Serving with Confidence
By Andrea Chatelain
“If anyone speaks, they should do so as one who speaks the very words of God.If anyone serves, they should do so with the strength God provides, so that in all things God may be praised through Jesus Christ. To Him be the glory and the power for ever and ever. Amen.” 1 Peter 4:11
What was I thinking offering to plan my kid’s school Halloween party? I’m not crafty, I don’t love party planning, but the slot was empty, and I felt pressured to write in my name. In reality, I wanted others to think I was a good mom. I wanted some mom glory! But since I was serving for the wrong reasons, soon I was a mixed bag of grumbling and regret, proving our motives matter.
When we serve others out of pride instead of love, it can become a daunting task. For me, every step of party planning felt like an inconvenience. Since I was worried about my image, I wanted everything to be perfect so I would get praise. That desire for perfection created unnecessary stress. This kindergarten party that could’ve been cute and fun felt like an overwhelming chore.
Today’s verse reminds me that our words and actions are important to God. If we speak or serve, we do so as representatives of Jesus. Our motivations should always rise from our desire to follow God, not to elevate ourselves.
Seeing opportunities through the lens of God’s glory helps us know when to volunteer and when to say no. As we work with Jesus, He will give us energy to complete the task with a happy heart. How can you serve others this week with God’s strength and for His glory?
Andrea Chatelain’s mission is to meet women in their struggles and love them forward with God’s truth. She's part of the Wholly Loved Ministries team, is a Midwest mom of three, faith and family writer, and college English instructor to immigrants and refugees. It’s her joy to lead Bible studies in her neighborhood, church, and community because she believes Jesus transforms lives when His people boldly seek Him. Her writing reflects her love for Jesus and heart for fellow believers. Connect with Andrea more online at www.afruitfulwoman.com.
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