Many of us can
probably say, we have been there, In one form or another. Like, Moses we may have said, I can't speak;
Like, Jeremiah who said, I am too young I can't speak but, How many of us are
out Like, Jonah? Running. Uh, uh no not me, Lord!
READING: The Book of
Jonah
Has God ever asked,
you to do something, speak to someone, encourage someone and you felt like nah,
that's just me? Asked, you to say something in Church? You say, They won't
believe me, I am scared to speak in front
of people. I can't do that. Has anyone ever told you - you are called into the
ministry/ have a calling on your life. Did you stop going to church altogether.
You are not alone many of us have struggled with dis-obedience from God's calling or simply telling us to speak
to someone, give a certain offering, pray for someone or go somewhere.
I will say this…
"YOU CAN RUN, BUT YOU CAN'T HIDE!"
God does not take no
for an answer, neither is there an excuse to justify our saying , no. Jonah by
running from God stepped out of the will of God and out of fellowship with God,
due to his disobedience.
I remember, the
first time God told me to do something publicly, I was in my late 20's. I was
shaking in my boots, "Oh, Lawd" and it was a big church not mega but
big. I looked around at all those people and the first thing the devil said, in
my ear was they are not going to believe you but he didn't have to say,
anything I was just scared…So, I sat there. That thing, and I still remember
word for word it stuck with me day after day, week after week; I could not
rest, Uh I could not shake it, uh. I saw my
Pastor at the time outside watering the grass at the church and I told
myself "okay, I'm going to do it." I walked, over to him and told him
what the Lord, told me to say. He said, "I receive it!" I walked down
the street so proud of myself , Happy, that I obeyed the Lord; I could have
skipped home and at that very moment the Lord said, that is Not, how I told you
to do it. My whole countenance fell and so did my head. That was the worse
feeling to have disappointed God.
I Thank God, for his
mercy and his Grace for he is a God of second chances. He truly knows your
heart just do not use, misuse or abuse his Grace. Again, he knows your heart.
The Lord grows and stretches us outside of our comfort zone. He is full aware
of where we are when, we feel incapable, un-worthy, nervous, anxious, and
scared to do those things he has called
us to do.
But, He knows the
plans he has for us . Regardless, of
how we feel, we MUST be OBEDIENT! Feelings do not move God but, Faith does!
Jonah, Ran from God he went through all that and still didn't get away from
what God purposed for him. Running did not void him of doing what God said, to
do. "What God has for you is for you!
YOU CAN RUN, BUT YOU
CAN'T HIDE!
Acknowledge, your
faults ask God, to forgive you for being dis-obedient. Get it right from here
on and be OBEDIENT is better than Sacrifice. What you feel Incapable or
Disabled to do… God, has already, Enabled You!
