Be Available

"So he said to me, "This is the word of the LORD to Zerubbabel: 'Not by might nor by power, but by my Spirit,' says the LORD Almighty." Zechariah 4:6

This summer, Millard North High School in Nebraska had a job opening very few people could fill. The opening was for a guide runner (to help senior Alex French continue competing in spite of having a visual impairment) and came with a very specific and tough requirement: You must be able to run comfortably at a six-minute-per-mile pace for a high school cross country race, which is about 3 miles in distance. But not only did the position require someone to be fast, but also to be "available" for the daily 3 p.m. practices. 

And while the school found someone who had both the ability and the availability to do the job, the Bible is clear that a person's availability is the only requirement God is looking for. Take Zerubbabel for example. He was a godly governor who ruled over Judah and given the job of overseeing the enormous task of rebuilding the temple in Jerusalem. While he had certainly made himself available to do it, he was discouraged by his lack of ability to do it. So God sent the prophet Zechariah with this reminder, "Not by might nor by power, but by my Spirit." He was telling Zerubbabel that there was no need to worry about depending on his own strength or ability to accomplish the task, because he could depend on God to provide it through the Spirit. And by God's power alone, the temple indeed was rebuilt.

Perhaps you feel called to do something that seems equally enormous today too? Something that may even seem impossible? Well then, let me remind you that nothing is impossible with God. What we lack in might, power and ability, He provides by his Spirit so that all things are possible.  

Heavenly Father, thank you for your Word that shows time and again how you have provided the strength and tools your believers needed to accomplish those tasks you called them to. Help us to fully understand that these stories are true and the people you used to do great things were as ordinary as we are. And if  we will only make ourselves available, we can be used in the same way. It's in your precious name we pray Jesus. Amen. 

Happy Running!!!

Use me too - Johnny Diaz

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bKa5iM5DTy8

http://journalstar.com/sports/high-school/cross-country/guide-runner-leads-way-for-cross-country-runner-with-visual/article_aef71b64-30ac-53f6-9ed1-a707ccaa2028.html