By Luann Prater
“Luann, our station is missing a female perspective and we would like you to prayerfully consider doing a show for women.”
I’m not qualified, I thought, as I looked around. A stun gun could have produced a more lively response. Did they really mean me? Were they talking to someone else in the room?
As I agreed to prayerfully consider their request, the words, “I’m not qualified,” echoed in my head then burrowed into my heart.
Have you been there? Has a God-sized challenge ever stepped into your life and your first response was, “Who, me? You sure about that God?”
Take heart, one of the Bible greats shared our angst. We read about him in Exodus 3:11, “But Moses said to God, ‘Who am I, that I should go to Pharaoh and bring the Israelites out of Egypt?’” My heart felt compelled to read and re-read the Moses story.
Sometimes we just aren’t sure God is behind that burning bush or in that opportunity. We think He must have someone better in mind for the job. Moses argued with God. Moses couldn’t see the God-sized vision ahead so he repeated those two words that I’ve said myself, “What if?” What if I take this on and fail? Moses repeatedly told God all the reasons he was not qualified. And God kept reassuring him. Moses needed confirmation.
Although Moses spoke directly to God, we speak to Him through prayer. Maybe you think of prayer as a formal ritual, but God says to bring Him your cares. He says: Tell Me what worries you. I hear you. I see you.
As I left the radio station I prayed, “Lord, if this is Your will, make it clear to me. You know my life is packed. How could I jam one more thing into it? I’m sure there are more qualified people who would jump at this chance. Lord, I need confirmation.”
I told my husband. He looked me square in the eyes and said, “You didn’t open this door, God did. Run through it.” The next morning at church I told my pastor about the opportunity. He replied, “You said ‘Yes’ didn’t you Prater? You didn’t open this door, God did.” On Monday, I called Lysa, our Proverbs 31 Ministries president, because I wanted to be in line with the direction and calling of our ministry. She said, “Luann, this is an answer to prayer. We have been asking God to provide new opportunities for all our speakers. You didn’t open this door, God did.”
The confirmation was clear. My mind still raced with questions, “How? Who? What? When?” As I prayed about these anxious thoughts, God didn’t show me the entire road ahead, just the next step. He clearly laid it on my heart to first gather a group of ladies who would walk this journey with me. I sent an email to women across the country asking them to prayerfully consider joining the adventure.
At our first meeting, I told the ladies I had been praying that God would lay it on their hearts to know where they fit into this project. One by one, He placed just the right folks in key positions on the team. Sweet, soft-spoken Ramona whispered that God had laid it on her heart to be my Aaron. Holy goose bumps trickled down my arms. Had she been camped out in my head, or did God really orchestrate her to relate the same Bible characters to me?
One by one, steps of obedience followed intense times of prayer and fasting. The old saying is true, “You can eat an elephant one bite at a time.” Though it would be tough, it is possible. When faced with an overwhelming challenge that only God can accomplish, break it down into bite-size pieces. Develop a list you can follow in stages. Ask yourself reporter type questions: Who? What? Where? When? Why? How?
Enlist others to pray and help. Recognize when to engage someone gifted in the areas you are weak, and delegate key responsibilities to him or her. Bathe each task in prayer. Then march victoriously through the stages one at a time, knowing if God called you, He will guide you.
I won’t tell you setting up the radio show was easy. Sometimes it was just like an elephant’s hide! But God delivered the answers whenever we asked, and that is the key. He will never force His way into our plans, but He is faithful to come alongside us when we call. He is a full-time Father who walks with us.
Finally, all the pieces came together and today we are on the air every week sharing life with women across the country. Who knew? Only God.
God didn’t check the list of my qualifications. He didn’t expect me to have the answers. He was qualified. He had the answers.
Where is God leading you? Simply take the first step of obedience when He says, “Go.” v
Luann Prater is a wife, mother of three children, friend of two step-daughters as well as a grandmother. She runs a small business, is a real estate agent with Keller Williams and is active in her church. Luann has been with Proverbs 31 Ministries for almost 10 years, is part of the speaking team, and is a contributing author to the books “God’s Purpose for Every Woman” and “The Reason We Speak,” as well as the “P31 Woman” magazine and “Encouragement for Today” e-mail devotions.
“Luann, our station is missing a female perspective and we would like you to prayerfully consider doing a show for women.”
I’m not qualified, I thought, as I looked around. A stun gun could have produced a more lively response. Did they really mean me? Were they talking to someone else in the room?
As I agreed to prayerfully consider their request, the words, “I’m not qualified,” echoed in my head then burrowed into my heart.
Have you been there? Has a God-sized challenge ever stepped into your life and your first response was, “Who, me? You sure about that God?”
Take heart, one of the Bible greats shared our angst. We read about him in Exodus 3:11, “But Moses said to God, ‘Who am I, that I should go to Pharaoh and bring the Israelites out of Egypt?’” My heart felt compelled to read and re-read the Moses story.
Sometimes we just aren’t sure God is behind that burning bush or in that opportunity. We think He must have someone better in mind for the job. Moses argued with God. Moses couldn’t see the God-sized vision ahead so he repeated those two words that I’ve said myself, “What if?” What if I take this on and fail? Moses repeatedly told God all the reasons he was not qualified. And God kept reassuring him. Moses needed confirmation.
Although Moses spoke directly to God, we speak to Him through prayer. Maybe you think of prayer as a formal ritual, but God says to bring Him your cares. He says: Tell Me what worries you. I hear you. I see you.
As I left the radio station I prayed, “Lord, if this is Your will, make it clear to me. You know my life is packed. How could I jam one more thing into it? I’m sure there are more qualified people who would jump at this chance. Lord, I need confirmation.”
I told my husband. He looked me square in the eyes and said, “You didn’t open this door, God did. Run through it.” The next morning at church I told my pastor about the opportunity. He replied, “You said ‘Yes’ didn’t you Prater? You didn’t open this door, God did.” On Monday, I called Lysa, our Proverbs 31 Ministries president, because I wanted to be in line with the direction and calling of our ministry. She said, “Luann, this is an answer to prayer. We have been asking God to provide new opportunities for all our speakers. You didn’t open this door, God did.”
The confirmation was clear. My mind still raced with questions, “How? Who? What? When?” As I prayed about these anxious thoughts, God didn’t show me the entire road ahead, just the next step. He clearly laid it on my heart to first gather a group of ladies who would walk this journey with me. I sent an email to women across the country asking them to prayerfully consider joining the adventure.
At our first meeting, I told the ladies I had been praying that God would lay it on their hearts to know where they fit into this project. One by one, He placed just the right folks in key positions on the team. Sweet, soft-spoken Ramona whispered that God had laid it on her heart to be my Aaron. Holy goose bumps trickled down my arms. Had she been camped out in my head, or did God really orchestrate her to relate the same Bible characters to me?
One by one, steps of obedience followed intense times of prayer and fasting. The old saying is true, “You can eat an elephant one bite at a time.” Though it would be tough, it is possible. When faced with an overwhelming challenge that only God can accomplish, break it down into bite-size pieces. Develop a list you can follow in stages. Ask yourself reporter type questions: Who? What? Where? When? Why? How?
Enlist others to pray and help. Recognize when to engage someone gifted in the areas you are weak, and delegate key responsibilities to him or her. Bathe each task in prayer. Then march victoriously through the stages one at a time, knowing if God called you, He will guide you.
I won’t tell you setting up the radio show was easy. Sometimes it was just like an elephant’s hide! But God delivered the answers whenever we asked, and that is the key. He will never force His way into our plans, but He is faithful to come alongside us when we call. He is a full-time Father who walks with us.
Finally, all the pieces came together and today we are on the air every week sharing life with women across the country. Who knew? Only God.
God didn’t check the list of my qualifications. He didn’t expect me to have the answers. He was qualified. He had the answers.
Where is God leading you? Simply take the first step of obedience when He says, “Go.” v
Luann Prater is a wife, mother of three children, friend of two step-daughters as well as a grandmother. She runs a small business, is a real estate agent with Keller Williams and is active in her church. Luann has been with Proverbs 31 Ministries for almost 10 years, is part of the speaking team, and is a contributing author to the books “God’s Purpose for Every Woman” and “The Reason We Speak,” as well as the “P31 Woman” magazine and “Encouragement for Today” e-mail devotions.
Labels: Faith, Prayer, Relationship with God
