𝐖𝐡𝐚𝐭𝐬𝐨𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐫 𝐭𝐡𝐲 𝐡𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐟𝐢𝐧𝐝𝐞𝐭𝐡 𝐭𝐨 𝐝𝐨, …

This morning, I read two devotionals with seemingly conflicting perspectives about striving for higher goals. One (from Lutheran Church Charities) encourages the notion of reaching higher: "When God's blessing stops flowing through you, it stops flowing to you." The other (from Forgotten Voices International) warned against worldly endeavors that distract from spiritual growth: "Usually when we aim higher in life, we end up hitting low in the spiritual life."

Both devotionals quoted multiple passages of scripture. The base one in the LCC devotional was Nehemiah 3:5 “The next section was repaired by the men of Tekoa, but their nobles would not put their shoulders to the work under their supervisors.” FVI quoted Matthew 5:6 “Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness for they shall be filled.”

To me, the key idea in both of these, is keeping your life God-centered. Whatever may be your daily occupation, keep your eyes on the Lord. Don’t forget that your blessings are God’s, that your gains are seeds to further His kingdom. Two verses come to mind for me: “Whatsoever thy hand findeth to do, do it with thy might” Ecclesiastes 9:10a KJV and “Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for men.” Colossians 3:23 NIV

I’ve been feeling a bit dry lately. I love to write. I love writing for SonBeams. I love being God’s tool to encourage discussion and keeping His word fresh on the minds of all my friends. I’ve felt blank lately, though, and sub-par. Dry or not, we have a mission field as SonBeams, and I should have been trying harder. I should have been giving it my might, all my heart. I should have put my shoulders to the work, out of a hunger and thirst for righteousness.

Where have you been giving God less than your all lately? Is He whispering (or yelling) to you about an area you need to improve? I challenge you to tackle it today – even if you aren’t perfect and even if you’re not feeling inspired. This may not be the most eloquent piece I’ve ever composed but, with God’s perfect plan, it may reach just one hungry SonBeam soul today. And it will have been worth it.

I leave you with one parting thought. It’s a quote I have carried with me for fifteen years but I have no clue where it came from and so I can’t cite it for you: “The Lord reminds us that He does not call the able but enables the called.” Don’t wait to feel able. Act on His call and trust in His ability.

(𝘰𝘳𝘪𝘨𝘪𝘯𝘢𝘭𝘭𝘺 𝘱𝘰𝘴𝘵𝘦𝘥 𝘪𝘯 2013)