74/100 #SoWillI #Inspired

Have you ever admired someone’s grasp of scripture, or how they pray? I have, and at first I used to be very intimidated to even contribute in a Bible study in front of people I considered gurus. I remember a lady whose prayers always made sense and she prayed the scriptures. I always wanted to listen to her pray, I thought that’s how I would also grow in my prayer and grasp of scripture. I also admired a certain preacher, he always brought out meaning even in verses I had never thought made sense. I wanted to be like them, so I spent time listening to them. But I noticed that I had started sounding like them.

It took me a while to realize that I was doing it all wrong. They sounded good because they had invested in closet time. They spent time in prayer and reading God’s word privately. The real work was done behind the scenes, what we saw was just a reflection of what happened in the closet. As we always say, if you spend time seeking the Lord in private, you don’t need to shout in public, it will show. Your light will shine before men and they will praise God in heaven.

We need to learn to seek the source, so as to be more and more like Him. It is okay to admire men and women of God, it is okay to admire how they preach and how they pray. But at the end of the day, we were not created to be like them but like Christ. We can only realize our full potential if we go to the source and allow Him to work through us the way He intended. God did not create you to pray like your pastor, He created you to pray like you. All you need is to seek Him with all your heart and you will automatically pray like you, and fulfill the purpose for which you were created.

The real work is hard! It requires sacrifice, it doesn’t come with applause, it requires compromising the worldly expectations. It is seeking first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, then praying, quoting scripture, preaching, will come out naturally. And you will do it with understanding, not for show off, not for applause. When you know who you are, you will not be intimidated by peoples gifts and talents. You will be comfortable in your skin and allow God to use uniquely. Admire people, allow them to mentor you, but remember the real work is seeking the source.

This week I pray for the grace to do the real work! In our closets, where nobody sees and knows. We shall set time aside with priority, to work on our own salvation with fear and trembling.

~ Selah