Saturday, August 27, 2011

Feeling a Little Insignificant?

Do you ever feel unimportant or insignificant?  Maybe a glimpse into David's life will help you.  David was a shepherd boy - he tended sheep.  Even his family thought he was unimportant, but God had other plans.  When Samuel came to anoint God's chosen king to replace Saul, he looked at all of Jesse's sons but found that God had not chosen any of them.   He asked Jesse (David's father), "Are these all the sons you have?"  Jesse answered him, "There is still the youngest, but he is tending sheep." (1 Samuel 16:11)  His family did not feel he was worthy to pass in front of Samuel to be considered as the next king, but God had other plans.

When David was brought to Samuel, God spoke to Samuel and said, "Rise and anoint him, he is the one." (1 Samuel 16:12)  After Samuel anointed David, the Spirit of the LORD came upon him in power.  David was a handsome young man with a fine appearance and yet, his family considered him insignificant, but God had other plans.

Maybe you are talented, nice-looking, good worker, etc. as David was and yet you feel insignificant.  God does not see you as man does.  When Samuel first arrived in Bethlehem, he thought he had found the new king immediately when he saw Eliab.  God said, "Do not consider his appearance or his height, for I have rejected him.  The LORD does not look at the things man looks at.  Man looks at the outward appearance, but the LORD looks at the heart." (1 Samuel 16:7)

God says we are all significant in His eyes (whether we are considered talented, nice looking, etc.).  There are no unimportant people in His kingdom.  Be encouraged today as you think about how really significant you are in God's eyes.  God has other plans for you.  Be ready! 

Tuesday, August 9, 2011

Rely On God - Not Ourselves

It is a fact of life - we will have troubles.  "I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace.  In this world you will have trouble.  But take heart! I have overcome the world."(John 16:33)

Do you ever wonder why you (your family/friends, etc.) face so many trials and difficulties?  Sometimes the answer is quite simple.  Hardships often happen so we will stop relying on ourselves and rely on God.

In writing to the church at Corinth, Paul informed them of some of the hardships he had experienced.  He stated that they were far beyond his ability to endure and thought he would lose his life.  "Indeed, in our hearts we felt the sentence of death.  But this happened that we might not rely on ourselves but on God, who raises the dead." (2 Corinthians 1:9)

When Brooks Marr ( a lady in her 80's in our church) shared her testimony recently, she shared that through the many trials she had experienced in life, she had learned to stop asking God why and ask Him what instead - what He is trying to teach me through this trial/trouble.

When difficulties come, we need to learn to ask God what He wants to teach us - what does He want us to learn from this difficulty - or what is it He wants me to get rid of in my life.

Let's learn to ask God what and not why and learn to rely on God and not ourselves.