, 2 Timothy 1:7, For God has not given us a spirit of fear and timidity, but of power, love, and self-discipline.

Many have stopped short of what God called them to because of laziness. The calling of God requires a commitment and a sacrifice from the worldly comforts of TV and nothingness. Are we really ready to put our hands to the plow and not look back at Haran or Egypt (our places of comfort and worldly enjoyment)? Maybe you still want to hang out and have a good time and the truth is that you can live a life for Christ, doing what you have been called to do and have an awesome time doing it. It may not be in the same places or with the same people but you will enjoy it.

Maybe you think somebody else can or will do it. Somebody that has a better relationship with God than you have or somebody that is more knowledgeable or more spiritual. Maybe there is but God chose you.

Maybe you are still thinking that life is all about you and what you want and you have not yet decided that it is about God and what He wants to do in, for and through you.

Before you can move on you have to:

• Identify where you are going. What has He told you to do? Where is your Canaan/calling?
• Identify and deal with what is stopping you, no matter what it is.
• Keep focused on the fact that what you have been called to do is not about you it is about God and His Kingdom. It’s bigger than you. This was my struggle. The fear left me when I really realized it was not about me, there are people waiting for me to do what God called me to do.
• Depend on God and not yourself to complete the task and get the job done. Many struggle because they think they have to do it when the truth is that if God does not do it through you it can’t be done, whatever it is. Many limit themselves by thinking they are doing it on their own, so they think they can’t do it when the bible specifically tells us we can do all things through Jesus Christ who gives us strength (Philippians 4:13). God never expected us to do it on our own.

Don’t allow your time of preparation to be wasted. What did you learn in Haran? Make every experience and every opportunity a meaningful one. If you were abused, learn how to listen to others that were abused and share your story of getting through it. If God is calling you into leadership use this time to learn how to lead when it is not your turn. The training is free and you can learn from the successes and failures of others. Watch how others do it and learn from it. Allow God to show you your own personal style, but never say what you can’t do because you are not limiting yourself you are actually putting limits on God.

If you are really on the path God has for you, don’t expect to be comfortable. Fighting to be comfortable will stop you from reaching your God ordained destination at the most and put it on delay at the least. Either way someone is going to miss out because of your comfort.

God has something for each one of us to do. Our callings are different and the places where we are called to do them are different, but we are called. We cannot be afraid of our differences or of each other. God can call many of us to do the same thing because it is about the kingdom, hook up so we can cover more territory.

We are all puzzle pieces in the kingdom and it is important that we put our piece on the board to be used by God. No jealousy and no competition. Each piece interconnects to complete the big picture, building God’s kingdom. When God gave us New Beginnings I was sure it was going to be all about physical fitness and I was the secretary. My friends will tell you I had it all figured out. Fortunately or unfortunately, God had another plan. I was not going to be the secretary, but a preacher, teacher, encourager, leader and partner. His plan was much more than I would have ever imagined, but with His calling comes His preparation.

I got in His way a lot. I regret that, but I am so grateful that we are past that now and I have a better understanding. You can always see more clearly on the other side of a thing. There is no reason for me to be afraid of anything, because He is in control and He is with us. It was a blessing when I finally realized it was not about me in the way I thought it was. It was about me becoming what He wanted me to be and doing what He wanted me to do. In the process He changed me and He changed what I thought was important. With those changes came a change of heart, a new compassion for His people and the ability to do my natural job in a different way, with His heart.

My everyday job is manager of U-Haul’s Equipment Recovery Department. Yes, people take stuff that does not belong to them, but He has shown me how to work with people that find themselves in desperate situations in these economic times. I am a far cry from the woman who would take it to the fullest extent of the law without blinking. Those who know me can see the change, change brought about by my time in Haran and God’s equipping for my purpose. A new love and compassion for people.

If your focus is on your own personal issues and comforts you are not where God needs and wants you to be to fulfill your calling, because the kingdom is not about you, it’s about Him.

To complete the assignment, He has to be first. What concerns Him has to be your primary concern. What He wants has to be more important that what you want. If He calls you to go to the desert of Africa, to minister to the starving children, are you ready to go? If He tells you to stay in that job or ministry that you really dislike will you stay there with a positive attitude and support the vision and plan. Do you know that every opportunity whether good or bad is an opportunity for you to learn and grow in your relationship with Him?

Tomorrow is not promised to any of us, nor is it promised to those God has called us to minister to, so it is important that we obey the scripture in John 9:4:
4 We must quickly carry out the tasks assigned us by the one who sent us.[a] The night is coming, and then no one can work. I don’t want to be guilty of putting my calling on delay because of my attitude or inaction and missing any of what God has called me to do. The truth is that while we are standing still and whining people are dying, spiritually, mentally, emotionally, relationally and physically. I don’t want the blood on my hands.

I don’t know where God has called you. I don’t know if your Canaan is the hospital, your job, family, the mission field, the government, the homeless, the prison, street witnessing, teaching, evangelizing the lost, preaching, encouraging, ministering to singles, the married or to the drug addicted. Where ever it is, identify what is stopping you and get back on track doing the work of He who sent you. Don’t stand around looking any more or trying to figure it out any more. The bible is clear our ways our not His ways and His thoughts are higher than our thoughts (Isaiah 55:8-9). We will never figure out God. Don’t look at what others are doing or try to compare yourself to them any more. Ask Him what He wants you to do and do it. God chose you for His purpose so walk in it.

Matthew 28:18-20 says, 18 -20Jesus, undeterred, went right ahead and gave his charge: "God authorized and commanded me to commission you: Go out and train everyone you meet, far and near, in this way of life, marking them by baptism in the threefold name: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Then instruct them in the practice of all I have commanded you. I'll be with you as you do this, day after day after day, right up to the end of the age."
You and I have been commissioned and charged to do the work of Him who sent us, without fear of rejection or fear of what people might say.

As you move forward in your calling, kill your flesh, pray for a greater boldness (no fear) and pray to be uncomfortable in anything less than the calling of God on your life.
Walk in your calling!

Scripture:
Matthew 28:18-20:
 18 -20 Jesus, undeterred, went right ahead and gave his charge: "God authorized and commanded me to commission you: Go out and train everyone you meet, far and near, in this way of life, marking them by baptism in the threefold name: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Then instruct them in the practice of all I have commanded you. I'll be with you as you do this, day after day after day, right up to the end of the age."