Here I Am

This year as part of my devotions, I have decided to write down (by hand) all the prayers in the Bible. Prayer, as we know, is just talking to God. So it's very interesting to see what people say to God. Thus far (I've just started Exodus), most of the talking is done by God. The human part of it is usually very brief.

As I was reading in Exodus 3, I came along Moses and the Lord talking. And something very strange struck me. Most of the times I have noticed that God is the One who initiates the conversation. And almost always the answer He receives is, "Here I am."

It suddenly dawned on me that this is the answer God is always looking for. If you go back to the Garden of Eden in Genesis 3, God calls out to Adam and Eve, "Where are you?" They should have said, "Here we are," but instead they started making excuses - "I was afraid," "The woman you gave me, " "The serpent deceived me."

When we are right with God, our immediate answer to Him will be, "Here I am." When we aren't, excuses are easy to come up with: "I'm tired," "It's his turn, not mine," "What about them?"

God has chosen us, redeemed us, called us to be His children. But we are also the servants of Christ. The apostles saw this and this is how they addressed themselves.

I am very thankful to be a daughter of the king, but sometimes I think we get caught up on the "child" side and forget about the "servant" side. Christ has called us to take up our cross and follow Him. Does it mean that I'm going to die today? Literally, probably not, but to die to myself so that I may say to Him, "Here I am," - yes.

I was going to say that's all He's asking for, but He never asked. It was a command; it's not a choice. The choice is only in whether I am going to be obedient or not. When I say, "Here I am," I am saying to God do with me what You will. That's when He can use us. That's when He will be glorified. That's when I can see Him for Who He is.