Have you ever trembled in your pumps, shaken in your sandals, or quaked in your clogs? Have you ever been down on your knees and clearly heard the Lord ask you to do something, but as you got up on your feet your knees buckled at the thought of the task? Have you ever planned and prepared and even prayed about a ministry, but when the moment came to follow through you feared falling on your face?
I have.
Ministry - of all sorts - can be plain out scary.
You want me to talk to my neighbor about Jesus?
You want me to offer to be in charge of the meal for the funeral?
You want me to keep her kids every Thursday so she can have some time for You?
You want me to teach three-year-olds, are You kidding?
You want me to give my testimony?
You want me to visit her in the hospital and even offer to pray for her, right there, right then?
You want me to teach a Bible study? To adults, no less?
You want me to introduce myself to her and ask if she goes to church anywhere? Lord, does she look like she goes to church anywhere?
You want me to visit senior adults in the assisted living center?
Are You kidding?
Yes, ministry can be a little frightening. It requires that we get real, put it all on the line, trust God. It also might mean talking about the Bible, our beliefs, our relationship with God, the plan of salvation. Ow! That can be hard.
But if God is calling you to serve Him in any way today - and my bet is that He is - then you can count on Him also equipping you, going with you, and even giving you the courage to face the task.
Joshua 1:6-7 says:
Strength! Courage!
You are going to lead this people to inherit
the land that I promised to give their ancestors.
Give it everything you have, heart and soul.
Make sure you carry out The Revelation
that Moses commanded you, every bit of it.
Don't get off track, either left or right,
so as to make sure you get to where you're going.
So the key to having confidence and courage in ministry? It's not whether you have you feet adorned with kitten pumps or clogs. It's not about wearing sneakers or boots. And it doesn't matter if you're silver sandals or your baby blue flats usually give you the most confidence.
Sister, "shod you feet with the preparation of the gospel of peace." (Ephesians 6:15) As in every other area of life, the more you're in the Bible, the more you'll be prepared, the more confidence you'll have, and the more effective your life will be. Read God's Word, meditate on it, memorize it, hide it in your heart, speak it, and believe it.
Then and only then will you be able to have the courage of Joshua. And when God gives you a task, you'll be able to slip into your slides, your stilettos, your sneakers, or your mules and walk forward with confidence.
Take courage my friend. You're walking in some good shoes today!Labels: Ministry Mondays
