Insights for the JourneY Lessons by God, Insights by Elisa and her father :)
Are You Usable???
-Elisa Sangiorgio
My family and I did a study this past Sunday on Isaiah. In the beginning of the story, Isaiah was pronouncing woes on those unrighteous people around him, "Woe to those who call evil good and good evil…woe to men mighty at drinking wine" he goes on to say, forgetting that he, too, is doing wrong in the eyes of God. It comes back to that verse that talks about taking the log out of your own eye before removing the log from your friend's eye. We all tend to look at what others are doing wrong, and forget we are sinners too. After King Uzziah died, Isaiah encountered God's presence, and it was then Isaiah realized his own wrongdoing, that he was unclean in the sight of God. He then said, "Woe is me, for I am undone, because I am a man of unclean lips…" God cleansed him and then made him usable. God asked, "Whom shall I send?" It was then Isaiah was able to say to God, "Here I am, send me." See, there's a difference between being used and being usable. No one wants to be used goods, you want to be used for a good purpose. But how can you be usable? By being conformed to the image of Christ…by having a willing heart and letting God work in you and through you until you're ready for His purpose. We sometimes don't see the big picture, all we see are the struggles and difficult things we go through. Years later we look back and say, "OH so that's why I went through all that!" Sure, sometimes we don't, but I believe there's a reason and purpose for things. All these years I'm waiting to be used by God through my writing and singing, but God is also making me usable even while He's using me now through my newsletter and website. I can easily say, "God, here I am, use me!" but how can He use me when I'm not ready? When you apply for a lawyer's position but you have a veterinarian's degree, you're obviously not qualified for the job. You have to go through law school to be ready to be a lawyer, veterinarian school to be a veterinarian, right? So with God, He has to take you through His own training to be ready for whatever it is He has planned for you. It's hard to wait, believe me, but… James 1 3 "because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. 4 Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything. 5 If any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to him." AND… Philippians 2 13 "for it is God who works in you to will and to act according to his good purpose." So while you're waiting to be used, God is making sure you are usable!!! Be patient, God's not finished with you yet!!