Our Creator is the author of great ideas and magnificent plans, and He has an eye for eternal purposes. He uses us, as His creation, to carry out wonderful tasks that are a part of His story. But isn’t it funny that when we receive our “action items” from the Lord, our first inclination is to seek the approval from someone we respect or admire? I did it just this week.
I’ve been questioning an idea that I felt was from the Lord and sought out the counsel of a trusted friend. We are so blessed to have those friendships! But what happens when we receive opposing comments? What do we do when we feel strongly that God has called us to this action, but our counsel suggests otherwise?
Is it possible to be inspired to act on a calling yet have little encouragement from those around us? Absolutely! For instance, Noah was called to build an ark, but he met resistance from his entire generation. The people had never seen rain before. They must have thought Noah had lost his mind. But Noah obeyed God despite the lack of support he had from others.
Can you imagine the inner struggle he must have dealt with? It was years before the first raindrop fell….plenty of time for the townspeople to claim that Noah’s project was a failure and that the rain would never come.
As a “recovering” people-pleaser, I know very well that there is no greater reward than the approval of our Heavenly Father when we are obedient. If God has called us to a task, the only affirmation we need is His. If Noah can do it, surely, with God’s help, we can too!
Memory Verse:
“Am I now trying to win the approval of men, or of God? Or am I trying to please men? If I were still trying to please men, I would not be a servant of Christ.”
– Galatians 1:10 (NIV)
Prayer Prompt:
“Oh, Lord, I want to be like Noah with his unwavering faith! Help me to trust in Your calling at all costs. May I never be tempted to turn my back on Your plan in order to preserve my reputation or please another. I pray for strength and courage to go before me as I strive to point my generation to You, even when it looks like the rain will never come. Give me direction as I seek to…”
Contributing Writer:
DeeDee Sharon
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