Where are all the Pauls?

It was 4:30am and loud, obnoxious music came blasting forth from an alarm clock down the hall. Someone had forgotten about Daylight Saving Time the night before. Fantastic. I dragged myself out of bed to turn it off, only to get back in bed and be greeted with all sorts of overwhelming thoughts. It had been an unexpectedly expensive month… I had tons of work needing to be done… and on top of all that, I am just two weeks away from shooting the large group video sessions of the Miss Perfect Bible study. Going back to sleep was not a realistic option and prayer seemed like the only thing that might help restart this day with a better perspective.Shortly after praying, I opened my Bible and read about Paul encouraging Timothy. The thought went racing through my mind, “I wish I had a Paul.” Don’t you?Paul told Timothy, “Do not neglect the gift you have… Practice these things, immerse yourself in them, so that all may see your progress. Keep a close watch on yourself and on the teaching. Persist in this, for by doing so you will save both yourself and your hearers” (1 Timothy 4:14-16 ESV).As I’m on the brink of shooting Miss Perfect, I can find myself second-guessing. Am I good enough? Will anyone use this?Have you ever had the same thought that I journaled this very morning: “I feel such an urge to give in to being overwhelmed”? You know, that time when you know your thinking isn’t right, but you might decide to sit down and have a pity party, anyway?As I looked back at the passage a second time, I smiled. Somewhere in the stillness a few words had made it to my journal:

  • Devote
  • Do not neglect
  • Practice these things
  • Immerse yourself
  • Keep a close watch
  • Persist

There it was. I hope this is something the Lord uses to speak to you, too. Do you see what we are called to do? Devote. Practice. Immerse ourselves. Persist. Without my own Paul, I will allow the Holy Spirit to use the very words of Paul to fill me and to encourage me to press on. You must, too.Paul references Timothy’s gift of teaching. If there was ever a time I needed to be reminded that it is God’s gifts that we are called to be good stewards of, it is today.Whatever your gift, I urge you… Do. Not. Give. Up. Like Timothy, we might not have it all figured out. Paul never tells Timothy he will get it all together. But he does tell him that the result of his willingness to be available to the Lord and press on exercising his gifts will be that “you will save both yourself and your hearers.” You will never experience all that God has for you without using the amazing gifts He has birthed within you.A few hours later, I received a sweet text of encouragement.While we are each waiting for a Paul, maybe we can be one and encourage those around us. Who do you need to encourage today? twitter | facebook

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