Grind Ready 101: Be a Vessel God Can Use

Mush. That is what my mind often turns into when I’m trying to reach the finish line on a major project. Mush. My brain in overload, it feels like a sponge heavy with water that I can’t get out. I get frustrated, and a fear creeps in that if I don’t act soon the abundance will become stagnant and never be fully expressed

What if my ideas go stale and start to stink?

Suddenly, the trash can looks like an alternative to trying.

But this can't happen. I’m too close. I can see the finish line.

Ever felt like you have so much to give and wonder if you have the capacity to give it?

TRANSPARENT MOMENT: I can write this easily right now because this is where I am right now, and I know there is someone else out there who is struggling, too. If you are trying to do ANYTHING AMAZING FOR GOD, take this journey with me.

Okay, back to work…

grind-ready

/ɡrīndˈredē/

adjective fully prepared to accept, embrace, and expose the anointing of God on your life

How do we get this living water out of us and to a thirsty world?

GrindReady 101: Be a VESSEL God can use.

Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship. ~Romans 12:1

To be used by God is to accept that YOU NEED GOD to make the dream come true. Your brilliance, connections, talents are not enough. You need God's mercy to clean up what you mess up along the way and consecrate you for victory.

He is the grace at the end of our rope. YOU NEED GOD.

So, empty yourself. Empty yourself of yourself.

Do it for the God that knows you and still wants you to succeed. But understand as soon as you decide to make the sacrifice and be available to Him, more will come to challenge you and create new clutter so gear up:

Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand. ~Ephesians 6:10-13 (New International Version)

The Message Translation paints a vivid picture:

This is no afternoon athletic contest that we’ll walk away from and forget about in a couple of hours. This is for keeps, a life-or-death fight to the finish against the Devil and all his angels. ~Verses 12-13

Don't sell your dream short. This is warfare.

You want what God’s got? Be willing to fight for it. Be a vessel God can use.

Last week, I was watching preaching powerhouse Dr. William Curtis and the Mt Ararat Baptist Church’s worship service online. He closed his sermon with a throwback hymn I remember hearing as a child sleeping in the pews at the church I grew up in:

Lead me, guide me along the way, For if you lead me I cannot stray. Lord let me walk each day with Thee. Lead me, oh Lord lead me ~Lead Me Guide Me by Doris Akers

I’ve been singing it every since. Every time something didn’t work this week, every time someone tested my nerves, ever time a distraction came to veer me off course, I began to whisper pieces of the lyrics in personal prayer…

When my body is wrecked with pain – lead me.

When the work consumes me - guide me along the way.

For God, if you lead me I cannot stray.

Extend to me the pleasure and the privilege of walking each day with you.

I cannot, I will not do this by myself. Lead me, oh, Lord. Lead me.

REAL TALK: If God can’t use you, you are wasting Him time. Redeem the time.

Get grind ready.

Next week, we will explore Roman 12:2 and how to be wiling to be squeezed, but today we close with our continual prayer to GOD for THE GRIND...

Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen. ~Ephesians 3:20-21