If I’m being completely honest with all of you (and I’ve promised that I would be), I am an extremely selfish person. My every day life tends to be spent based on what I want, how I feel, what I need, who I feel like giving my time and attention to, and what I think would be best
That doesn’t leave much room, if any, for HIS agenda.
But I really just don’t have time for that today…
But I’m not ready to talk to that person yet…
But I still haven’t sorted through my own junk…
But I just need to get through this week first…
But I have so many things on my to do list…
But I’m definitely not qualified to do that…
But what will they think of me…?
But I’m comfortable right here where I’m at…
But is it even that big of a deal?
But you aren’t really asking THAT of me, are you Jesus?
That’s a lot of “buts”… Imagine that everyday when you wake up, the Lord gives you an empty “jar of availability” of which you have complete control. As you go throughout your day, you choose to fill that jar with every excuse, every obstacle, every negative thought about yourself, every bit of anger, lust, bitterness, jealously, selfishness, and sin that resides in your heart and in your mind. These fill the space in the jar, leaving it occupied.
Suddenly you become unavailable for the agenda the Lord wanted to accomplish in and through you that day.
The bad news is that you can’t get that day back. You can’t rewind… There are no do-overs.
The good news is that every single day, you receive a brand new jar. And what you do with it is completely your choice.
Everyday, I want to choose to give every ounce of space in that jar over to the Lord. When I begin to fill it with excuses, I want Him to whisper His forgiveness and love over me, reminding me that it’s okay to make mistakes, and that– If I would just humble myself and ask– He is more than willing to empty it for me… Over and over and over and over again. And He will never say no, no matter how many times I ask.
So.. what is taking up all of the space in your jar? What is keeping you from making yourself fully available to Him today?
I don’t know about you, but I want to choose to make myself unconditionally available to Him each and every day, because my purpose on this earth is to serve Him with all that I am, no matter how small or meaningless what I have to offer to may seem.
Jesus doesn’t list specific requirements of what we are to give Him… He just asks that whatever it is, we give it all.
“Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me. For whoever wants to save their life will lose it, but whoever loses their life for me and for the gospel will save it.” Mark 8:34-35
