Is God Waiting on You? by Jon Walker

I can do everything through him who gives me strength. Philippians 4:13 (NIV)

God knows the giant problems of the world are far too vast for even the professionals to tackle, and that’s why he calls every believer to be on mission. That’s why he’s calling you to join him on mission.
You may feel inadequate to go up against global giants, such as spiritual emptiness, self-centered leadership, crippling poverty, pandemic disease, and rampant illiteracy.
You’re not the only believer to feel inadequate for the mission. The Apostle Paul encouraged some of the very first Christians with these words: “Think of what you were when you were called. Not many of you were wise by human standards; not many were influential; not many were of noble birth. But God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise; God chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong.” (1 Corinthians 1:26-27, NIV)

But your feelings of inadequacy have no bearing on the truth: God is adequate for the task, and he will energize you with his own adequacy, the adequacy of the Holy Spirit within you. You can do all things through Him who strengthens you. (Philippians 4:13)

This means you’ll be able to boast in the Lord as opposed to your own abilities and resources. The battle belongs to the Lord, and you are his willing servant. Like the boy, David, said to the giant, Goliath, “You come against me with sword and spear and javelin, but I come against you in the name of the LORD Almighty ….” (1 Samuel 17:45, NIV)

What does this mean?
God does not call you to fail; rather, he guarantees your success. It is the power of God—who strengthens you for the task—that brings you success on mission.
Be overwhelmed by God’s magnitude. Instead of being overwhelmed by the giants before us, be overwhelmed by God’s mighty power and awesomeness. Like Paul, be overwhelmed with God’s joy; like Peter, be overwhelmed by God’s wonder.
God’s Spirit anoints you for your mission: “The Spirit of the Sovereign Lord is on me, because the Lord has anointed me to preach good news to the poor. He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim freedom for the captives and release from darkness for the prisoners ….” (Isaiah 61:1, NIV)

Question to consider: Do I believe my inadequacy is greater than God’s almighty power?

If you’d like to receive these devotionals regularly, you can sign-up at www.gracecreates.com/subscribe/. Jon Walker writes from www.gracecreates.com. He is a Zondervan author, and the former writer/editor of the Purpose Driven Life On-Line Devotionals. This devotional is copyrighted 2008 by Jon Walker.