The Narrow Way

You’re too timid. You’re not educated enough. The last person you prayed to have healed didn’t get healed. You’re too old. You’re too young. You have a drinking problem. Your kids are rebels. Your marriage is on the rocks. You’re too country. You’re divorced. You have the wrong skin color. You’re temper hurts others. You’re too anxious. What about that one secret addiction…

“You are disqualified,” a voice whispers in your mind.

…..😞….. Shame sweeps over you as guilt and condemnation form weights around your ankles. “Maybe it’s true,” you reason. Perhaps I’m disqualified from ministering to others. Maybe once I get my act together again (or for the first time), then God can use me…Until then, I’d best just work on me and God 😕

Have you heard this before? The voice that tells you to sit back down. 👇The one who accuses you and calls you a hypocrite? This is the voice that seeks to keep you silent from sharing the only hope of redemption and source of eternal life for mankind.

The voice is the devil. And the devil is a liar!

“The thief (Satan) comes only to steal, kill, and destroy,” John 10:10

“You belong to your father, the devil, and you want to carry out your father’s desires. He was a murderer from the beginning, not holding to the truth, for there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks his native language, for he is a liar and the father of lies.” John 8:44

“Then I heard a loud voice in heaven say: “Now have come the salvation and the power and the kingdom of our God, and the authority of his Messiah. For the accuser (Satan) of our brothers and sisters, who accuses them before our God day and night, has been hurled down.”
Revelation 12:10

I was wrestling with a “disqualifier” recently as I had a God-inspired idea for evangelism. It was so effortless and Biblical, I thought ‘it must be God’s idea.” 🙌 Then suddenly, someone’s words ushered in a wave that overtook me. Maybe I shouldn’t move forward until I get myself looking more like Jesus….Thankfully, I was able to recognize what was going on, and I shut The Voice down.

I’m not disqualified.

I’m not disqualified because the blood of Jesus speaks louder than my sin. 🩸The blood of Jesus washes me white as snow. 🩸The blood of Jesus has me seated with Him in heavenly places despite my imperfections. 🩸I’m not disqualified because if God only used perfect people, than the only person He could ever use would be His Son, Jesus Christ.

God uses us in our weakness. He uses our unfinished imperfect self. Because all God really needs from us, is a willing and submitted heart. He uses us for His glory. He uses us because we are part of His plan.

More than that, God can and does use us because of Christ IN ME the hope of glory (Col 1:27)! 🙌Christ IN ME is MORE than qualified to minister and overcome all of my insecurities. 🙌🙌Christ IN ME is constantly working to cleanse, purify, and direct me towards holy living. 🙌🙌🙌The truth is, I fall short, and I know it. 😔 Some of you who know me best could easily share my flaws. 🙈 But let me tell you something, I’m committed to the process. And I also know that there’s not a man or woman out there (whether in ministry or not) who doesn’t fall short (Rom 3:23). So if they can stand and minister, why not me? Why not you?

I would also like to say that sometimes there are things in your life that might require you to put ministry on hold for a season 😬, but seek counsel first. Don’t let the enemy be the one to stop you. 💪Rather submit yourself to other believers in your life and seek God’s will. A season off to get a few things worked out isn’t wrong, but being shut down and silenced because you’re continuing to wrestle with what is common to man is.

“The gifts and the calling of God are irrevocable“ Romans 11:29

If God has redeemed you, He has called you. If He has called you, He’s chosen you. He has a use for you despite your struggles or what you see as disqualifiers. 🙌

I believe we (the Church) are entering a season of incredible opportunity, tension, pushback, and glory. We are on the verge of a time where the Church (and it’s members) are meant to shine their brightest, but this will require GREAT boldness. Proverbs says “the righteous are as bold as a lion,” and we’re going to need that level of boldness if we are to stand before our accusers day and night, night and day–both spiritual and in the flesh. If we are going to bring in a mighty harvest, we will need to be ready to stand firm against the enemy and his schemes.

I’m encouraged right now, because I feel like when the enemy comes in with a flood, it can be all the more confirmation that God is up to something. God willing, I’ll share my evangelistic inspiration some other time 😉

It’s time to know who you are in Christ, and learn how to fight the spiritual war that wages against your soul. It is time to refuse to be disqualified, silenced, or shut down by the darkness. If this finds you wrestling with your “disqualifier,” I encourage you to find a fellow believer and share your struggle with them.

“If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.” 1 John 1:9

Shine light on what the enemy is using against you and commit yourself to overcoming.

As always, thanks for stopping by, go and be bold.

***I would like to add that F-bo0k is currently censoring this post so that I am unable to boost it from my page. Ask yourself why?