His Instrument

I have to remind myself daily that it is God who is the verb. He is the doer. He will bring about the change. He will give me the words. I am His instrument (Jeremiah 1:5). How do I become an instrument? Useable? Moveable?

Over the past couple of weeks, I have found that being His instrument means to simply be in communion with Him throughout the day. It means that I have be still and quiet to hear His promptings. It means trusting when I do hear...even if I don't at first understand. So, what has this looked like over the past 2 weeks? I would love to share with you the excitement I have experienced over the past couple of weeks.

After the Holy Spirit overwhelmed me, I wanted to shout it from a mountain top. How do you go about shouting without running people off? As I have mentioned previously, I grew up in a church that shouted a lot about hell and salvation. I watched it drive away and create fear. Yes, we should acknowledge that there is a hell...it is a real and scary place. But, using fear to motivate is not what Christ speaks of. I also grew up with a grandfather who was a "Bible beater" (forgive the use of the word please, I don't know another description that fits). He was very knowledgable in regard to scripture. When he was alive, he would be who I knew I could call if I was looking for a verse but couldn't find where it was. He wrote volumes and volumes. However, in my opinion, it didn't penetrate his heart. He would almost attack people with scripture. Honestly, I found him scary most of my life. I am not judging his salvation. I just didn't see the words he spoke in his actions. With that history in mind, how do I proclaim Christ without offending, scaring, and driving people away?

I have found that God gives me what I need only at the exact moment I need it. He gives me the words, insights, leadings for each day but not for the next. In that I am learning to follow His promptings. I have found that when I force things, the words don't come. However, when I am quiet and seeking, He will place things on my heart.

I have also discovered that in order to keep me from overthinking and trying to solve things myself, He is speaking in a different way everyday. I never know when I will receive what I need for the day. It is quite amazing to experience His creativity and intimate knowledge of me (Psalm 139).

Last week, He spoke to me in Bible study. He laid the name of someone dear to me on my heart. I instantly started trying to figure it out. Lord, what does that mean? Should I call her now? What do I do with that? I received nothing more. The next day, my dear friend and I were talking and she mentioned that God had her open to the book of Job. She then received an email from a friend telling her to read Job. I will give you one guess as to what we were studying when I heard her name...Job!!!!!!!!!!! Isn't He amazing!!! But, He waited to use what He had given me to glorify Himself so I knew beyond a shadow of a doubt that it wasn't me!!! He is truly amazing!

This week, I was struggling in my mind...my thought life. I have been laying it before Him daily. Yet, I felt weak, scared, and unsure. I wrestled with it all day. When I finally sat down with my Beth Moore "When Godly People Do Ungodly Things" study, the entire lesson for the day addressed the very thing that had weighed on my heart all day! Praise You Lord!!!!!

God is absolutely blowing my mind day after day from sharing through friends and Bible study to giving me dreams. He even used my dog to teach me this week! I am overwhelmed by His glory and desire for me to experience intimacy in Him. So, this is what an instrument feels...being moved rather than creating the motion. It is a new feeling for me...one that I don't recognize. I have always been a doer, but God wants the glory. He is the creator, potter, author. We simply have to be the instruments, clay, and pens. Would someone praise the scalpel of a surgeon for the job it has done in saving a life...that is ridiculous!!!!! To God and God alone, all glory is due. But, He wants so much to use us. He wants us to be a part of His magnificent plan and will. Lord, I give you reign. I submit my life to you. I surrender all! Make me your instrument! Help me to be guided instead of trying to forage the way. Thank you for allowing me to be a part of Your divine plan! I love you!