But, Lord, I don’t want to.
Have you ever said that to your Lord? I have. Ask yourself: “Is He Lord over your decision?” “Is He Lord over your life?”
Recently I talked about being on the shelf. (See On the Shelf) So, learning my new area of service should be—will be–wonderful. But what if I don’t like my new assignment?
It is God who decides our area of service. He gives each of us gifts that we are to use in His service, to build up the body of Christ. Some of us are feet, some eyes, some less presentable parts of Christ’s body.
So what if He gives me an area of service that reflects me as a lowly, less presentable part of the body? I am—you are—His, and in service to Him. It is His choice.
And it is GOD who rewards faithful service.
I wonder if Paul didn’t have his first choice of a ministry. Paul!
“For I could wish that I myself were accursed, separated from Christ for the sake of my brethren, my kinsmen according to the flesh…” (Romans 9:3)
Paul passion and anguish for his fellow Jews was deep and genuine, extending even to willingness for eternal self-sacrifice (which Paul knew wasn’t possible).
Yet God did not give Paul a ministry to the Jews for whom Paul had such devotion.
Instead, God sent Paul to the Gentiles, including to the Corinthians who gave Paul such heartache. Yet Paul was faithful in his ministry to them.
“Therefore, since we have this ministry, as we received mercy, we do not lose heart…” (2 Corinthians 4:1)
Has God given you an area of service that you really don’t want? Remember God’s mercy to you: He
- Called you
- Saved you
- Justified you
- Is sanctifying you
- Will glorify you.
Let’s be conscious of His mercy towards you and me, thank Him for the opportunity to serve Him in whatever way He wants, and be faithful.
“Give us grateful hearts, our Father, for Your many blessings. Make us mindful of the needs of others. Through Jesus Christ our Lord.”
This Thanksgiving, take stock. Are you a grateful person? What are you grateful for? The Lord has given you and me many blessings–spiritual and earthly, eternal and temporal.
I once heard someone ask: “If the Lord removed everything for which you had not given thanks, what would you miss?”
This Thanksgiving, let’s take steps to become more grateful.
#1: Decide to become characterized by gratitude. Make up your mind.
#2: Ask the Giftgiver to give you a grateful heart.
#3: Spend time, at least 30 minutes, listing every spiritual and temporal blessing you can in that period of time. Thanksgiving Day is a great time for this, but pick additional days throughout the year as well. Your birthday. Christmas. New Year’s. Easter.
#4. Develop daily routines to reduce grumbling and increase gratitude:
– When you catch yourself grumbling, deliberately give thanks for something instead. (See Who are you grumbling at?)
– At the end of the day, every day, identify three things for which you are grateful. Think about what happened to cause those good things, and see God’s hand behind them. If you journal, write them down.
– Routinely share with others things for which you’re grateful. Sharing helps cement your thankfulness.
God commands us to give Him thanks (for example, Ephesians 5:20, ). We are told not to grumble (for example, Philippians 2:14).
(See Give thanks. Always. In everything.)
“Give us grateful hearts, our Father, for Your many blessings. Make us mindful of the needs of others. Through Jesus Christ our Lord.”
Happy Thanksgiving!
Employees are bombarded with distractions: email, messages, unscheduled visitors, phone calls. It is a huge productivity problem, with well-paid consultants and programs attempting to improve focus on the tasks at hand. Researchers have found that it takes some time, perhaps 25 minutes, to reengage after an interruption.
Distractions can be a spiritual problem as well.
Martha was distracted by her preparations and missed an opportunity to sit at Jesus’ feet.
“But Martha was distracted with all her preparations; and she came up to Him and said, “Lord, do You not care that my sister has left me to do all the serving alone? Then tell her to help me.”” (Luke 10:40)
Solomon was distracted by his many foreign wives, and bad things happened.
“Now King Solomon loved many foreign women…and his wives turned his heart…away after other gods; and his heart was not wholly devoted to the Lord his God…Solomon did what was evil in the sight of the Lord, and did not follow the Lord fully…Now the Lord was angry with Solomon because his heart was turned away from the Lord, the God of Israel, who had appeared to him twice, and had commanded him concerning this thing, that he should not go after other gods; but he did not observe what the Lord had commanded. (1 Kings 11:1–13)
Interruptions and distractions must be managed if they cannot be eliminated.
Solomon could have obeyed the Lord and not taken many foreign wives.
Martha could have made more simple preparations and focused on the Lord.
We all are susceptible. A friend who has a child with ADD (Attention Deficit Disorder) talks about ADOS: Attention Deficit…Ooooh….Shiny.
But we can learn to recognize distractions, and keep our focus where the Lord wants it…But not without prayer and His help. And not without practice.
I think this is a tough problem in busy lives. Do you have suggestions for me?
I love to give and receive encouragement. And encouragement is—can be—a spiritual gift. (See A Little Help FOR Our Friends.)
But it is possible to encourage evil, and that is not good.
“Because you disheartened the righteous with falsehood when I did not cause him grief, but have encouraged the wicked not to turn from his wicked way and preserve his life…” (Ezekiel 13:22)
And the end of the chain of depravity in Romans 1 is:
“Although they know the ordinance of God, that those who practice such things are worthy of death, they not only do the same, but also give hearty approval to those who practice them.” (Romans 1:32)
We must be discerning to know when encouragement is good, or not.
We must prayerfully consider:
How and when to encourage
AND how not to encourage evil in others.
Let’s consider “how to stimulate one another to love and good deeds,” (Hebrews 10:24)
“These things speak and exhort and reprove with all authority.” (Titus 2:15)
Let’s consider how to encourage God’s children.
And let’s pray how to respond to the evil in our midst.
“You’re in the Army now. You’re in the Army now.
You’re not behind a plow. You’re in the Army now.”
I sang that ditty as a kid, never expecting I’d be in the Army. Ever.
We’re in the Army Now
But I am in the army now.
And you, as a fellow Christian, are also in Christ’s army. We are to be good soldiers of God.
“Suffer hardship with me, as a good soldier of Christ Jesus.” (2 Timothy 2:3)
Fight the Good Fight
We are to fight the good fight of faith.
“This command I entrust to you, Timothy, my son, … that by them you fight the good fight, keeping faith and a good conscience…” (1 Timothy 1:18-19)
“I have fought the good fight, I have finished the course, I have kept the faith.” (2 Timothy 4:7)
Use God’s Armor
We are to put on the whole armor of God.
“The night is almost gone, and the day is near. Therefore let us lay aside the deeds of darkness and put on the armor of light.” (Romans 13:12)
“Put on the full armor of God, so that you will be able to stand firm against the schemes of the devil.” (Ephesians 6:11)
“Therefore, take up the full armor of God, so that you will be able to resist in the evil day, and having done everything, to stand firm.” (Ephesians 6:13)
We’re on Duty
As soldiers in Christ’s army, we are always on duty. We never get a furlough.
“No soldier in active service entangles himself in the affairs of everyday life, so that he may please the one who enlisted him as a soldier.” (2 Timothy 2:4)
Follow our Lord and Commander
We need to stay alert for attacks, and fall in line behind our Lord and Commander.
“And the armies which are in heaven, clothed in fine linen, white and clean, were following Him on white horses.” (Revelation 19:14)
“And I saw the beast and the kings of the earth and their armies assembled to make war against Him who sat on the horse and against His army.” (Revelation 19:19)
While the battle may rage, and while we know more difficult battles are coming, we also know the outcome of the war. God wins. And we, as His soldiers, are on the winning side.
“These [the beast and his followers] will wage war against the Lamb, and the Lamb will overcome them, because He is Lord of lords and King of kings, and those who are with Him are the called and chosen and faithful.” (Revelation 17:14)
Hallelujah!
“The Lord has put me on the shelf.”
That is “Christian-ese” for “I am not in service”; “I’ve been set aside.”
Be careful. You may be in the Lord’s place of service, even though it isn’t how you want to be used.
Watch how you interpret “on the shelf.”
How about: “He is preparing me for something.” “He is giving me an opportunity to rest.” “I need to watch for opportunities in the place He put me.” “My time hasn’t come.” “Wait.”
Think about two people who might have felt they were on the shelf and forgotten:
John the Baptist
John the Baptist was about six months older than Jesus (Luke 1).
Eight days after he was born, his father prophesied: “And you, child, will be called the prophet of the Most High; for you will go on before the LORD to prepare His ways…” (Luke 1:76)
Then there was a loooonnnnggg delay:
“And the child continued to grow and to become strong in spirit, and he lived in the deserts until the day of his public appearance to Israel.” (Luke 1:80)
His public appearance didn’t come until he was about 30.
Moses
Moses fled Egypt when he was 40 and settled in Midian where he pastured the sheep of his father-in-law for 40 years. Forty years!
During those 40 years, he married, had children, and tended the sheep.
And then, one day, out of the blue, the angel of the LORD appeared to Moses in a blazing fire from the midst of a bush. (Exodus 3:2)
The time had come for the LORD to send Moses back to Egypt in order to deliver His people.
Our Shelf Time
John the Baptist, no doubt, knew about the prophecy and was waiting for the Lord to tell him, “Go!”
There is no indication Moses thought he would have anything to do for the Lord. He probably thought he would continue to tend sheep, year after year.
What about you? Me?
We do not know the future. We do not know the Lord’s specific plans.
But we do have the present, and need to use our time wisely.
Continue to grow in knowledge of God.
Study the Bible
Worship
Pray
Be obedient to Him.
Watch for His orders
Trust
When will it happen? When will it be over? How long, Lord?
Even Jesus asked this question: ““And Jesus answered and said, “You unbelieving and perverted generation, how long shall I be with you? How long shall I put up with you?”” (Matthew 17:17)
Your reality may be tough. You may be agonizing about the fix you are in.
Switch your view from your situation to the Timekeeper.
God, all-knowing, all-wise, all-powerful, has control of the clock. He will be right on time.
“And at the end of four hundred and thirty years, to the very day, all the hosts of the Lord went out from the land of Egypt.” (Exodus 12:41)
““On that day I will…” (For example, Ezekiel 29:21, Hosea 1:5)
He knows what is happening to and around you. He promises to bring good out of whatever it is (Romans 8:28-29).
He controls the depth of the trial, and the length of the trial.
Fix your eyes on Jesus. (Hebrews 12:2)
Trust your almighty, loving Lord.
I shouldn’t bother God with that little thing… I’ll just pray about the big stuff.
Huh?!
“For the want of a nail the shoe was lost,
For the want of a shoe the horse was lost,
For the want of a horse the rider was lost,
For the want of a rider the battle was lost,
For the want of a battle the kingdom was lost,
And all for the want of a horseshoe-nail.”
Benjamin Franklin
What, exactly, is “big stuff” to God?
Nothing is too difficult for Him. Jeremiah 32:17
With God all things are possible. Matthew 19:26
God is almighty over all…including the “big stuff” and the “little stuff.”
Everything is easy for God, so even the “big stuff” is “little stuff.”
If it’s important to you, it’s important to your Father.
Pray about the “little stuff.”
So… Lord, should I upgrade my operating system?
I can do all things through Him who strengthens me. (Philippians 4:13)
“Phil 4:13” is often written on athletes’ eye blacks, bodies, and uniforms. They claim the verse guarantees they can win.
But the verse, in context, is about being content, with the Lord’s help, whether you are rich or poor, whether you are hungry or filled.
God never guarantees we will win in the arena, or in the ring, or in the marketplace.
But God guarantees we will be made into the image of Christ. (Romans 8:29)
Remember Philippians 4:13 when you are challenged to exercise the fruit of the Spirit.
“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control” (Galatians 5:22)
Remember Philippians 4:13 when you want to curse your enemy.
“But I say to you who hear, love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you.” (Luke 6:27–28)
Remember Philippians 4:13 when you don’t want to forgive.
“And forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors.” (Matthew 6:12)
God guarantees He will work on us until the day of Christ Jesus both to want to do His will and to actually do His will.
So, the next time you want to explode rather than being patient or loving, remind yourself that, through your Lord who strengthens you, you can do it.
Let’s write Philippians 4:13 on our heart and minds.
Who’s the star?
I just read an interesting article about pitchmen that has obvious implications for Christians giving their testimonies.
When a celebrity pitches a product, the celebrity is the star. However, a successful pitchman makes the product the star.
Some Christian testimonies seem to focus on their experiences, especially how lost they were, rather than the Lord who saved them.
I’m challenged to make sure in my life I’m making my Lord the star.
* “The Pitchman,” in What the Dog Saw, Malcolm Gladwell.
Receive Updates
Sign up here to receive blog posts via email. I promise I will never share your email address. You may unsubscribe at any time.
* indicates required
When Storms Come: Will You Be Ready?
When Storms Come: Will You Be Ready? helps Christians not fear bad news, shows them how to handle current trouble, and helps them emerge stronger on the other side.
About me
I'm a Christian, wife, retiree, and author.
I love studying and putting knowledge into action. I'll share what I'm learning, encourage you, and urge all of us to press on to become more like Christ.
Pressing On Together
- God’s Love in Us July 12, 2026God’s Passionate Love has been poured out in us, His redeemed, believers in Christ! The love of God has been poured out within our hearts through the Holy Spirit who was given to us. (Romans 5:5) Amazing grace! We are to walk in love Be imitators of God, as beloved children; and walk in love,… […]Pressing On Together
- God’s Loving Purpose July 5, 2026You may be in tremendous emotional or physical pain. The possible causes are too many to list, but, if you have been redeemed, if you have received Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior, then God has a loving purpose for what you are going through. Remember: God loves you with an infinite, eternal, steadfast, all-knowing… […]Pressing On Together
- God’s Passionate Love June 28, 2026God—Father, Son, Holy Spirit—loves us* immensely more than we can fathom. If only we* knew how much, everything would be different. We would have joy abounding, NO anxiety, confident expectation that God was working everything for our glorification, and much much more. Because God loves us*, we have eternal life. For God so loved the… […]Pressing On Together
- Somebody’s Praying for You June 21, 2026Have you heard the song: Somebody’s Praying for Me? Several artists have recorded it, and it is easy to find on YouTube (original and shorter versions). My favorite is Ricky Skaggs Somebody’s Prayin. I find the song comforting, inspiring, and encouraging. Many or most of us (but probably not all of us) have somebody… […]Pressing On Together
- God’s Purpose; Christians’ Role June 14, 2026God created us for His glory. Everyone who is called by My name, and whom I have created for My glory, whom I have formed, even whom I have made. (Isaiah 43:7) Christians’ Role Whether, then, you eat or drink or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God. (1 Corinthians 10:31) Worship… […]Pressing On Together
- Christian Contentment June 7, 2026For a Christian, it is possible to be content, even in difficult circumstances. Look at Paul, writing from prison: Not that I speak from want, for I have learned to be content in whatever circumstances I am. I know how to get along with humble means, and I also know how to live in prosperity;… […]Pressing On Together
- Confident Expectation of Righteousness May 31, 2026This post is ONLY for Christians, those who have received Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior. If you haven’t, you are missing out. Please see Becoming a Child of God. The enormous, stunning, unfathomable good news is that Christians can and should have a confident expectation of righteousness. Biblical hope is a sure thing. For… […]Pressing On Together
- What is Jesus Christ Doing Now? May 24, 2026Jesus Christ was lifted up from earth and entered heaven (See Jesus Christ the Exalted Lord). He was given back the glory He had from eternity, enthroned, given eternal dominion over all, and seated at the right hand of the Father. What is Jesus Christ doing now? He upholds all things by the word of… […]Pressing On Together
- Jesus Christ the Exalted Lord May 17, 202640 days after Easter, Jesus Christ was lifted up to heaven while the apostles watched. This year, 40 days after Easter was May 14, Ascension Day. From the Apostles’ (Earth) point of view, the Bible records only this: He was lifted up while they were looking on, and a cloud received Him out of their… […]Pressing On Together
- Press On! May 10, 2026The title of this blog is “Pressing on Together.” My welcome note in July 2014 said: This website is dedicated to pressing on: finding hope ahead, forgetting past sins and victories, overcoming barriers, learning how. And moving forward together. My hope was and is that we can help each other energetically pursue Christlikeness, challenging ourselves… […]Pressing On Together