Yes God Can Use You

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This post is very different than what my subscribers are used to seeing on my blog. This is not a diy craft post.  It’s an inspirational and motivational post. It’s a post to get you to realize your self worth as it is seen by Christ.

Have you ever thought that you were less than or that you weren’t cut out to do something? Have you ever thought that you were unqualified to do something? Have you ever been belittled due to your position or place in life, your race/ethnicity, your gender, where you come from or because of your past behaviors?

These thoughts are common to all of us, but we can’t allow those thoughts to control us and hold us captive to fear. We have to understand and believe what Christ says about us and know that He wants to use us.

In this post I will shed light on some key people in the Old and New Testaments that discounted themselves, and who others would have discounted. These people chose to leave fear behind and be used by God for a greater purpose.

Old Testament – Discounted Self

• Moses – I can’t speak eloquently – Exodus 4:10-12 NIV Moses was chosen by God to lead the people of Israel out of Egypt. Moses discounted himself by saying why would they listen to me and, I can’t speak eloquently. God instructed Moses on what to say and performed two miracles for Moses. He also gave Moses instructions on a third miracle to perform if the people of Israel did not listen to him. God told Moses to go and He would provide him with the words to say.
  • Moses doubted himself, but he had to lean not to his own understanding and obey God.
• Abraham and Sarah – I’m too old – Genesis 18:1-15 NIV God had promised Abraham (then Abram) a son. Sarah (Abraham’s wife) and Abraham both were past childbearing age and Sarah grew tired of waiting on God. Sarah had Abraham sleep with their servant Hagar to conceive. Once Hagar conceived Sarah was not satisfied and her servant despised her and fled. Later, when Abraham was about 100 years old and Sarah was about 90 years old, three men appeared to Abraham and told him that he and Sarah would have a son within a year. Sarah was past the childbearing age and laughed at this statement. Verse 14 says “Is anything to hard for the Lord?”
  • Abraham and Sarah were both past the childbearing age, but when God says something it’s wise to believe Him.
• Jeremiah – I’m too young – Jeremiah 1:6 NIV God called Jeremiah as a prophet to go and tell the people of Israel that God would bring judgement upon them if they didn’t change their ways. In verse 6 Jeremiah responds to God by saying “I do not know how to speak, I am too young”. God touched Jeremiah’s mouth and said “I have put my words in your mouth”.
  • When God calls you to do something, he will provide you with what you need to do it. 

New Testament – Others Would Have Discounted

• Saul (Paul) Killing Christians – Acts 9 NIV Saul was threatening the Lord’s disciples and on his way to persecute Christians when a bright light flashed around him. He heard a voice that said 4 “Saul, Saul, why do you persecute me?” Saul asked who it was and the Lord responded 5 “I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting”, 6 “Now get up and go into the city, and you will be told what you must do”.
• Peter constantly had to be corrected – Cut off Malchus’ ear – John 18:10 NIV “Then Simon Peter, who had a sword, drew it and struck the high priest’s servant, cutting off his right ear. (The servant’s name was Malchus.)”
• Jesus rebuked Peter – Matthew 16:23 NIV “Jesus turned and said to Peter, “Get behind me, Satan! You are a stumbling block to me; you do not have in mind the concerns of God, but merely human concerns.””

Reasons why we discount ourselves:

• Lack of faith – Matthew 8:26 NIV 26 “He replied, “You of little faith, why are you so afraid?” Then he got up and rebuked the winds and the waves, and it was completely calm.”
• Can’t hear Christ’s voice – John 10: 27 NIV 27 “My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me.”
• Satan whispers lies – John 8: 44 NIV 44 “You belong to your father, the devil, and you want to carry out your father’s desires. He was a murderer from the beginning, not holding to the truth, for there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks his native language, for he is a liar and the father of lies.”

Reasons why others may discount you:

• They know your past behavior – Saul was once a murderer (Acts 9), Moses murdered an Egyptian (Exodus 2), The Samaritan woman at well had five different husbands (John 4)
• They know where you come from – John- 6:42 NIV “They said, “Is this not Jesus, the son of Joseph, whose father and mother we know? How can he now say, ‘I came down from heaven’?””
• They don’t know whose you are – When Jesus was on the cross one of the thieves hurled insults at him (Luke 23) (if only he knew who he was hurling insults at), When Moses and the people of Israel were running from Pharaoh and the Egyptians, God allowed Moses to part the Red Sea (Exodus 14) (Pharaoh and the Egyptians didn’t expect God to perform a miracle for Moses and the people of Israel)

What does Jesus say?

• • Jeremiah 1:5 NIV “Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, before you were born I set you apart; I appointed you as a prophet to the nations.”

• • Jeremiah 29:11-13 NIV 11 “For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. 12 Then you will call on me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. 13 You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart.”

Questions to ask yourself: 

• What is God calling you to do that you feel unqualified to do?
• What is your purpose in life?
• What are you good at?
• What do others ask you for help with?
• What’s something you enjoy doing that you’ve been doing since you were a kid?
• How can you help build up God’s kingdom?

Take Away: Obedience/Willingness

Obedience is key to living a Godly life. All of the people that I have discussed were obedient to God’s word and His calling (some took longer than others). We have to be willing to put our ways aside and trust in the Lord. If he has called us to do something we must believe that He will see us through it. Let Him use you.

Proverbs 3:5-6 NIV

5 “Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; 6 in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight.”

I am not a bible study teacher nor have I been to seminary school. However I do read my bible, fellowship with others and listen when the Spirit speaks to me. Don’t be afraid to let God use you.