I had an interesting conversation with a friend recently.
She complained to me that she didn’t like her church because the church didn’t do enough social justice work.
And that set me off.
My friend is a brilliant single professional woman with plenty of initiative and leadership experience.
She has brains, money, time relatively speaking (compared to a stay at home mom with toddlers), and plenty of networking resources.
She’s godly and well versed in the Scriptures.
And she’s great at computer programming.
Which makes her the ideal candidate to actually DO SOMETHING to change the world!
There was a time in my life – even until recently – when I looked to the church to help me do something.
I got frustrated when the church didn’t act fast enough or do big enough to impress me.
I complained about how we did missions and where we put our money and why the church didn’t step up to the plate like I thought it should.
Then one day, I realized that I am the church.
I am a Breathing Thinking Creative Able Spirit-filled God-Empowered Purpose-Driven Kingdom-Minded Eternity-Focused People-Loving World-Changer.
And here’s the thing:
YOU ARE TOO if you have accepted Christ into your heart by faith and are seeking to follow Him daily.
Yes, you are.
God has a plan and a purpose for your life. He has created you for good works which He has prepared before hand that you should walk in them (Ephesians 2:8-9).
So it’s high time we stop blaming the church and decide to just do something.
I think the bigger conundrum for many of us ends up being: What? What should I do?
I believe many of you reading this blog are dying to change your world for Christ and have no idea where to begin.
The options are limitless. The task seems huge.
I agree.
I believe there are 3 things you can do today to begin changing your world:
#1 Pray
In Matthew 9:37-38 it says: “The harvest is plentiful but the laborers are few; therefore pray earnestly to the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into his harvest.” It starts right here. It starts right now. Start making it a habit to pray: “Lord, send me.” I guarantee you He will answer you!
#2 Prepare
I have been meditating much on Isaiah 45:5. It says: “I equip you, though you do not know me.” Don’t get frustrated with where you are at today. God has you exactly where you need to be. Be patient and surrender to his plan for you today so that you can be ready to receive what He has purposed for you tomorrow. Use this time to prepare yourself and get equipped in every way possible. It will be worth it soon!
#3 Participate
Here’s the last tip for you today: people are Doing something for God all over the place. Though God may have something specifically for you to do, you will not die if you jump on what other world changers are doing, learning from them, helping them, and participating in God’s work until your number is called and you’re off the bench so to speak.
The church is looking for people who will get up and do something for God.
Why don’t you be the change?
Love the last line. Get up and do something for God.
Good blog. People need to participate
Totally agree. Thank you!
Good Stuff.. the problem is single folks like me feel excluded in a lot of things. All the leaders in the church are married men. Society is half single these days and the church is in the past century. The church leaders need to have a reality check.. wow.. every one is not married..and most (due to the lack of men) will not get married or they will give up and look for a nice unbeliever. I look for ways to serve that are not in a church program. I try to encourage other singles that are feel alone and forgotten.
Thank you for this post. I am a pastor’s wife of 28 years. Thank you for this reminder and helpful hints and what I can do to change the world. Renewed my passport recently,ya never know. Have a wonderful Wednesday.
Amen and amen!!! It’s always been the 90/10 rule 10% of the people do 90% of the work… Sad, but true even in church, where if everyone was actually serving within their giftedness it would be simply amazing!!! Find out how God has gifted you and GO!!!!
Amen and amen! Recently read I Peter 4:10 in the New English Bible and loved the translation, “Serve one another with the particular gifts God has given each of you, as faithful dispensers of the magnificently varied grace of God,” So often we miss what God has for service to Him today thinking about other ways and places to serve!
This is such a great post! Thanks, Lina.
Good stuff today Dr. Lina!
Peace out,
Amy
Great post. My church has a very active singles department. Now it is up to me to take the first step and get involved.
This is a timely post. Last Thursday, we gathered some women who recently took a survey on our women’s ministry to communicate the analyzed results. The meeting included an open forum. Although there were some good ideas expressed, and although my supervisor patiently listened and affirmed each woman, there are simply not enough church resources available. Finally, one woman said something along these lines: “You know, we really just need to love one another and serve one another. We can’t expect the church to take care of all of our needs. We need to just take care of each other”. Amen and amen. That blessed my heart. You do too, Lina. These are some great tips!
Love this post!
Satan is sooo good at making me feel like “I’m not good enough” to do anything that will glorify God’s name. I’ve had numerous friends tell me I should do this and that, and the more I think about wanting to do it the more fear consumes me and it pulls me away. Instead of surrendering to what God wants me to do, I am surrendering to fear. I’ve been praying A LOT about this because I have noticed that fear consumes me quite a bit and in almost every area of my life.