- By Joy Strang, Publisher, "The Spirit Led Woman"

This Article about women in ministry is republished in THE ELIJAH LIST by special permission from Joy Strang, Publisher of "The Spirit Led Woman"

You may read about "The Spirit Led Woman" publication by clicking on: http://www.spiritledwoman.com/

First Things First By Joy F. Strang, Publisher "The Spirit Led Woman"

NO EXCUSES

In Scripture we find many accounts of godly people who struggled with the missions God assigned to them. One with whom I can identify is Moses. When God appointed him to free the children of Israel, he offered one excuse after another for not accepting the appointment (see Ex. 3-4). Because of his lack of position and his slow speech, he believed he was incapable of handling the job.

When God began to speak to me both in my own spirit and prophetically through others about the assignments He had ordained for me, they sounded as impossible as Moses' did to him. After all, I'm a business woman who was more comfortable with the idea of an IRS audit than with the thought of ministering publicly.

And writing? My husband was the writer in the family. How could God use me for this--and the other things He had spoken to me about? I was overwhelmed by my own inadequacy for the tasks and didn't want the things I heard.

But one by one God dealt with my excuses. Colossians 1:9-11 tells us that when we know what His will is, we will be able to walk worthy of our callings, being fruitful in every good work and being strengthened by the power of His might. It isn't a matter of my being able in myself. Once I know what His will is, all I have to do is say yes.

He will do the rest.

Besides questioning my ability to do the things God asked, I faced other valid concerns. The biggest was my family. One of my two children was quite small, and my husband didn't see me in the same way God did. I wondered: How can I fulfill my roles at home and also fulfill God's plan?

I brought my struggle to God in prayer and was surprised to hear Him say, "When you stand before Me, saying that your husband didn't agree won't be an excuse." I was surprised because His statement didn't fit with my theology. I didn't realize that as a believer I am accountable to God directly--regardless of my husband's stance concerning my call.

The Lord showed me that although my husband is clearly the head of our home, he won't answer to God for me in eternity. I will have to answer for myself.

In spite of this revelation, I continued to look for a way out. One day I asked a Christian leader who was visiting our office, "In eternity, will we be judged based on what we actually accomplished, or on what we did compared to what God had for us to do?" He said he felt we would be judged based on God's intended assignments for us. The price of disobedience would be high.

Obedience has a price, too--death to our own ways--but it also promises a great reward: the commendation of the Father. So lay aside all your excuses. Then take hold of His plan for your life, and watch Him do mighty works through you.