I have recently been learning about receiving invitations from God. After reading 1 Kings 1 this afternoon, I saw how the Lord works this out. King David was old and dying; Israel would need a new king pretty soon. Adonijah "put himself forward and said, 'I will be king.'" He didn't receive any direction or invitation from God on this one. He wasn't released to be king. He just ran after his own desire for power but never gained it. This chapter really stuck out to me when I read it, because I was just asked to step into a leadership role and really needed confirming Scripture. I remember thinking early last semester that I would want to lead in such a way some day, but I didn't think that would be within the next year. Now, I'm in awe to see how He put that desire in my heart months ago but is now inviting me to step into it with Him.
I've learned this to be true: " So Jesus answered them by saying, I assure you, most solemnly I tell you, the Son is able to do nothing of Himself (of His own accord); but He is able to do only what He sees the Father doing, for whatever the Father does is what the Son does in the same way [in His turn]." John 5:19
I feel like so often I see something I want to do and just go after it--wanting to work at camp last summer, being a part of great ministries, or even trying to run a half-marathon. Those are not necessarily bad things if my desires are from Him, but if I do it out of the Lord's leading and without invitation, I get frustrated and disappointed. With camp, I tried to manipulate everything around me to be able to be there. I put up fleeces...if so-and-so calls me to work, I will... I never got those calls. I fought with God so much until He showed me I need to learn to be comfortable at home with my family and receive love from them. With ministry, I wanted to be a part of Big Brothers, Big Sisters, go on a mission trip to Panama, and lead a freshman family group. None of those things ever came close to happening. With running a half, my motives were not pure. I had injury after injury, and my heart was not functioning well. Looking at those, they are all "good" things, but when done without invitation or to look good, we aren't satisfied or successful.
Here is something I read this week:
"True success in any endeavor can only come when the Father has initiated the activity and invited our participation." Priscilla Shirer, Discerning the Voice of God
For me, this is a greater invitation to pray and really have my ears tuned to hear His voice. I pray that as the semester begins, this is a time for us all to open our ears and hear each and every little thing God wants or doesn't want us to do.
"I will invite everyone who is victorious to sit with me on my throne, just as I was victorious and sat with my Father on his throne." Revelation 3:21
