Faith Challenge
For the past month I have been questioning God in several areas of my life as to whether I should step up or step away. The response I got was a challenge. Have you ever been afraid to receive what God has for you? I have, and it is crippling to faith. I have to stave off fear that I won't be able to handle God's best for my life because I am not skilled enough to carry the weight of it. To whom much is give, much is required. (see Luke 12:48) This month, however, I was challenged in my prayer time to pray a very specific prayer asking God for more. I am talking about the prayer of Jabez. If you do not recognize this name, don't feel bad. This man in the Bible has a teeny tiny mention in an obscure part of the Bible. Here is what Jabez prayed.
1 chronicles 4:10 And Jabez called on the God of Israel, saying, Oh that thou wouldest bless me indeed, and enlarge my coast, and that thine hand might be with me, and that thou wouldest keep me from evil, that it may not grieve me! And God granted him that which he requested.
This has been a true challenge for me because it requires that I be willing to accept the blessing and responsibility that come from this particular answered prayer. In and of myself I don't qualify for the blessing or the responsibility that God is wanting to give me. Thank God for salvation and his spirit. I have been made to qualify for God's best by my faith in his love for me expressed by the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus.
This challenge is forcing me to accept that I am not created to live an average life. This may sound crazy, but I desire an average life. I would love to just be married, have my kids, work a bit, and enjoy my home; the thing is that I'm not cut out for that. I was made to stick out, make noise, challenge societal norms, and advocate for the Kingdom of God. It's not something that I want to do, it's something that I can't help but do because God made me that way.
God has challenged me to give up my view of who I am and embrace who I really am. That is what this prayer is about for me.
For almost a month now I have prayed this prayer every morning, and it is taking hold of my life. Things are changing for the better as I take my place in God's plan for my life. I have been jogging lightly on my journey, but God has called me out. He wants me to give this life all I've got, and as I begin to run the race that God has for me, I challenge you to do the same.
Say yes to God's will and his methods for your life. You may feel crazy or out of place at times, do it anyway. You may be worried about what people will think, do it anyway. You may have to give up some things you've held on to, let them go. You may also have to take hold of some things that you dared not to touch before; grab on. Go with God and don't worry about falling short. God's strength is made perfect in our weakness. (see 2 Corinthians 12:9-10)
1 chronicles 4:10 And Jabez called on the God of Israel, saying, Oh that thou wouldest bless me indeed, and enlarge my coast, and that thine hand might be with me, and that thou wouldest keep me from evil, that it may not grieve me! And God granted him that which he requested.
This has been a true challenge for me because it requires that I be willing to accept the blessing and responsibility that come from this particular answered prayer. In and of myself I don't qualify for the blessing or the responsibility that God is wanting to give me. Thank God for salvation and his spirit. I have been made to qualify for God's best by my faith in his love for me expressed by the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus.
This challenge is forcing me to accept that I am not created to live an average life. This may sound crazy, but I desire an average life. I would love to just be married, have my kids, work a bit, and enjoy my home; the thing is that I'm not cut out for that. I was made to stick out, make noise, challenge societal norms, and advocate for the Kingdom of God. It's not something that I want to do, it's something that I can't help but do because God made me that way.
God has challenged me to give up my view of who I am and embrace who I really am. That is what this prayer is about for me.
For almost a month now I have prayed this prayer every morning, and it is taking hold of my life. Things are changing for the better as I take my place in God's plan for my life. I have been jogging lightly on my journey, but God has called me out. He wants me to give this life all I've got, and as I begin to run the race that God has for me, I challenge you to do the same.
Say yes to God's will and his methods for your life. You may feel crazy or out of place at times, do it anyway. You may be worried about what people will think, do it anyway. You may have to give up some things you've held on to, let them go. You may also have to take hold of some things that you dared not to touch before; grab on. Go with God and don't worry about falling short. God's strength is made perfect in our weakness. (see 2 Corinthians 12:9-10)
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