The Unclaimed Gift: Who Do I Talk About?

"The Lord announces the word, and the women who proclaim it are a mighty throng." Psalm 68:11

I have to admit that there are morning when my minutes seem rather ritualistic. I get up. I make coffee. I feed the dog. I sit down to do my Bible study. I pray. I journal. I eat breakfast. Blah. Blah. Blah. I have found that if I am not careful there begins to be a pattern of same old, same old. While I am doing one thing I am already thinking ahead to the next often putting little real thought into more than just getting it all done. Kids to school, house cleaned, laundry done, errands run,go to work, drive home, dinner made, homework finished, quick glance at the news, off to bed. The days just run together with barely a blip in the pattern. There is my women's Bible study group on tuesday nights, house church on wednesday nights and the weekends. Yet I find myself speaking to the same people every week, visiting with the same friends, sitting in the same place at church on Sunday, shaking the same hands.

Today was a day just like any other day on my calendar. I did not feel any different nor did my routine seem to be headed for change. Then God showed up. Oh yeah. Isn't He why I sit here in the quietness of my office every morning? Isn't He why I open my scriptures to read His Word? Isn't He the one who should be speaking and I the one who is listening? Doesn't Colossians 2:7 remind me to "let your roots grown down into Him, and let your lives be built on Him." If every day is the same then what in my life is growing and what is being built for Him?

When I read the words of Psalm 68:11 this morning I was deeply touched. Have I been proclaiming the gospel every day in every way? Have I invited anyone to my women's Bible study group or am I content with the nice, safe small group I am comfortable with? Have I invited anyone to church lately or do I rationalize that I don't want to cause any uncomfortable situations that might occur when the person says no? Does everyone that I come across in my everyday life know that I am a follower of Christ? At the bank? At the salon? In my neighborhood?

When I stand before God on the day that I will be held accountable for all that I did in my one and only life here on earth will I be able to say that I was part of the "mighty throng" of women who proclaim His Word? In humility I wept before Him as I had to admit that I do little to proclaim His Word to everyone in the circle of my everyday life. Online? Yes. On paper? Yes. At church?Yes. Everyday? Not nearly enough. Yet even in my tears I felt His Hands upon me, lifting me up, wiping my face. Today is another day He whispered. Another chance. A fresh start. "But I have raised you up for this very purpose, that I might show you my power and that my name might be proclaimed in all the earth."(Exo 9:16)

Dearest Father God, Thank You for meeting me here this morning. Thank You for speaking in the silence. Thank You for showing me Your mercy and grace. Lead me forward as I strive to join the great throng of women who are proclaiming Your Word. Let everything I do be all about You. Let everyone I meet know beyond a shadow of a doubt that I follow You and You alone. Let me invite everyone to know You. Everyone. I pray for this and so much more than I am able to speak. In the Name of Christ Jesus, Amen