Monday Morning Blast — October 6, 2014
On April 30, 1789 George Washington was sworn in as the first President of the United States of America. In his inaugural address he made this comment, “So much is expected, so many untoward circumstances may intervene, in such a new and critical situation that I feel an insuperable diffidence in my own abilities.” I have a sense that Washington was familiar with I Corinthians 15:58. The Apostle Paul writes to encourage believers with the truth that our “labor is not in vain “IN THE LORD”. The results are up to Him.
It was wonderful to worship together in our “new home” yesterday. I would admit though that our Lord has blessed us abundantly and I guess I feel a bit like General Washington (I know the illustration is a stretch) that much is now expected and I don’t know if any of us feels capable of accomplishing all that God may have placed before us. Do you ever feel in adequate or insufficient to accomplish what you know God has placed before you?
The wonderful thing about feeling insufficient or inadequate (lets just be honest men…we are), is that it allows us to discover that the God of the universe desires to work along side us. The Lord has this intentional plan to use us to accomplish good things for the Kingdom, but He provides us with all that we need to be effective.
Our insufficiency drives us to God. When we realize a situation is bigger than we can handle, we must be quick to open the Bible and and diligently pray for guidance and strength.
Our inadequacy relieves us of the burden of self-effort and self-reliance. The Lord has us right where He wants us…at the end of the proverbial rope with nothing left to give.
Our inabilities motivate us to reliance on divine power. We will never be adequate until we learn to INTENTIONALLY draw from the Holy Spirit’s power and inexhaustible strength. He does in and through us what God never intended that we do on our own.
By using weak, inadequate people, God demonstrates what great things He can do. He actually delights in choosing unlikely individuals to carry out His purposes. There’s no limit to what He can do through someone willing to give Him full control. General Washington was a man of intense Christian beliefs and He only took on the task he knew God had placed before him because he KNEW God was with him.
Our inadequacy challenges our faith. Paul says, “Our inadequacy is from God” 2 Corinthians 3:1-6. Those who focus on the reliability of this promise and step out in obedience will grow in faith.
So Men of Intention, the next time you feel like General Washington did as he surveyed the landscape of a new nation…rely upon Him and He can replace your anxiety and feeling of insufficiency with a quiet spirit of contentment and confidence.
