Tag: ability

Seeking the Counsel and Might of the Lord

1 Corinthians 3:19
For the wisdom of the world is foolishness to God. As the Scriptures say, “He traps the wise in the snare of their own cleverness.”

Satan’s craftiness is witnessed in the way that he gets us to focus on good things that we are good at, knowing that we will find praise in our efforts. Satan in his cleverness knows that if he can get us to stay in our comfort zone, we will never meet our full potential. More importantly, Satan recognizes that in the process of relying on our own capabilities that we will completely by-pass God’s inspiration in our work.

It is easy for us to take on projects that we are comfortable with and ones in which we feel our probability of success is very high. There is nothing wrong with this position as long as we go to God for confirmation that the project is one that He ordains.

God inspired projects, however, are more likely to have us question our abilities to successfully complete them. God is not concerned about our capabilities. If He ordains something, it will be done. God is looking for the opportunity to have His power and His glory, not our capabilities, reflected in the things that we do. May we learn to seek the counsel and the might that He offers.

Let us forsake the wisdom that the world offers, lest we be trapped by our own pride. Let us seek Godly counsel in all things. Let us move forward with the urgings of the Holy Spirit, even if they are outside our comfort zone.

Prayer
Heavenly Father, we thank You for Your Holy Word that teaches how Jesus was interested in doing only those things that You asked Him to do. In Jesus’ life, every project was carried out in accordance with Your will. We pray, Father, that the Holy Spirit will teach us how to seek You first in all things. We pray for the grace to be able to accept and act upon the inspiration of the Holy Spirit. May all that we do be for Your glory. We ask all these things in the name of Our Blessed Hope and Assurance, Jesus Christ.

Is Our Lack of Faith Causing Us to Step Away from Our Calling?

Luke 9:61
Yet another said, “I will follow you, Lord, but let me first say farewell to those at my home.”

In the final passage in Luke 9, there are a number of verses which point out the costs of following Jesus. In essence, each cost mentioned really applies to the type of excuses we will come up with to delay following what the Lord is calling us to do.

One of the most common excuses for many of us is “I am not capable or I am not ready to take on such a task.” There is a faith gap that prevents us from believing that we can do what the Lord is asking of us. We question the calling because it goes against our natural instincts.

Other common excuses seem to come from our friends and our family. The world is eager to step in and divert us from any calling of the Lord. It is remarkable how quickly those around us can cause us to step away from what God has ordained for us.

When we finally move forward with what God has asked us to do, we find out it never was about our ability nor about our worldly affairs. It was about our faith in God. When God calls us to do anything, large or small, we should leap into action with confidence in the One who called us. It is through Him that the good work is done. We are only instruments of His love.

Let us block out the questioning of those around us. Let us shield ourselves from the attacks of the enemy. Let us step out in faith upon the path of service that the Lord has prepared for us for He has already secured our way.

Prayer
Heavenly Father, we thank You for choosing us to be instruments of Your good work. We rejoice in knowing that we can share Your love with the world around us in so many different and powerful ways. We pray that You open our eyes and prepare our hearts so that we do not delay any good work that You have set aside for us. We ask all these things in the name of the One that determines our steps, Jesus Christ.