Note: Hey everyone! I know it’s been a while since I posted. This year has not stopped throwing curveballs at me at all, but I went on an amazing mission trip to Albania in the beginning of October. So, I am going to post the devotions I wrote to share while I was there and then I hope to finish out my year stronger! I ended up combining the devotions you will see this week and next week into one for my Albanian friends however, they are being posted separately here and then I will share how I tie them together. Here’s a hint: One is our response to God, the other is his response to us.
Isaiah 6:8 ESV “And I heard the voice of the Lord saying, ‘whom shall I send? And who will go for us?’ Then I said, ‘Here I am, send me.’”
Picture this; It’s a brand new day and you’ve just woken up. You’ve brewed your coffee and you’re sitting down to spend time with God. Before the kids are up, lunches are packed and there’s a mad rush to get out the door, you spend this quiet and still time to meet with God.
Maybe you’re waiting for answered prayer, or you feel a bit directionless. Or maybe you just appreciate your time with God.
This is what a typical day looks like for me except swap the two legged kids for four legged ones! I want to get something off my chest though and maybe you can relate.
I often find myself asking God, “Well, what do you want me to do?” As if God has a checklist for me and I’m just doing my duty, going through the motions. But man! God deserves so much more than that!
While studying the book of Acts, I have realized what a gift it is to know Jesus and have a daily invitation to meet him. I am particularly struck by Acts 9 when God comes to Ananias in a vision and calls him by name. Ananias immediately says, “Here I am, Lord.”
What a response. No hesitation, just immediate availability. I recalled the many other times through out scripture that someone had said “Here I am.” With that same willingness. Abraham, Jacob, Moses, Samuel, and the great prophet Isaiah. None of them hesitates and they didn’t just respond to God as if he were a chore. They immediately showed open, willing hearts available for whatever it was God wanted to say tot hem or do through them. You can read about each of these passages in Genesis 22, Genesis 31, Exodus 3, 1 Samuel 3, and Acts 9.
Our response to God often lacks the same openness. We serve where we want to serve, we pray for what we desire- healing and help mostly. How often do we just allow God to just work though?
You might be thinking, “Ok, but God doesn’t speak to me in a burning bush like he did for Moses.” That’s true, he doesn’t. I have a feeling though, he will find a way to make it clear and honor a response that says, “Here I am, Lord.” Maybe it’s a mission trip, maybe it’s comforting someone in your community, or serving in a way you aren’t used to.
The question is, will you answer his call with immediate availability? All you need to say is, “Here I am, Lord. Here I am.”
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