Why Doesn't God Use Me?

[JoeMo]

I'm currently reading a book by Henry Blackaby and Claude King called "Experiencing God". While I don't cotton to everything in the book (or most other Christian books I read), the thought below struck a strong chord with me relative to the Topic of this thread. To paraphrase, if we really commit to God to do anything He tells us to do, we need to be careful what we're asking for or committing to do.  God may very well ask you to do something way beyond your perceived ability.  Keeping to your commitment may bring on a crisis of faith.  We have to decide what we really believe about God.  When we say "I could never do what You're asking, God",  we are actually saying more about how we feel about God than how we feel about ourselves.  We are saying that God cannot enable and empower us to carry out His desires.

God has a habit of using the weak and foolish to accomplish His desires.  Moses stuttered and was generally considered a traitor to the nation of Israel - being raised in Egyptian culture.  Yet he led more than a million people through the desert to the promised land over 40 years. Or did God use Moses so He could lead Israel to the promised land?

Saul of Tarsus was chief among the persecutors of Christianity in apostolic times.  Yet he became the most prolific evangelist to the Gentiles of his time.  Or did the Spirit of Christ use Paul to give His gospel to the world?

The point is that God can do anything, including empowering little old me and you to do His bidding.  Whether it is going to some wild area to spread the Gospel among primitive aboriginal people or going to an assisted living home to read to blind people, if that is God's desire for you, then you are fulfilling His will.  It's not necessarily how big of a task you are accomplishing, it is whether you are carrying out His will for you. The secret is doing what He is blessing rather than asking Him to bless what we are doing. I thought that this was a good thought.

[8thdaypriest]

I've always regarded myself as "weak" and "blind" sometimes, and foolish often.  Guess I'm a good candidate - for God's use that is.   I once asked the LORD what element of my character He most wanted to change.  Instantly - and I do mean INSTANTLY - the word "impatience" flooded my mind.  So if you're at all like me, and you find your life slowed to a crawl, the LORD may be working on your character, so He can make good use of you - later.   

I remember - some 25 years ago - there was a mentally challenged woman who attended my church.  Joe may remember her.  She walked with a forward leaning flat-footed gait.  She would loudly interrupt Sabbath School class, telling us to prepare for judgment (not the topic of the lesson), then telling the leader that he was disrespecting her.  Well - he wasn't.  He was very patient with her.  I remember sitting there seething with impatience, (and my intellectual snobbery) wondering why he allowed this woman to LOUDLY interrupt our class.  Why didn't he DEAL with her? I hope I've come some way "heavenward" from that.  

[JoeMo]

I sometimes think that God could use me if only I did this, or didn't do that.  Is that trying to gain God's favor through works?  On the other hand, if my works are a demonstration of my love for God and my fellow man, is that so bad?

[JoeMo]

7 hours ago, The Wanderer said:

Well, I am entering into a 200 km bike ride for cancer patients in Alberta through the Rocky Mountains

Good for you!  Follow your dreams!

[JoeMo]

I have noticed that God always takes the incentive on loving us, saving us, and using us for His glory.  God approached Moses and used him to promote His agenda.  He had to talk Moses into it.  Moses didn't come up with the idea to save Israel and ask God to bless it;  God instructed Moses to save Israel so He could bless Israel.

God approached Noah before the flood.  Noah didn't decide to build a boat and ask God to bless it.  God asked Noah to build the boat, and promised He would bless surviving humanity.

Abraham didn't just decide to go to Canaan and asked God to bless his trip.  God told Abraham to go; and He would bless Abraham's descendants.

In the above examples, God initiated the faith and working relationship with men; and promised to bless them if they followed His lead and carried out His purposes.  Could it be the same about God using us?  The author of the book offered the advice "Don't do something; just stand there!", implying that we should consider waiting on God to give us something to do; verify its purpose in scripture, and seek the counsel of others; and if they agree, do it!

My neighbor shared a recent experience like this with me.  He was talking to a co-worker about this strange urge to go to rural Honduras and preach at the grade schools and high schools.  The co-worker exclaimed that he was having the same strange urges out of nowhere.  Moving on faith, they took two weeks vacation and went to rural Honduras.  The first day, they simply handed out Spanish-language tracts on the street corners by the town plaza.By early afternoon, a small crowd had gathered at the edge if their "personal space".  In a lull of the crowd walking by, this crowd came at them, embracing them; exclaiming how long they had been praying for someone to bring them more of the gospel.  The entire rest of the time they went to schools, universities, town halls, and government meetings preaching the Word and making altar calls.  Including those coming forward were university professors, school teachers, and government officials.  They were invited back to meet with the governor of the region.  TWO REGULAR GUYS!!  They were amazed and blessed beyond belief.  They can't WAIT to go back and see what God has in store.

Father God, bring me to a place where I can clearly hear Your Voice and Your will for me!

[phkrause]

8 hours ago, The Wanderer said:

Well, I am entering into a 200 km bike ride for cancer patients in Alberta through the Rocky Mountains, for one example, and I can assure you that at my age and with all thats happened to me, I am not doing this to get brownie points with God. But I am hoping He will be there at the finish line to pick up my pieces from the pavement, so that I can yell out "Praise the Lord," and "thank you Jesus!"

May the Good Lord be with you!! When is this taking place?