It’s Not About Me

We are all called by God for His purpose.  There are three (3) levels of our overall calling:

1.  We are called to Salvation

2.  We are called to Preparation

3.  We are called to Service

In that order!  We all have a work to do.  But not just any work.  Not even our own work.  But God’s work.  And He calls us in the above order for us to accomplish this work.

We say it all of the time.  I know that I do…………..”It’s not about me”.  And for me, I mean that.  But, it has now taken on a new complexity for me.  A higher level of dimension.  A stronger meaning!

My prayer has long, and even up to recently, been “Lord, help me to do my work.  Help me to do all of this work.  Help me to do my life assignments.”  And I meant those words sincerely.  But, now I realize that my prayer has to change to, and mean, “Lord, help me to do YOUR work.”

Once we accept salvation, we must then go into the ongoing phase of preparation before we can adequately serve.  Way too often, we are eager to serve, but we are reluctant about accepting the preparation period.  It can’t work like that.

When God calls us, He does so with the end in mind.  He knows the outcome.

“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.”  Jeremiah 29:11 (NIV) 

The KJV of that verse also states that He knows His thoughts towards us with an “expected end”.  He knows the outcome.  Therefore, when He calls us to do something, He knows that we can do it.  He knows this simply because He is God, but also because He equips us.  He has set up and ordained our PREPARATION. 

That is what ANOINTING is.  Some think that, as in Old Testament times, it is something that is only bestowed upon certain people (i.e., Kings, Prophets).  See, they were set apart and distinguished from others to do God’s work.  But, that was under the dispensation of the Law…….we are now under Grace, and God anoints His children.

Your anointing is what enables you to perform the work of God.  Unfortunately, that anointing isn’t always apparent or visible because we don’t allow God to fully work through us.  We want to work and act on our own, and then ask God to follow us and help us.

If we subject and submit ourselves to His anointing, it would be blaringly clear to all.  We have to allow ourselves to receive the preparation that is necessary to make us successful in His service.  Too often, we want the title, but we don’t want to do the work that is necessary to deserve it. 

Preparation is not always easy.  It hurts sometimes.  I can always go back to the very true analogy of a woman giving birth.  A couple of weeks ago, I heard Joyce Meyer speak of a very “smart, intelligent, well-learned, highly educated, and successful” lady that she knew.  She said that when the woman became pregnant with her first child (and it was probably her last), she would share with Joyce her fears.  She would say that she was so afraid that the labor and childbirth would hurt.  Joyce told her, “Let me relieve your fears.  It will!”  She told her that she didn’t have to carry that fear anymore……….oh, not the fear of the pain of labor …. but the fear of thinking that it would indeed hurt!

Labor is the body’s way of preparation for childbirth.  Yes, it hurts!  Don’t let anyone fool you……it hurts!  But, look at the beautiful result of all of that pain.  We soon forget the pain and begin to rejoice over the birth of our blessing.

Preparation……..often hurts!  It gets us ready, fit, and certified to do the work that God has called us to.

We can take comfort in God’s words to Jeremiah.  He knows us.  He took the intimate act of forming us.  He made us.  He has given us what we need.  We don’t have to be afraid.  We should go forth and do what He has for us to do.

This is our purpose.  To fulfill God’s purpose for our lives!

Blessings!

Carla