Tim Timmons - Cast My CaresSample

Starts With Me

How many times have you prayed, “God use me” or “Here I am, send me” as Isaiah did? These are wonderful prayers, but I think they’ve been prayed prematurely in my life. I seem to be great at doing things “for” God and asking Him to come along side of what I’m doing, yet have I missed the point? I’ve jumped over the “here I am” part and skipped ahead to “send me.” What if I, in my own power, am not “usable?”

Think about your most recent conversation with Jesus or think through your most recent prayers. Are they more about inviting Jesus into what you are doing or are they asking Him to see where He is moving and how you can join Him in that?

We’ve been given many strong commands by Jesus. The first and most important command is “Love God and THEN love others…” or “Peter do you love me? THEN go feed my sheep…” or “abide in me (Jesus the vine) and THEN ‘I’ will bear much fruit out of you.” In all of these conversations that Jesus had, the point was for His people to know Him first. As if Jesus alone was the point. Jesus was THE way, THE truth, and THE life.

I have recently talked with a number of pastors and active “church going” people who have humbly admitted a bold and terrifying indictment. Here’s what they said, “I can tell you all ABOUT Jesus, argue His deity, share Him with others, etc., but I just don’t know if I know Him.” We are good at knowing all about Jesus and going and doing His work, but to be His disciple (follower) before we go and make disciples is the point.

What if a revival isn’t just supposed to magically happen in your town? What if the revival begins IN you and IN me first? What if Jesus wants US before He wants our usability?

Jesus, we do want to be used to represent You in our world. Start a revival in us first. Jesus we need to know You and experience Your love firsthand. Then out of our relationship, use us to represent You to this world.

To listen to the Album Cast my Cares on The Overflow please visit http://oflow.it/00ne/fDnB3xZffw