Meditation Monday: My Ministry

“Therefore, since we have this ministry, as we have received mercy, we do not lose heart.”    2 Corinthians 4:1

One simple memory verse has really gotten me to thinking so much about how I view ministry versus how God does. I didn’t have a clue how powerful this solitary sentence in scripture would become to me as I began committing it to my memory and meditating on its truth.

As weak human beings, we have this tendency to get stuck picturing one thing in our head when God has something entirely more rich planned for us. Being His disciples, it’s only natural that at some point we begin to dream of the great ways God will use us in His ministry only to feel defeated when it doesn’t turn out how we envisioned it would. I don’t think I’m alone in this tendency.

When I look at my life sometimes, I feel like there is just no way God can use me in big ways during that particular season of my life. What do I have to offer?

Then there have been other seasons where I’m zeroed in on one certain ministry. I determine that I’m just too busy to take on any others because I have this big, flourishing ministry going and I couldn’t possibly sacrifice any of my focus for other opportunities to minister to those who don’t fit in that realm.

Over time and numerous humbling realizations, I’ve come to understand that neither perspective is from God. He is the One who equips and sustains me as I do His work. I have His power to offer, nothing less. When I can take my focus off of myself and place it on Him, then I start to observe opportunities to serve others. Sometimes it involves me volunteering at church, while other times it requires me to get down on the floor and pretend play with my son. I’m called to do these ministries, so God will strengthen me to fulfill His calling on my life.

Then there’s the other perspective. The one that involves me pouring all of my efforts into one thing. As a flawed individual, I can miss out on so many opportunities to reach out to others if I allow myself to become so narrow-minded that I can’t let go of one task. Being a wife and mom is my highest calling, and it should rank at the very top of my list of priorities, but if I’m not careful, I can make it an excuse to stay in my comfortable bubble. On the other hand, if I find myself pouring more energy into a ministry, even a legitimately noble one, than I am affording my family, then I cannot be pleasing God to my fullest potential.

So I’ve been making a list of my current ministry opportunities. It’s overwhelming a bit, but when I look at all of these things people that God has called me to focus on in this time of life, I can feel Him empower me to not lose heart, but to persevere.

(If you’re interested in joining the awesome group of women who have joined me in memorizing one verse per month, leave me a comment or send me an email {kwesterf@gmail.com}, and I’ll add you to our Facebook group. I will say it a million times if I need to: memorizing God’s Word is such an effective way to grow your faith and enrich your life. You will never regret doing it, only never trying.)

***Congrats to the winner of last week’s giveaway, Get Out of That Pit, Erin M! Please reply to the email I sent you in the next 24 hours to claim your prize!***

 
 

 

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Meditation Monday: My Ministry

8 thoughts on “Meditation Monday: My Ministry

  1. “He is the One who equips and sustains me as I do His work. I have His power to offer, nothing less.” What a great reminder, Kelly! I think we all struggle with this from time to time, especially as mothers who are responsible for a multitude of things every day. I’m so thankful for a God who calls us, equips us and blesses us as we respond to His calling.

    Thanks for the encouragement, Kelly!

  2. Hi Kelly,

    Thank you for the thoughtful post. I share many of your roles (except blogger) during this life season but my most emotionally challenging are my most time consuming – those of wife and mom. I have turned into the emotionally distant controlling mom that I had as a child and a lot of it is personality driven. I can see now that my mom must have been the introvert that I am now with an extrovert child (as I once was and as my 4-year-old son is). It’s hard for introverts and extroverts to co-exist when only one of them is an adult! My husband has continuous serious health and financial struggles that we have not figured out yet in 5 years of marriage how to work on together. Sometimes I have felt these two great blessings have been enormous burdens which I know is not God’s view. Thanks you for the encouragement to not lose heart and to focus on God’s mercy.

    Take care, Jennifer

    1. Jennifer, I type this reply with a sincere prayer that God will lavish you with His mercy as you persevere. God will provide your needs – the financial as well as the ones for a healthy perspective in relating to your husband and son. Keep up the good fight! 🙂

  3. Thanks for your blog! Would love to join the women in learning a verse a month! Can’t wait to get started with you!

    1. Yay Melissa! So excited to have another scripture memory sister! I’ll email you to work out the details of getting you added to our Facebook group.

  4. Amen! Love this! I love how you see your ministry to people and not things to which God has called you. Three cheers fr memorizing the Word.
    Blessings to you
    Andee

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