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 It is easier to serve or to work for God without a vision and without a call, because then you are not bothered by what He requires. Common sense, covered with a layer of Christian emotion, becomes your guide. You may be prosperous from the world’s perspective, and will have more leisure time, if you never acknowledge the call of God. But once you receive a commission from Jesus Christ, the memory of what God asks of you will always be there to prod you on to do His will. You will no longer be able work for Him on the basis of common sense.

What do I count in my life as “dear to myself?” If I have not been seized by Jesus Christ and have not surrendered myself to Him, I will consider the time I decide to give God and my own ideas of service as dear. I will also consider my own life as “dear to myself.” But Paul said he considered his life dear so that he might fulfill the ministry he had received, and he refused to use his energy on anything else. This verse shows an almost noble annoyance by Paul at being asked to consider himself. He was absolutely indifferent to any consideration other than that of fulfilling the ministry he had received. Our ordinary and reasonable service to God may actually compete against our total surrender to Him. Our reasonable work is based on the following argument which we say to ourselves, “Remember how useful you are here, and think how much value you would be in that particular type of work.” That attitude chooses our own judgment, instead of Jesus Christ, to be our guide as to where we should go and where we could be used the most. Never consider whether of not you are of use – but always consider that “you are not your own” (1 Corninthians 6:19),You are His.
 

I decided to take the whole upper portion of the blog from my daily devotional, ” The Utmost for His Highest” because it really spoke to me. Especially the last line that said, “Never consider whether of not you are of use – but always consider that “you are not your own” (1 Corninthians 6:19),You are His.

I used ask this all the time. Lord, how can I be of use to You? Or I pray, If only I could be of use to Him. This asking of questions or praying this way comes from a standpoint of being lowly and not very confident. Not confident in myself and it also sounds not confident in God’s plan and His abilities. He is God and I am His. You are His! The question is have we given ourselves to Him? Have we surrendered ourselves to His will? What is His call on your life, my life?

These are the questions we should be asking. Instead of the silly question of, HOW. He uses the willing. There aren’t many that surrender their lives to God and the call on their lives. Probably because most of us are too busy to slow down and listen to His voice. And then when one may hear His voice… there is still the choice to obey it.

Jesus said, “The harvest is truly plentiful, but the workers are few. Therefore pray the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into His harvest.”   (Matt 9:37-38)                                                                                                           

In my case He started to birth a desire to speak to women, to encourage them and help them to live in freedom and to know and understand their identity in Christ. The teachings of Joyce Meyer every morning on tv aided in this desire. I watched her and began to want to do what she does. I didn’t think much of it for a while and then I started thinking about it all the time. Just like the Race.

I don’t really know how this desire will play out. Nor do I care. God knows the desires of the heart He gave us. (Psalm 37:4) Delight yourself in the Lord and He will give you the desires of your heart.

There are so many things I am learning. What it looks like and feels like to Live in my Identity in Christ. To recognize temptations and desires and Laying them Down at His Feet. To cling to the Peace and Freedom Jesus died to give me… and to be a good steward of all of my blessings… So much, so much. And in the meantime… Our gracious God blesses me enough to be a blessing to others.                             
How much love is that!
Unconditional love. Indescribeable Love. 

I just have to continue to Choose Him. Continue to have a willing heart and an open mind. Surrender myself to His will and allow Him to do His work. Not needing to concern my self with HOW I can be of use. TRUST Him that He uses the willing.

I encourage you to consider yourself not your own. To give yourself to God… He will start to show up and sometimes it’s not always easy to surrender. But it is SO freeing and always worth it.

 

Praise God right now for Who His IS, 
                             What He’s done for you,
                                        and Who He calls you to be…