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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