"I knew you before I formed you in your mother's womb. Before you were born I set you apart and appointed you as my prophet to the nations." O Sovereign Lord," I said, " I can't speak for you! I'm too young! The Lord replied, " Don't say, I'm too young, for you must go wherever I send you and say whatever I tell you. And don't be afraid of the people, for I will be with you and will protect you. I , the Lord have spoken!" Then the Lord reached out and touched my mouth and said," Look, I have put my words in your mouth!"
When the Lord let me to the book of Jeremiah this morning, I just recently heard a sermon by Heather Lindsey about that same scripture. And I was impressed then, but I love how God can take something that is already there, and make it new to us. This conversation between Jeremiah and God reminds me of so many conversations I had with God too. There were three specific things I have noticed in this scripture that stuck with me, that I want to share with you.
1.) God predestined us for greatness
Finding your calling or purpose isn't something random. The world is good at making it seem like you can take a test to figure out what it is you should be doing, or just doing whatever you are passionate about is the answer. But there is more than passion and questions. There is that calling over your life from God. We were ordained by God before time began. So in order to know who we are supposed to become we need to get into a close relationship with the One who called us. There are so many of us who are flip flopping when it comes to what it is we want to do. Hopping from one thing to the next because we don't spend enough time with the One who called us to greatness in our mothers womb's. Let's not focus on what everybody else is doing or on what will pay good, but have a desire to know God's perfect will for us.
2.) Doubts and excuses don't count
We keep asking God to use us. But it's like as soon as He tells us do something, we're like: " Well, maybe don't use me like that Lord." Just like Jeremiah. The moment God told him what to do, he had an excuse because he doubted himself.
" O Sovereign Lord," I said, " I can't speak for you! I'm too young!
What's your excuse? I am not enough. I'm still in College. I'm too busy. Just basically telling God 'I am not enough for what you called me to be. During the time God called Jeremiah to be a prophet, I can just imagine how it probably was'nt the cool and trendy thing to do at all. They were killing prophets all over the place. And I bet none of his age mates were prophesying for the Lord. This reminds so much of our generation. It's not trendy or en Vogue as I like to say, to be a christian theses days, but God has called us. We look around and see what everybody else is doing, but God called us for something completely different. That's what happens when God sets you apart. We can't let excuses and doubts interfere with God's will for us.
" Don't say, I'm too young, for you must go wherever I send you and say
whatever I tell you.
And don't be afraid of the people, for I will be
with you and will protect you.
I , the Lord have spoken!"
3.) God provides
God blows my mind with the way he provides. I have never seen a better provider than our heavenly Father. He has withheld nothing from us but gives to us everything and more in His gracious abundance. It is that last part in Jeremiah 1:9 that blows me away.The fact that God touched Jeremiahs mouth and placed the words He needed Him to prohesy in his mouth! Wow. There is nothing missing for whatever it is God has called you to do for Him. If He calls you to sow into a ministry He is going to provide. When He want's you to speak for Him He is even going to give you the words. God is not going to ask us to give something or do something that we're not able to do because anything we will ever need to and more has been given to us to accomplish His good and perfect and pleasing will for us.
Then the Lord reached out and touched my mouth and said," Look, I have put my words in your mouth!"
God called you. God is with you. God protects you. And God has already provided everything necessary. I feel so inspired to do whatever God has called me to do, because of His word. There are no more excuses!
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