Some people wait their entire lives for permission to do the thing they were created to do. They make excuses of being too young and then too old; too inexperienced and then overqualified. It seems like there are always a million reasons not to do the very thing we know we should be doing. Some wait to reach a certain level of financial security, while others convince themselves they don’t deserve to live the life of which they dream.
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As followers of Christ, we have to understand that time is both finite and fleeting. We have been called to carry out the mission of Christ, yet we hesitate, waiting for a sign or the stars to align. In Matthew 28:19, Jesus said, “Go”. What are you waiting for?
We were not created to be timid, but rather to boldly proclaim the name of Jesus. No matter your personality, if you are a disciple of Christ, His power fills your being; there is no timidity in power. We were created to do good works for Christ (Ephesians 2:10), and those works will not get accomplished as long as we are standing on the sidelines watching the world pass by in front of us. Work requires action, and it is time we moved off of the bench and got into the game. There are no second string players on God’s side; we are all called to contribute to the efforts of the team.
When we allow Satan to insinuate fear into our minds, we flinch and waver when confronted with a difficult task. We assume someone else will get it done, but the reason God gave this work to you may very well be that there is no one else to do this particular task. Don’t cringe at the opportunity to become fully alive and participate in the grandest of all adventures. Embrace the moment and seize who you were created to be. No one else possesses your unique blend of gifts, talents and skills; only you are qualified to do the work He has placed before you. Someone else might get it done, but not in the same way that you can. Who knows what blessings you forfeit simply because you hesitate and miss the moment entrusted to you.
Fear is of Satan, not of God. When you feel fearful, recognize its source. You are a child of the King, not a slave to the traitor. All authority over evil has been given to us through the power of Jesus Christ (Luke 10:19), so what have we possibly to fear? If God is for us, nothing can stand in our path (Romans 8:31-39; Isaiah 54:17). We have listened to the lies of the enemy for so long that we have forgotten our true identity in Christ. He did not create works for us to do and then fail to equip us to carry out that mission. No, He has outfitted us with everything we need to complete the work that He began in us (Philippians 1:6). When we are listening to the voice of our Father, we can move forward in full confidence that we will accomplish what we set out to do.
The only thing we achieve by failing to act is to miss the blessings of God. He instilled us with passions that are to be used for His glory, and we are truly happy and complete only when we are living the life He designed for us. In His wisdom and grace He has given us free reign to choose how we will respond to the mission. He rejoices in our creativity and willingness to discover how we can best utilize our talents for Him. The longer we wait to begin, the more we are certain to miss. God has placed a framework within you that allows you to carry out all that He has given you to do; the only way we can fail is if we choose not to act. The results are guaranteed if only we will seize the opportunity, turn our face to the wind and engage the battle. The power has been given to you, and the victory assured. What are you waiting for?