My kids have turned my bad mood upside down a time or two. It’s a crying shame that most people would see them as “ordinary children.” They have never performed great acts of talent or any of the things that would make them a famous in the eyes of others. But to me, they are exceptional little mood changers. And they can’t do it quickly and skillfully! But, God uses ordinary…
One of my best memories is when I was having a particularly rough summer. I had a back surgery years ago and the scar tissue causes me problems now and then. I was having lots of back pain, feeling particularly left out by friends, and it seemed most everything I did turned out wrong. I had made a cake this one evening to take to a church gathering and for whatever reason, it totally feel apart. I felt like it was symbolic of my life at the moment, broke down in tears, and had a little pity party.
In walks in my four year old (at the time) little girl, Seanna. She tip toes up to the sad little cake, without even looking at me, grabs a little crumb of cake in her fingers and eats it.
She then turns to me, I’m seated at the table, and hoping she doesn’t see my smeared mascara and red face, and says, “Wow, your cake tastes amazing. Everyone is going to love that. You’re the best mom.” Then, she gives me a hug and skips out. Well, that just made my frown turn upside down.
God Uses Ordinary in the Bible
“And Samuel said to Jesse, “Are all the young men here?” Then he said, “There remains yet the youngest, and there he is, keeping the sheep.” And Samuel said to Jesse, “Send and bring him. For we will not sit down till he comes here.” So he sent and brought him in. Now he was ruddy, with bright eyes, and good-looking. And the LORD said, “Arise, anoint him; for this is the one!”” I Samuel 16:11-12 NKJV
Let’s set the scene here, God reject Saul as King and he’s got a new one in mind. He tells Samuel to head to Bethlehem, specifically to the house of Jesse, and to listen for God to show him which son to anoint. Jesse lines up all of his sons except one, David, the young shepherd boy who couldn’t possibly be chose as Israel’s next King.
But as the old Ray Boltz song goes, “But when others see a shepherd boy, God may see a king. Even though your life seems filled with ordinary things in just a moment He can touch you and everything will change.”
A lot of us would describe ourselves as “ordinary”. We may feel overlooked by our own families, our boss, the church or the world. We mostly have run of the mill lives, routine careers, everyday hardships, and sometimes the stresses of family and kids.
But, our extraordinary God longs to call us and purpose us to do BIG, LIFE CHANGING things! We can glorify Him and display His power in our mundane, ordinary bodies when we choose to walk in obedience and step out faithfully for His cause.
Since God transformed the life of an “ordinary” shepherd boy and turned him into a King, imagine what He can do for you. David went on to slay Giants, raise up warriors, write amazing songs for the Lord, become king and plan the house of the Lord. God definitely uses ordinary.
Don’t Limit God
And though many of us will not have that far reaching of an effect, just think of the amazing ways that we can change lives and hearts of those around us when we let this extraordinary God work through us. Move on with passion and determination, in His power, and get ready to be UNCOMMON, REMARKABLE, EXCEPTIONAL, AMAZING (anything but ordinary) today!
“Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come.”
2 Corinthians 5:17
“I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship.”
Romans 12:1
Do you ever feel ordinary? Do you feel like compared to the amazing men and women of the Bible that you just don’t measure up? Let God have His perfect work, walk in faith, and see what He can do with you.
Do you have an amazing story of God using your life for Him? Please comment below and inspire others!!
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The sermon at church was on this very topic last week-how God looks more at our hearts than our outward appearance and how we shouldn’t doubt our gifts. If we use our gifts while keeping the heart of God in mind and not acting for our own selfish desires, God will make a way and He will use us for His purpose. No matter whether we appear capable or not❤️ Great post!
So true. He uses our willingness and then He can shine through. Thanks for sharing.❤
So sweet! I love how God can use our children….or even in my case I have had the Lord show me the first hummingbird of the spring when I needed it or a new flock of baby turkeys or a beautiful sunset….He can use so many “ordinary” things to make our days and lives extraordinary. That is our God! Thank you for sharing!
His power and love for us is so beyond comprehension! I love how much He desires to show us His love and use us to lavish it on others.
Yes! Saul was head and shoulders above everybody else, but his heart was a mess. Because In the end, he wanted to do it his own way, with his own strength. David knew he had no strength apart from the Lord. Just an ordinary stone and slingshot was all it took.
For me, it was often the simple prayers of my little ones that spoke to me. And one day when I was in the throws of a miscarriage, praying for God to stop it, my four-yr-old brought me a little green Gideon Bible opened to a spot and asked me to read. I was already to turn her down from the pain but something told me to do as she asked. Her little hands held a John 14. “Let not your heart be troubled. You believe in God, Believe also in Me…”. Just as I finished reading the chapter, the baby came. And over the next few hours, those verses ran thru my mind, bringing comfort in the midst of the sorrow. Just an ordinary request from my little girl—that, as you said, turned my thoughts around
That is a beautiful story. I am sorry for your loss and pain but I love how the Lord used that precious little girl and her “ordinary” request to sustain and strengthen you. Thank you for sharing Elizabeth.
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