S.O.A.P. for 04/26/2009 Who Am I?

S: Judges 6:15
"But Lord", Gideon asked, "How can I save Israel? My clan is the weakest in Mannaseh, and I am the least in my family."

O: Gideon asks the Lord probably what anyone will and has asked the Lord. Who am I? I am no body. I am not powerful, nor do I have a place of status that people will listen to me. Gideon felt unworthy and too unimportant to be inpactful in any sort of way. How often do we feel the same>?

When God calls us or convicts us of something, how often do we say - "I can't do that!", or "How am I supposed to be able to pull that off?" or "They won't listen to me", "That's going to take more time than I have", 'That's way beyond what I'm capable of, "

Excuse me here, beyond what WHO is capable of?... It's not US He's asking to do something. He wants to do something THROUGH us, and because of our humbleness HIS greatness will be revealed!!! He is a genius! He's asking us to be His willing vessels so that HE may do those magnificent things and still reveal that HE is among us! So who do we think we are?

Have we robbed Him of HIS thunder & power when we toss something we've felt called to do aside? Have we prevented HIM from showing Himself to a world that needs Him? Have we accidentally kept more people from coming to Him because we haven't allowed Him to do what He wants to do? When did we start thinking it was us that did anything anyway? Have we forgotten that we can do ALL things through Him that strengthens us? Have we forgotten how to be His vessels and let Him do the impossible? Have we put Him in a box?

A: I MUST remember, I must FORCE myself to remember that nothing is too big or too small for my God! If I feel called to do something, then God has simply chosen me to be His vessel. So who am I to think it can't be done, when I won't be the one making the "magic" happen in the first place. Yes I need to be willing, and go forth in His will, but the greatness, Oh the greatness of that is ALL HIM!! Am I going to give up an opportunity to let God do something because I didn't think I was good enough to be the one to do it? Who IS good enough, for that matter, for we all fall short. How sad to think I may be a culprit for having prevented HIM from revealing Himself in His Glory somehow. How sad, indeed...

P: Lord God,
Forgive me when I doubt. Forgive me when in doubting myself, I've ultimately doubted You. How can I say I truly believe You capable of anything, when I won't let You show me!? Forgive my fear, and help me let You lead me. Help my heart be courageous enough to be Your vessel when You call, and help my Faith to remember that it is YOU and not my own knowledge that will put me where You want me.

How honored I am that You would also pick me - someone of little consequence to the world, and love me enough to want me to be Your vessel. How awesome, that You can take someone of little consequence, and make something Glorious happen! What genius to pick the lowly that Your light and Glory may be revealed and that no one could possibly think that Your humble servant could have done it without You! I love You and I hope to one day hear You say, "Well Done"...

In Jesus Name,

Amen

Who am I, that the Lord of all the Earth...
Would care to know my name, would care to feel my hurt...

Not because of who I am,
but because of what YOU'VE done,
Not because of what I've done,
But because of WHO YOU ARE!!!!!