But Moses replied to the LORD, “Please, Lord, I have never been eloquent-either in the past of recently or since you have been speaking to your servant-because my mouth and my tongue are sluggish.”
The LORD said to him, “Who placed a mouth on humans? Who makes a person mute or deaf, seeing or blind? Is it not I, the LORD? Now go! I will help you speak and I will teach you what to say.”
Moses said, “Please, Lord, send someone else.”     Exodus 4:10-13 HCSB

This is just one of Moses’ excuses in this scripture passage.  The entire story of Moses’ calling is covered in Exodus chapters 3 and 4.  Moses is somewhat incredulous that God would call him to be a spokesperson to Pharaoh and lead His people out of Egypt.  He asks God several questions and seems to be unable to believe that God would possibly call him to do such a thing.  He then starts making excuses as to why he can’t do this.

Moses himself had cried out to God to save his people from slavery in Egypt.  He just didn’t count on him being the one to be called to do it.

Have you ever felt that God was calling you to do something?  Have you ever wondered how you know that it is God calling you to do it?  Well, it has been my experience that when God calls you to do something, you know because it is often times out of your comfort zone.  In the years since I have rededicated my life to Christ, He has called me to do three major things.  First, he called me to teach the Cubbies in our AWANA program.  Now for those of you that don’t know what Cubbies are, they are the 3-4 year olds.  Now I was a parole officer. I was used to dealing with hardened criminals and I am being called by God to work with 3-4 year olds?  I have no children and very little patience.  I had to really pray about this one.  When I was asked to take the class, my response was, “Who, me?”.  Our director was this wonderful, energetic, God-fearing person and I didn’t want to say no.  But I thought, “Surely this woman is mistaken.”  I said I’d pray about it. The more I prayed, the more God wouldn’t let me say “no.” I accepted the challenge and loved teaching the cubbies.  From there, I was called to teach Sunday school, adult co-ed class.  Now this I was excited about, but I prayed about it.  I was nervous, but I have always prayed for God to give me the words to say and he never lets me down.  Then in October of 2016, God called me to do a blog.  Now, anyone who knows me knows that I consider it a major success when I successfully send an email.  So when it came to this whole blog thing, I thought “surely I am mistaken.”  Again, I thought, “who, me?”  I procrastinated for over 6 months. I had lots of good excuses, but then God sent someone, literally into my path (my walking path at the park), to build a website and get my blog going. I have learned that things that I thought I could never do, I can do through God’s strength.

I have learned that in all things, I am powerless.  However, I have also learned that with God’s strength, I am unstoppable.  You see God will equip us to do whatever He calls us to do.  And trust me, no matter how pretty or handsome you are, God never calls us to just sit on our rears and be pretty or handsome.  He has a job for each and everyone of us.  Just as Moses was saved from death when he was an infant, God has brought us to where we are for a purpose.

So, if you are new to Christianity and you are just finding your way, know that God has a purpose for you.  If you are suffering in your life, turn to God.  If you are in bondage to sin, He can release you just as He did the Israelites.  He has a purpose for you.  God can make our mess into our message.  Use what God has given you to serve Him.  Know that whatever He has not given you, if needed to serve Him, he will supply it.

Another way to know that God is calling you to do something is that gentle nudging you get from Him when you are resistant.  When I was called to do this blog, I kept making excuses and procrastinating.  Everything I saw when I opened my email or went on the internet was something about blogging and how to do it.  When I ran into an old friend who builds websites and told Him about what I felt God was calling me to do, he offered to build it for free.  God removed each and every excuse I had.

So what is God calling you to do today?  What excuses do you have?  Well, trust Him, he can handle any problems you face, he can provide all you need.  When Moses says in today’s scripture passage, “I am slow of speech and tongue” some believe that he suffered from some type of speech impediment.  Whatever the excuse was, God wasn’t buying it.  God knows that through His power and strength we can do all things.  No more excuses!

Have a great day!