How to Dream Brave With GodSample

Devotional

AVAIL

“I still need to . . .”

In our journeys to pursue God’s dreams for our lives, many of us often put off taking the leap of faith needed by telling ourselves we need more time to prepare ourselves.

But did you know that while God values our spirit of determination to get the credentials we need to be excellent, He also cherishes our availability, at times more than our paper qualifications?

Years ago, when God invited my husband, Cliff, and me to serve in Uganda, I wondered if I was doing the right thing. After all, leaving behind my opportunity to specialize further at a crucial point of my medical career trajectory felt like career suicide. But God beckoned us to obey.

Yet in the mission field, I constantly felt I should have had more qualifications to offer. A local doctor commented that I should have come only when I had a Masters degree so I could be “more useful.”

As I brought this before God, He answered me through an unexpected incident. One day, a local villager came to us crying for help for his newborn baby who had turned blue. Since I was not a pediatrician, I did not know what to do. How I grappled with my helplessness!

But God brought to mind a dream about me He’d given to the man a few months ago. In the dream, I, together with Jesus, had brought this baby back to life.

Cliff reminded me that in spite of my perceived inadequacies and lack of “qualifications,” God could use me. That gave me the courage to pray and ask God for divine wisdom.

Minutes later, the Holy Spirit gave me an idea. Why not order an ambulance for them (not an easy feat in that part of the country) to send their baby to the national hospital an hour away? Cliff and I scrambled into action.

The baby lived, and the couple named her Divine. She is a beautiful young lady today.

It was then that I realized the power of availability. I was not qualified to treat the baby myself, but that was not what God required. All He wanted was for me to be available for this couple.

While God values our pursuit of excellence, He values obedience more. We can trust that He will fill the gaps when we present our availability to Him.

If you are putting off obeying God in faith by pursuing one paper qualification after another, or climbing up the corporate ladder to increase your sphere of influence, perhaps it is time to stop the rat race, come clean with God about your fears and anxieties, and simply tell Him, “God, here I am. I am available for you.”

After all, God used the little boy with five loaves and two fish to create a miracle. God used the widow with two mites to speak profound truths to His disciples. God used Mary, who poured an alabaster jar of fragrance at His feet to leave a tremendous legacy. None of these people were qualified in the eyes of the world, but they were willing to empty their hands and hearts, to avail their all for our Lord’s purposes.

May we be willing to do likewise.

Reflection:

What am I still holding on to that is preventing me to be available for God this season?

How can I make myself more available for God?

Response:

Dear God, You know I adore You. Yet, so many chains tie me down. I’m afraid to follow You and to count the cost. I hustle every day, telling myself I’m contributing to building Your kingdom but deep down, I know I need to empty myself and make myself available for what You want me to do. Help me to stop the hustle and simply make myself available to You in the posture of Mary, who poured her best at Your feet.