Midnight Quills

So, God’s been building something new in me. Confidence.

Okay, so perhaps some people would laugh and scoff at the idea of me needing confidence, but I’m talking in a different manner.

The last two days, God’s put me in two situations where I’ve had to swallow my fear and speak some things out. Normally, this wouldn’t be a problem, but God likes to stretch us beyond our comfort level, and he had me speak some things out to people who I wasn’t so sure wouldn’t judge or condemn me for saying what I felt God wanted me to say.

Tonight, the second example, I spoke to a small group of people about the Armour of God and Spiritual Warfare. It was only a short talk, but I was really nervous. I wasn’t nervous about speaking in front of people, let’s face it, I’m more than happy to be the centre of attention in my own right. What made me nervous was not feeling like I had any authority to speak – and this was the case in both situations over the past couple of days – that I doubted the authority God had placed inside me.

God’s word for me tonight was simple, but so loud and so clear: Don’t ever doubt the authority that you have in me.

Moses wasn’t a great speaker either, but God used him to face down Pharaoh and free the Israelites. Gideon was the weakest son, of a lowly family in a weak tribe – and God used him to defeat the Midianites with only 300 men. David was the youngest son, a shepherd, and God used him for amazing things.

It’s God, not me, who has the authority, power and strength.

Exodus 25:

Sunday morning we had a special offering taken, it was a “Love for the House” offering, and was specifically aimed at raising money to do some upgrades and maintenance to the church building, making things nicer and smoother.

As my pastor was talking about the offering, he made it clear that it was voluntary. No one was under any obligation to give anything if they didn’t want to.

Funny, how things really haven’t changed since the beginning. Here we see the Israelites being told to build a place for God to come and meet with them, and they are asked to bring forward an offering.

“Tell the Israelites to bring me an offering. You are to receive the offering for me from each man whose heart prompts him to give.” ~ Exodus 25:2

Whose heart prompts him to give. Even God didn’t actually command that the Israelites give up what they didn’t want to for this project. God allowed them to actually choose, he gave them the freedom to volunteer whatever they wanted to give in order to build the Tabernacle. He didn’t have to ask, he could have just said to build him a Tabernacle, give Moses the dimensions and directions on how to build it, and then let Moses go and get what was necessary from the people.

God didn’t do that, though, he asked. I see this image of God basically saying, “Look, I’d really like to be able to hang out with you guys a bit more, but I need somewhere to sit. If you don’t mind giving up some of your stuff, would it be possible for you to make me a seat, please?”

“Then have them make a sanctuary for me, and I will dwell among them.” ~ Exodus 25:8