Do not say I am only…
Dear God
please untie the knots
that are in my mind,
my heart and my life.
Remove the have not’s,
the can not’s and the do not’s
that I have in my mind.
Erase the will not’s,
may not’s
might not’s that may find
a home in my heart.
Release me from the could not’s,
would not’s and
should not’s that obstruct my life.
And most of all,
Dear God,
I ask that you remove from my mind,
my heart, and my life, all of the ‘am not’s’
that I have allowed to hold me back,
especially the thought,
that I am not good enough
Amen
There are many characters in the Bible accounts who felt inadequate, unworthy, felt too old or too young, who were powerless with words, were unloved, were of the wrong cultural group or nationality, who were childless, or heart broken. There were those who felt that the task that God was giving them was too much and that they were surely not the right person for the job. They did not have the skill set or aptitude for the role. But God reminded them of who He was and His grace.
Jeremiah “Alas, Sovereign Lord,” I said, “I do pnot know how to speak; I am too young.” But the Lord said to me, “Do not say, ‘I am too young.’ You must go to everyone I send you to and say whatever I command you. Do not be afraid of them, for I am with you and will rescue you,” declares the Lord. Jeremiah 1 v 6-8 NIV
But Moses said to God, “Who am I that I should go to Pharaoh and bring the Israelites out of Egypt?”
Exodus 3 v 11 NIV.
Then Moses went out and spoke these words to all Israel: I am now a hundred and twenty years old and I am no longer able to lead you. Deuteronomy 31 v 2 NIV
Leah felt unloved and sidelined. When the Lord saw that Leah was not loved, He enabled her to conceive, but Rachel remained childless. She conceived again, and when she gave birth to a son she said, “Because the Lord heard that I am not loved, He gave me this one too. Genesis 29 v31-33
Hannah “I am a woman who is deeply troubled. I was pouring out my soul to the Lord. 1 Samuel 1 v 15
John “After me comes the one more powerful than I, the straps of whose sandals I am not worthy to stoop down and untie. Mark 1 v 7
We can perhaps identify with many of the characters in the Bible who felt that they were not up to the mark. But, whenever we feel inadequate, have made a mistake, wonder what on earth we think we are doing, have a crisis of confidence, worry that we have made a wrong choice, feel a failure at our given task, then remind yourself of who you are in Christ. Remember that you are loved, you are chosen, you are forgiven, you are accepted, you have the peace of Christ, and you are His workmanship. He has not finished with you yet.
PRAY
Oh God of second chances and new beginnings, here I am again. Nancy Spiegelberg
God be in my head, and in my understanding.
God be in mine eyes, and in my looking.
God be in my mouth, and in my speaking.
God be in my heart, and in my thinking.
God be at my end, and at my departing.
A Medieval Prayer 1538