I kept my eyes averted from her scowl. I could tell she was annoyed that we had shown up late to breakfast. The free breakfast ends at 10 AM and we show up at 10 til. The woman in charge of breakfast had just begun taking down the juice and water set up. I heard her exasperated sigh and I moved away from her. Kevin bounced in, “Hello. How are you today? We are just going to grab a little breakfast. Thank you so much.” I watched their interchange. It was like magic. Her annoyance became a smile; a slight smile but a smile nonetheless. It made me think. You know what, that’s what Jesus would have done had His life intersected this woman’s. Jesus was charismatic and welcoming and He made everyone feel important. That’s exactly what Kevin did as he acknowleged this hotel worker.
Kevin and I then went back to the room and discussed day 10 in the book “Through Their Eyes.” The first question page 51, “What is it that God is calling you to do?” My first inclination – be kind. Be kind to those who cross your path. I know seems so small a task but its a command none the less. Sometimes I obey and sometimes I don’t.
I make excuses I try to reason with the Lord God Almighty why I can’t possibly break out of my shell and be an extrovert. The excuses I have made throughout my lifetime mount up and could fill a trash dump landfill, and that is exactly what excuses are. They are like garbage before the Lord. All my reasoning of why I can’t, He says, “Yes but I can.” All my disgrace He covers with His grace. His deposit of the Holy Spirit in my life is all I need to accomplish all His “I can.”
“The Little Engine That Could” just kept chanting I think I can, I think I can. God just asks us to chant, “With Your help, I can!”
What is God calling you to do be it small or large?
Do you sometimes think the task God is calling you too insignificant?
What is your argument that you place before God as to why you can’t possible do this thing He is asking of you?
Do you sometimes feel unqualified to fulfill God’s task before you?
Do you feel unworthy to do this mission?
Elizabeth said in Luke 1:25 “My people were ashamed of me, but now the Lord has taken away that shame.”
“Instead of your shame you will receive a double portion, and instead of disgrace you will rejoice in your inheritance. And so you will inherit a double portion in your land and everlasting joy will be yours.” Isaiah 61:7 NIV.
We come to God broken. We come to God carrying garbage. We come to God unworthy. Jesus takes all our brokenness, all our dirt, and all our unworth and He gives us an inheritance of worth, and restoration, and purity.
My challenge this advent season, – Give God all your excuses of why you can’t and let Him fill you with His Can Do Spirit.
Lord I pray that I put “your will” back into my prayers.