Equipped

I have a friend who loves to ride a bike. He doesn’t take a ride around the block. No. When he goes on a ride, it is for 25 to 50 miles. Before he goes, he makes certain he has various items to fix his bike should something go wrong. He makes sure he has plenty of water so he doesn’t get dehydrated. When he leaves his home, he is equipped for most any need for the task before him. He is prepared. He feels confident.

Do you have that kind of confidence when it comes to following God? Ever feel inadequate? Far too many times we balk at doing what God asks us to do because we feel inept.

We don’t have enough knowledge of scripture.

We don’t know how to talk.

We are not sure of ourselves.

We don’t think anyone would listen to us.

We cannot see beyond our weaknesses; so

We do not act upon the call of God in our lives.

We do not follow Him wherever He leads.

We do not reach out to that neighbor, that group, that family member.

We do not accept God’s challenge.

We forego opportunity after opportunity.

We keep looking unto ourselves…and

We falter; we procrastinate.

If this is you today, perhaps you will gain encouragement from the prayer from the writer of Hebrews. Ask God to help you receive this as your own prayer.

“May the God of peace, who through the blood of the eternal covenant brought back from the dead our Lord Jesus, that great Shepherd of the sheep, equip you with everything good for doing his will, and may he work in us what is pleasing to him, through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen.” Hebrews 13:20-21.

God gives us every single thing we need to accomplish the tasks He calls us to do. God equips us. We can do everything through the strength of Christ who dwells within us.

He knows our needs long before we know them.

He has the supply waiting.

He has the right person to aid us.

He has all the wisdom we need to discern what we cannot even imagine.

He has prepared the way for us.

All God wants is for us to be available, willing, and humbly yielded to His guiding Spirit.

PRAYER: Lord, let us turn to You and stop looking at ourselves. How proud we are that we think we could do anything without You. Thank You for allowing us to be part of building Your kingdom. Forgive us when we fail to follow immediately when You call our name. Amen.

© Hariette Petersen, SelahV Today, 2010, WB Journal