Last Sunday in church our pastor spoke of being inconvenienced for God. The questions he asked have stayed with me all week long and have caused me to do some careful consideration of what exactly I am willing to do for God. Or... how willing I am for God to move in my life in a great and mighty way.
When he first asked us the question "Are you willing to be inconvenienced for God?" I wasn't exactly sure what he was trying to say. I was puzzled because I had never thought of God as an inconvenience in my life. However, I quickly discovered the angle he was going with this sermon.
Yes, I want God to be with me wherever I go. Yes, I want God to be a part of my life. Yes, I want to have a relationship with God.
But, would I rather have God move in my life in a quiet way so that others may not notice? Or, do I want to be so joyful in the Lord that I openly and publicly praise His name wherever I go? When I do this, am I willing to open myself up to possible criticisms of those around me?
Do I just want God to be in our Sunday worship services and move quietly throughout the congregation? Or, am I willing for Him to move in such a way that the praises and the sharing continue throughout the day and we miss our Sunday lunch plans? Or, miss the Sunday afternoon football game?
Do I want to have God with me, spend time with Him, but continue to live my daily life of family and career according to what I think is right? Or, am I willing to take the risk of moving away from all that I hold dear in order to follow a different path that God has planned for me?
In the time I have spent this week on these questions, I have discovered that I am not as willing to be inconvenienced for God as I would like to be. I struggle with the thought of the unknown places God could take me and my family if we were open to anything He may have in store for us. I worry far too much about what people think of me to proclaim God's praises from the rooftops. I prefer to let people see God in my life in a quiet way. And, while that can be good... there may be people that don't see God in my life because I am TOO quiet in my walk with the Lord
In the weeks to come I will be praying about this very topic in my own life and the life of my family. I desire to have the type of willingness where it doesn't matter what God asks of me. I desire the type of willingness where it doesn't matter how He may move in our lives.
How about you? Are you willing to be inconvenienced for God?
When he first asked us the question "Are you willing to be inconvenienced for God?" I wasn't exactly sure what he was trying to say. I was puzzled because I had never thought of God as an inconvenience in my life. However, I quickly discovered the angle he was going with this sermon.
Yes, I want God to be with me wherever I go. Yes, I want God to be a part of my life. Yes, I want to have a relationship with God.
But, would I rather have God move in my life in a quiet way so that others may not notice? Or, do I want to be so joyful in the Lord that I openly and publicly praise His name wherever I go? When I do this, am I willing to open myself up to possible criticisms of those around me?
Do I just want God to be in our Sunday worship services and move quietly throughout the congregation? Or, am I willing for Him to move in such a way that the praises and the sharing continue throughout the day and we miss our Sunday lunch plans? Or, miss the Sunday afternoon football game?
Do I want to have God with me, spend time with Him, but continue to live my daily life of family and career according to what I think is right? Or, am I willing to take the risk of moving away from all that I hold dear in order to follow a different path that God has planned for me?
In the time I have spent this week on these questions, I have discovered that I am not as willing to be inconvenienced for God as I would like to be. I struggle with the thought of the unknown places God could take me and my family if we were open to anything He may have in store for us. I worry far too much about what people think of me to proclaim God's praises from the rooftops. I prefer to let people see God in my life in a quiet way. And, while that can be good... there may be people that don't see God in my life because I am TOO quiet in my walk with the Lord
In the weeks to come I will be praying about this very topic in my own life and the life of my family. I desire to have the type of willingness where it doesn't matter what God asks of me. I desire the type of willingness where it doesn't matter how He may move in our lives.
How about you? Are you willing to be inconvenienced for God?
9 Thoughts Shared:
Thank you for this encouraging post. I am reminded to live my life for God and be willing to do what He wants me to do so that others may see Him and glorify Him even in my life. Though I am weak, He is strong.
May God keep you near to Him and honour your desire to glorify Him in your life. Take care. Have a blessed week!
Excellent (& challenging) insights. I like to think I'm willing, yet I know sometimes when something isn't going as quickly" or "easily" as I think it should, my attitude can sometimes change. I'll be thinking on this one...
and that's a good thing. Thanks.
Blessings,
Tracy
maybe after i get some sleep.... lol j/king.. yes, though I do struggle with being tired b/c of the kids... if God wants to use me I'm all for it; even if it makes me sick.. which i've had happen before. I'm trying to have a better attitude than I used to have over when he chooses things for me and to follow him more closely!
Forgot to mention I love the new look of your site! (Loved the old look, too!)
Makes me think about a new look for mine, too! = )
Tracy
Thanks for giving me something to think about and ponder...
I like to think that I am available for whatever God wants me to do whenever He wants me to do it, but that really is very hard, I am very selfish with my time and find that I have to surrender my time, my plans, and my agenda to Him quite often so that I can pick up His.
Thanks for sharing!
I'm glad you shared this to us, Melanie. Very encouraging! God has a plan and purpose in each of our lives. It us up to us also if we want to be used by Him. :)
That's a good challenge for all of us. We can get so caught up in the conveniences of this life that we miss what God has in store for us, if only we would follow Him instead of thinking of ourselves.
Excellent post. Very thought provoking and soul searching! Thank you! And may God be honored in all we do and may His will be done.
THanks for visiting my blog and posting the comment yesterday. I came over a just got carried away reading your post. This one hit me where it hurts though. I want to be used by God but just how badly is the question. I have changed alot in the last 2 years from conviction. But there is still alot to be done. Thanks for the Godly wisdom today. by the way I noticed that you are from Texas too. I am over in East Texas. Bout 30 miles from La. and about 2 hours north from the coast.
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