Have you ever thought or said, "If only I knew that God wanted me to do this or that," or "If only God would speak to me, then I would do it!"? While it sounds logical and spiritual, it isn't necessarily true, as we will see in this Memo. Who do you think I will pick from the Bible as a character to prove this point? If you guessed Gideon, you guessed correctly.
IT CAN'T BE ME!
In Judges 6, we see that the angel of the Lord came to give Gideon his assignment of liberating the Jews from the Midianites. Yet Gideon engaged the angel in conversation, explaining why he (Gideon) could not be the one. I'm sure you have never done this, but Gideon felt that circumstances were too awful and he was too insignificant to do what God was sending him to do.
Perhaps you have calmly explained to God and others the reasons why you are not the one to accomplish some great purpose. You have pointed out that you are too young, too old, the wrong gender, undereducated and inexperienced. Even though you too may have had an angel of the Lord visit you, you have dismissed the call as irrelevant, saying something similar to what Gideon said: "But Lord." Gideon asked, "How can I save Israel? My clan is the weakest in Manasseh, and I am the least in my family" (Judges 6:15). So it isn't always the case that if God were to speak to you, you would know and automatically do His will and purpose.
A DOUBLE LOCK
God shared with Gideon two keys to success. Those keys worked for Gideon and they will work for you. The first key is found in Judges 6:14: "Go in the strength you have and save Israel out of Midian's hand. Am I not sending you?" Gideon felt like he needed more strength if he was to go; the Lord told him to go in the strength that he had and it would be enough.
You can insert many words in that verse and they would all be keys to purposeful success. "Go in the time you have; go in the wisdom you have; go in the knowledge you have; go with the gifts you have; go in the faith you have; go with the money you have." You won't get any more of anything until you create the need for it, so it's best to start right where you are today and obey God with what you have now.
The second key is in verse 16: "The Lord answered, "I will be with you, and you will strike down all the Midianites together." When God speaks to you to do something, you become partners with God. You and God always comprise an insurmountable majority, no matter how improbable your success may seem to you at the start.
So there you have it. It may not be enough for God to speak to you, for your bias against yourself and your abilities may try to overrule God. If you are to go and do anything, you must go in the strength you have today, but you can go in the confidence that God goes with you. If you can remember to use those keys this week, I know you will have a turnaround week.
Feel free to write a comment to this entry on the site where it is posted.
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RETURN HOME: As I write this, I am packing in Kenya to head for home. It was a great visit but I am ready to get back to work at home. I visited the ministries who are receiving The Sophia Fund money and I was pleased with what I saw. I will have a report for you soon.
I am also planning to start what I am calling The Deborah Foundation, which will begin to establish children's libraries and learning centers around Kenya. I will announce a special Christmas promotion when I will ask you to buy an educational toy or book for the children (ages 8 and under) and send it me. I will then transport them over and set up three such centers next year. Watch this space for more information in the weeks to come of how you can buy a toy for the Kids in Kenya.
And don't forget to give your $5 or more to The Sophia Fund. When you see the pictures and read my report, I know you will see what a good investment it is and how much good it is doing.
blessed amazed and in awe of God and the way in which He uses you every week to 'say' the right things.God bless you Dr John for teaching me about purpose and SO many other things which prove to be invaluable on a daily basis.I am blessed to have met you and served you and I know that I have found my purpose.."to make a difference" Pat Irvine
Posted by: Pat Irvine | October 05, 2009 at 07:03 AM
Dr. John, you are beating a familiar drum of yours here, and I love the tune! I can say from personal experience that one of the profoundly impactful ways that God has used to confirm His direction to my wife and I in our orphan care ministry is through people who have prayed prophetically over us. No angels necessary, just ordinary people praying for us! Whenever we have the opportunity, we go up for prayer from visiting preachers and from friends and prayer intercessors we know. It is simply a laughing joy to recall the number of times different people at different times have prayed the SAME THING over us! One thing my wife just reminded me about during our Saturday morning coffee time last weekend: After church one Sunday she had an impression to approach a visiting pastor from India who had just spoken to our congregation and was at his ministry table to speak with people (nobody was there and my wife wanted to encourage him!). She engaged in a conversation and was just taking a breath to speak a word to encourage him that God has shared with us before "If you take care of God's business, He will take care of yours". But before she could speak, HE TOLD HER THE EXACT SAME THING! You gotta laugh at that kind of "coincidence". If you get up to bat enough times, I know God will minister through His people to pray prophetically the specific kind of encouragement that will become a joyful list of His kind care for us!
Posted by: David Avilla | October 05, 2009 at 12:42 PM
One of my favorite stories !
It reminds me of something a friend and mentor told me once "You have to do it yourself and you can't do it alone."
Posted by: Mark Wood | October 05, 2009 at 01:00 PM
Thank you. I just started receiving the Monday Memo. I enjoyed the Taxi drive one as well. This one hit home more as I am in the process or reorganing my place. What a daunting task it is. So much to sort, keep, give away and just ditch. I have not yet started it again. :( It needs done and this memo adds to the feeling I been getting. I am not doing it on my own. God is willing to help. I have to start it and he will add to my strength and perserverance as I go. I have to take the first step. I also finished your Gold Mine Book. I have started on Covey's First things First. Then I will do the 7 Habits book after.
Posted by: Michelle Kovaly | October 07, 2009 at 12:10 AM