As we look to wrap up our series title "Put Me In, Coach," it occurred to me that having that life and work philosophy requires that we become efficacious people. Admit it, you didn't know efficacious was to be on your bucket list. If you are really honest, you may admit you don't even know what it means. That's fine, for I didn't know until about 15 years ago, but when I discovered the definition, I determined to become more efficacious with God's help. Let's look at the word and then an application for this week's lesson.
EFFICACY
The word efficacy simply means to make something happen or to cause something to take place. Whenever you have an idea you are making an efficacy appraisal, determining whether or not you can make something become a reality. If you think, "I should go back to school," you begin your efficacy appraisal and either talk yourself into the reality or out of it. You either think, "Yes, that will be enjoyable. I have wanted to do that for a while," or "My God, I haven't been in school for 20 years. I don't do well in math. I don't have the time. I don't have the money. This can't be the Lord."
Do you see how it works? Either you use your thinking and self-talk to move toward making something happen or preventing something from happening. You become either efficacious or inefficacious. It is important that you either trust the thoughts you have or reject them as foreigners and alien beings to be feared and eradicated.
It is interesting that you probably never have a thought that "I should be an astronaut or a nuclear scientist." Most of the ideas you have are related to something you have the capacity to do or learn to do. Your thought of going back to school would be for something you would enjoy learning: "I have wanted to study the Bible or art or psychology; this will be my chance." God isn't trying to trick or entrap you; He is working with you to make you the best and most productive person possible. With that confidence, you can say, "Put me in school, Coach! Put me in ministry, Coach! Put me in mission, Coach! Put me in business, Coach!" That attitude will make you an efficacious person.
AN EXAMPLE
In the book of Acts, Paul and his team were praying for the Lord to put them in the game of missions. They had been trying to go in one direction but the Spirit of Jesus did not permit them to go:
Paul and his companions traveled throughout the region of Phrygia and Galatia, having been kept by the Holy Spirit from preaching the word in the province of Asia. When they came to the border of Mysia, they tried to enter Bithynia, but the Spirit of Jesus would not allow them to. So they passed by Mysia and went down to Troas. During the night Paul had a vision of a man of Macedonia standing and begging him, “Come over to Macedonia and help us.” After Paul had seen the vision, we got ready at once to leave for Macedonia, concluding that God had called us to preach the gospel to them (Acts 16:6-10).
What can we learn from this passage to help us be efficacious? The team was actively seeking the Lord, and were in motion trying to find the open door. They trusted that the Lord was with them and wanted them to go in the game. When Paul had the dream, he was confident it was not a trick. The vision he had was not outlandish, but something they could and wanted to do. Then was the most important step in the story: they got ready at once to act. They did not need more confirmation or time to wait on the Lord. They packed their bags and became efficacious, causing the vision Paul had to become a reality.
Are you probing and experimenting to discover what position God wants you to play in the game? When you have an idea, are you immediately looking for a way to make it happen? Do you trust the Lord to guide and not trick or mislead you? If you answer yes to those questions, then you are on your way to becoming an efficacious person. If not, you have some work to do so you can stop being the biggest obstacle between you and the Lord's will for your life.
God is with you and not against you. Armed with that knowledge, you can be confident to step out and into the game, no matter what game God has assigned to you. When you do that, you will be God's partner as together you work to make a mark in the world only you two can make. When you don't do that, you will devote your energy and creativity to blocking instead of enhancing God's purpose for you. The choice is yours and I pray you choose efficacy. Have a blessed week!
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