July 6, 2006
Encouragement for Today
Principle 7
“Ready to Quit”
Sharon Glasgow, Proverbs 31 Speaker Team Member
http://proverbs31.gospelcom.net/speaker_sharon.htm
Key Verse:
II Corinthians 9-10, “Therefore, I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me. That is why, for Christ sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong.” (NIV)
Devotion:
I was exhausted, worn out and overwhelmed. There were many unfulfilled expectations, too many people wanting too many things from me and I had nothing left to give. I had become so inundated with life that my daily time with God slipped and soon I felt unworthy and inadequate.
I decided that I didn’t deserve to teach my 6th grade Sunday school class anymore. After all, how could God use a person like me? All week I rehearsed how I would tell the Sunday school superintendent my decision. Each day passed and I couldn’t muster up the courage to call him. By the time Sunday rolled around I decided that I would just have to find him and resign that very day. I didn’t want to teach another day and planned to tell him he would have to find a quick substitute. I looked everywhere for him, he was nowhere to be found.
It was five minutes before my class was to start and I didn’t have a lesson planned. I just couldn’t teach! These children deserved a teacher who was totally committed to God. Finally I saw the Sunday school superintendent in the distance, but before I could reach him, I was stopped by a crying little girl, one of my students. “Mrs. Glasgow, I’m so scared, I decided to be baptized today and I won’t be able to be in your class because they are baptizing me in this service. I’m alone, my family is not Christian and I don’t know why, but I’m nervous. Can you stay with me until the second service begins?” By this time the superintendent was out of sight and my class was without a teacher. I told the little girl, “Give me one minute; I’m going to get the other children.”
I was back in minutes with the class. We all hugged her and prayed with her before she went into the baptistery. We all ran into the service and sat at the back to watch. Right before the little girl was baptized the minister asked her, “Who helped bring you to the Lord?” Standing on her tiptoes, she looked over the baptistery edge to me at the back, and said, “Mrs. Glasgow did.” Tears of humility and joy rolled down my cheeks.
I didn’t quit teaching. God showed me that His grace was and is sufficient; His power is made perfect in my weaknesses. I had grown tired and weary, but God gave me His strength when I needed it. He always does when we remember where the power source is and plug in!
My prayer for today:
Oh Lord, just when I think I’ve got a plan for my life I stumble and fall. Everything gets complicated when I’m not leaning on you! In Proverbs 16:9 you tell me, “A man’s heart plans his way, but the Lord directs his steps.” Thank you, Lord for directing my path. Please show me your way Lord, so things do not have to be so hard. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.
Application steps:
When God calls you to a mission He will give you the energy, motivation and ability to do what He has called you to do. The only way to get the right “fuel” for service is by spending time with Him. Read God’s Word. Listen as He leads you and when you are weak or confused, turn to Him for strength. Try reading Revelation chapter 3.
Reflection points:
Which comes first - washing the dishes or talking to God? Talk to Him first.
You’ll be more productive in your chores.
What are you listening to while you work or drive? Praise Him and He will lift your spirit.
Power verses:
Isaiah 40:28-31, “Do you not know? Have you not heard? The Lord is the everlasting God, the creator of the ends of the earth. He will not grow tired or weary, and his understanding no one can fathom. He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak. Even youths grow tired and weary, and young men stumble and fall; but those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagle; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not faint.” (NIV)
Additional resources:
Living Life on Purpose, by Lysa TerKeurst
http://proverbs31.gospelcom.net/newresources_livingLife.htm
At the Feet of Ordinary Women, by Angie Conrad
http://proverbs31.gospelcom.net/newresources_atTheFeet.htm
P31 Woman Magazine
http://proverbs31.gospelcom.net/woman.htm
Originally published Thursday, 06 July 2006.
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