“The truth is that God is not all that interested in my ability. He is more interested in my availability” (Lessons in Healing: A Powerful Joy).

For when I am weak, He is strong- right? Therefore, my ability to do something is nothing more than a gift to give me a confident boost to do what God has called me to do…

That boost can only be ignited when I become available.

What does that look like?

One could argue the answer is “when the time is right”…

But, is it?

Is there ever a good time to do something?

It certainly seems like something always comes up to keep me from being available…

A job…that takes up time, doesn’t it?

School…pesky assignments need to be done per a designated schedule.

Family needs….those kids are always up to something that require my chauffeuring skills!

How about these (much more challenging to overcome)~

An illness…I don’t feel well so therefore I can’t commit…(ouch- too personal right off the bat).

A death….need I say more?

A physical limitation….(now I am sounding mean, arent I?)

Age….too young versus too old- which is more cumbersome when trying to be useful?

When I am weak then I am strong…

It is in all the above listes that I could be the most useful if only I choose to be available.

It is NOT in my time- because there will never be enough time or the right time…it is in my mindset to be available.

It is in my thought-life where I choose to say to the Lord “USE ME”…no matter what, no matter where, no matter how.

If I wait to have enough energy, to feel “well”, to have enough money, for life to be less complicated and worry- free, I WILL NEVER ALLOW MYSELF TO BE OPEN TO BE USED AS A VESSEL FOR GOD’S SPIRIT.

I need to be available to Him 24/7…

I love this saying that God does not call the equipped; instead, He equips the called.

He strengthens those who are willing to be available to Him…

Isaiah even goes so far to say that God will give strength to the weary…

Aren’t half my excuses listed because I am made weary over something??

In the battlefield of the mind, we need to take captive our thoughts…we need to say (I need to say) “I may not be able to do this in my own strength or ability but with God I can do all things”…And then BELIEVE that He will equip you to do it.

But first, we have to be available to Him to do it…wiping away all those excuses that hold us back, trip us up, entangle us.

One thing I am learning to do this (because what good is it for me to say all this and not give an answer to the question “yes, but how??”) is to REJOICE ALWAYS.

I feel down? Rejoice in the Lord.

I feel weak? Rejoice in the Lord.

I feel sick? I feel sad? I feel that I just can’t anymore….?

REJOICE IN THE LORD.

Philippians 4:4 says it plainly to rejoice in the Lord always.

Can I be down when looking up?

Can I despair when choosing to see my blessings?

Does my situation change? Nope. Not one iota.

But my mind set does.

The Bible says that blessings and cursing cannot come out of the same mouth…which do you choose to speak then?

The “I can’t” or “with God’s help I can”??

Henry David Thoreau wrote: ” I know of no more encouraging fact than the unquestionableability of man to elevate his life by conscious endeavor”.

That means we can improve our lives by intentionally choosing to lift our thoughts…by rejoicing perhaps.

My availability to the Lord is now.

It does not matter if I am running late, in my pajamas, tired, have a cold, have a messy house…

I am ready.

This is my challenge…to rejoice always.