Not Me Lord - Encouragement Café - Feb. 3, 2015

Not Me Lord

Café Menu for Tuesday, February 3, 2015

Today’s Special is: When It’s Hard To Say Yes, Lord

Carefully prepared just for you by your friend, Kelly Brown

Main Ingredient:

May He equip you with all you need for doing His will.May He produce in you, through the power of Jesus Christ, every good thing that is pleasing to Him. All glory to Him forever and ever! Amen.

Hebrews 13:21NLT

Entrée:

I remember when Luann first approached me about writing for Encouragement Café. I looked at her like she was crazy. Write. Me. No way! I hated writing! I was horrible at English! I could never write devotions. What would I say? I am just a simple country girl who loves the Lord, but God had a different idea. He knew I couldn't on my own, but with Him I could.

It took me awhile to be obedient! I knew in my heart when Luann asked me to pray about it, that it was what He wanted me to do. I had felt for a few months that He had given me the gift of encouragement. I was using it in my church to encourage the ladies with text messages and uplifting quotes and Scripture on FaceBook. I was content with just doing that, but God wanted me to get out of my comfort zone and do something I couldn't do on my own. The phrase, “God doesn't call the equipped. He equips the called” kept coming to mind. Everywhere I turned, I kept getting confirmation after confirmation that this was what He wanted. I prayed and kept giving God all kinds of reasons why I wasn't the one for the job, but He kept telling me, "Yes you are. You can do this through me."

One day, while I was still rebelling, I was talking to a friend. He told me, "God will use this gift of encouragement if you will allow Him too. Even if Encouragement Café doesn't use it on their website, maybe it will touch the staff person reading it, or maybe it will be just for you. If you feel this is what He is calling you to do, then He will use you." I decided that day to trust the Lord and write, believing it to be His will for me.

Fast forward to today. Not only has God equipped me with what I have needed, but I have been blessed myself. Ladies of my church and countless others I may never know have been reached with encouragement, because, to my surprise, the devotions have been shared on Encouragement Café. I am humbled at how God is using me as a vessel to encourage others. I am so thankful for Luann's obedience in asking me to write and for my friends and family who encouraged me to go for it. Most of all, I am in awe of Jesus who believed in me and kept confirming in my life that this was His will. Even when I wasn't obedient, He kept pursuing me.

Take Out:

When you feel God asking you to do something for Him, believe that He will go before you and will equip you with what you need to fulfill the work He has for you. All you need to do is take that first step of obedience, or in my case, that leap of faith! He will do the rest.

Dessert:

Dear Lord, sometimes we may not understand why You are asking us to do something. We may not be able to see the big picture. Help us to trust and obey that if you are calling us to serve, you will be with us every step of the way! In Jesus’ name I pray Amen.

© 2015 by Kelly Brown. All rights reserved.

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Originally published Tuesday, 03 February 2015.

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