“But Sir!”

Ever been asked to do something that is way beyond you, you find yourself paralyzed with joy stealing, self -esteem destroying and assignment killing thoughts? You attempt to dart behind something in hopes of not being seen.   I have.

We are not alone. The Lord calls to Gideon “The Lord is with you, mighty warrior.” Telling him, “Go in the strength you have and save Israel out of Midian’s hand…” You know, those folks that have been terrorizing you for some time, taking all your livestock, messing up your crops and forced you to run to caves and hide. Yup, them. I LOVE Gideon’s response, just a guy going about his business, then this! So honest, so explaining, so TERRIFIED. “But Sir… How can I, my clan is the weakest in Manasseh, and I am the least in my family.” (Judges 6:13,15) Head hung, shoulders slumped.

We all have “But Sir” moments, don’t we? Moments when God asks something of us, moments when we need to do or be something that is beyond us. In our calling, our assignment we feel weak, insignificant and definitely not qualified. We look at our weapons and they seem dinky and dull. Oh, God’s response is SO valuable, to Gideon He says, “I will be with you and you will…”

Moses, standing strong with a staff  lifted high over his head as he shouts with authority, “Let my people go!” He too had a “But Sir!” moment. You would think as he stood near the bush that seems to self combust into flames he would immediately be convinced.　God tells him after 400+ years of his brothers bound in slavery, “So now, go. I am sending you.” God was sending him to Pharaoh to demand the Israelites come out of Egypt. Moses does the panic response, “Suppose they ask who sent me, what if they don’t believe me and by-golly I don’t even speak very good, I tend to studd-der and stt-tammer. God’s response is the same, “I will be with you.” (Exodus 3 & 4)

King David writes, “The Lord directs the steps of the godly. He delights in every detail of their lives.” (Psalm 37:23) David is known to have written this in his old age, as he looks back over the triumphs rippled with failures, he acknowledges his God was there in it and through it, every detail of his life, in the moments of “I am to do this!”

Paul exhorts young Timothy, “I remind you to fan into flames the gift of God, which is in you through the laying on of my hands. For God did not give us a spirit of fear, but a spirit of power, love and self-discipline.” (2 Timothy 1:6,7) Perhaps you too feel a bit under qualified, rather scared and defeated, you can’t even figure out HOW to get your ducks in a row. You even doubt what you feel God called you to, please join me, as we turn our ‘But Sir’ into ‘I will be with you and you will…”   Go in His Spirit of power, walking in love and self-discipline.

Fanning the flames!

In Him DeDe (“Let us consider how we may spur one another on towards love & good deeds.” – Heb. 10:24)