before you were born I set you apart;
I appointed you as a prophet to the nations."
This verse brings me back to David's Psalm 139:14-16:
"I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made;
your works are wonderful,
I know that full well.
My frame was not hidden from you
when I was made in the secret place.
When I was woven together in the depths of the earth,
your eyes saw my unformed body.
All the days ordained for me
were written in your book
before one of them came to be."
It just amazes me how God knows and WANTS to know us inside and out! He is our Creator and our Father and longs to have that relationship with each one of us. And even before we were born, our omniscient God said, "I have engraved you on the palms of my hands" (Isaiah 49:16) and knew the completed plan of our lives! How crazy!
That also causes me to think, "Who in the world do I think I am questioning the God who knows me inside and out and who knows what the future holds?!" As Billy Graham said, "I don't know what the future holds, but I know Who holds the future." So many times I either think my plan is better than God's, or I just want the instant pleasure that my plan brings, so I completely ignore the plans I know God has for me. This is so dumb. If I would only just trust in Him with everything I am; if I would just surrender my life completely to the One who knows what my future holds... but I don't. I'm learning. But it's hard. It's hard to humble yourself and lose control.
v. 6-7- "Ah, Sovereign LORD," I said, "I do not know how to speak; I am only a child." But the Lord said to me, "Do not say, 'I am only a child.' You must go to everyone I send you to and say whatever I command you. Do not be afraid of them, for I am with you and will rescue you," declares the Lord.
These verses just say so much to me. First, I'm reminded of I Timothy 4:12, "Don't let anyone look down on you because you are young, but set an example for the believers in speech, in life, in love, in faith and in purity." I know that sometimes I think God can't use me to speak into others' lives because I am young, but then I look at these angels I babysit for and realize how much God is using them in my life and I realize I am a fool! It doesn't matter what age a person is or how long they've been a Christian, if they are seeking after the Lord, they will teach you something (you just need to be willing to listen)! When a 7-year-old girl and an 8-year-old girl that I've been nannying for and constantly praying for for 4 years became Christians this summer, I was blown away. I looked up to their childish faith as they skipped around their house singing, "I love God! I love God!" They are hungry to learn about Mary and Joseph and said, "I wanna read more about Jesus!" Why am I not constantly in that state of mind? They taught me to hunger and thirst for righteousness with all that I am. I am supposed to love my God with all of my "heart, soul, mind, AND strength!"
Secondly, God has called each one of His followers to preach His word. Period. We have the secret to a joyful, eternal life, so we need to share it! Whether it's with one person or thousands of people, it doesn't really matter. God promises us that He will protect us and give us the words to speak! We just need to be willing to go where He's called us to go and say what we know we should say! So GO!
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