Feeling unqualified
It was his first time in church. After service the young man was introduced to the pastor. The pastor asked him what he thought about the experience. “It was just what I needed,” he said. His eyes were getting a little watery, then he said, “I felt something.”
The pastor looked at him, smiled and asked, “Can I pray for you?” “I don’t think so,” the young man responded. After a pause, he said, “I’ve got a lot of stuff in my life that needs to be straighten out first.”
This young man’s reaction might be similar to yours.
What specific promises of God have you been holding on to? Promises of breakthrough, or answers to pray, or direction, etc. But as time goes by and/or detours take place, you can start to doubt if what God has promised will actually happen.
You may blame God, but most often you’ll blame yourself. And this is where the similarity with the young man mentioned early starts. You believe there is something wrong with you. You haven’t prayed enough, read the bible enough, or gone to church enough. There are things you need to straighten out first.
God hit the button
On the show The Voice, the contestants come out and sing as the judges face the opposite way. If the judge likes what they hear, they hit a big red button and their chair turns around. By doing this, the judge is signaling that they are impressed with what they have heard and want the person to come onto their team.
What’s so awesome about God is that he hit the button for you to be on his team without you doing anything. In fact, in spite of you doing anything. You don’t have to prove anything, or try to qualify beforehand.
Back to the young man…
He thanked the pastor and begin to walk off. The pastor caught him and said, “You don’t have to do anything.” The two of them prayed together. The young man later told people that God accepted him just the way he was.
So if you’re trying to get things straight first, or trying to prove something to God before his promise can to be fulfilled, cancel the audition. The Judge has already hit the button, turned towards you, and likes what he sees!
This was the me when I first accepted God. I’m impressed with this story line that seems like just about anyone can come to talk & share about their feelings. I know for me To try to get things right inside of me Is so Important. I have felt I needed to always get right so God can accept me and know my heart’s right with Him. He AllReady accepted me.