Who does God use?

**Joyce Meyer

God has chosen me to speak to crowds. People listen to me because God has anointed me to speak for Him, it is part of His destiny for my life. And God will anoint whoever He chooses to work through. That includes you.

Who does God use? The Bible says that He picks the unlikely. He uses common, ordinary people like you and me.

When I started to preach the Gospel, some of my friends rejected me, they did not think I should do that because I am a woman. In fact, they told me I could not do that.

But I was doing it because God told me to do it, and I trusted that if He told me I could do it, then I could do it. The same thing is true for you. If you are willing to have am uncommon goal, God can do something great through you!

Every common person can be used mightily by God. You just have to believe He can use you and be daring enough to embrace the goals or vision He puts in your heart. You have been chosen!

Prayer starter: God, because You have chosen me, I would not doubt the destiny You have for me. Thank You for giving me a purpose in You.

1 Corinthians 1:27-28

But God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise; God chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong. 

He chose the lowly things of this world and the despised things - and the things that are not - to nullify the things that are

Call God 'Abba'

**Joyce Meyer

Fear can be a powerful influence in our lives. It is really just the enemy's perversion of faith. He says to us: 'Believe what I am telling you. This is not going to work. Your prayers are not any good. You do not have right standing with God. You are a failure.'

Fear always tells you what you are not, what you do not have, what you cannot do and what you will never be. But Romans 8:15 says that you are a child of God who can call Him "Abba Father."

The word Abba was a term little children used in addressing their fathers. It would be similar to our word Daddy. It is less formal than Father and denotes a comfortable closeness between a child and his or her father.

Jesus said we could call God 'Abba' because He had delivered us from all fear. He will always take care of His beloved children, and we can approach Him without fear of rejection. When we run to Him with any problem or pain, He is waiting with open arms to comfort and encourage us.

Prayer starter: Abba Father, I know that You will take care of me, Your beloved child. You alone can deliver me from all fear, so I run to Your open arms.

Romans 8:15

For you did not receive a spirit that makes you a slave again to fear, but you received the Spirit of sonship. And by him we cry, "Abba, Father."

Stir each other up

**Joyce Meyer

I have three friends with whom I sometimes go to lunch or have coffee. We often talk about things God has put on our hearts to do for others or creative ideas for fresh ways to be a blessing. I believe conversations like this are very pleasing to God.

The idea of encouraging others to be aggressive in doing good works is not new. Hebrews 10:24 says we should consider one another in order to stir up love and good works. We should actually study and think about how we can stir others to do good works and loving, helpful deeds.

Following God by myself is powerful, but I find that it is so much more enjoyable with friends. I would like to challenge you to find like-minded people who want to follow God. Enlist people you know and invite them to a planning session on practical ways to live out a Christian life. Find ways that you can serve God and live out His love together.

Prayer starter: Holy Spirit, connect me with the right friends who will help me follow You more. I want to live the Christian life with others, stirring each other up to live out God's love.

Hebrews 10:24

And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds.

Show mercy to your enemies

**Joyce Meyer

I love the movie "El Cid," the story of the man who united Spain and became a great hero.

For centuries the Christians had fought the Moors. They hated and killed each other. In battle, El Cid captured five Moors but refused to kill them because he realized that killing had never done any good. He believed that showing mercy to his enemies would change their hearts and then both groups could live in peace.

One of the Moors he captured said, 'Anyone can kill, but only a true king can show mercy to his enemies.' Because of El Cid's one act of kindness, his enemies offered themselves to him as friends and allies from that point on.

Jesus is a true king, and He is good, kind and merciful to all, even those who hate Him. Can we do any less than follow His example? Right now, can you think of anyone to whom you could show mercy? Being merciful and good, especially to your enemies, may be one of the most powerful things you have ever done.

Prayer starter: God, it is not easy, but like Jesus and El Cid, I want to be the kind of person who shows mercy to all, even my enemies. By Your grace, I choose now to live a life of mercy.

Matthew 5:43-44

"You have heard that it was said, 'Love your neighbor and hate your enemy.' 

But I tell you: Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you

Let your light shine

**Joyce Meyer

Famed philosopher and orator Edmund Burke once said, 'All that is necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing.' It is true. Doing nothing is easy, but it is also dangerous. Where there is no opposition to evil, evil will multiply. 

We all fall into the trap of complaining about the things that are wrong. But complaining does nothing except discourage us even more. It changes nothing because there is no positive power in it.

Imagine what a mess the world would be if all God did was complain about everything that has gone wrong since He created it. But the Father does not complain. He continues to be good and work for justice. Evil is powerful, but good is more powerful.

We need to stop and realize that God has chosen to work on this earth through His children, you and me. His light is inside us and we cannot afford to do nothing. We must let our light shine, no matter what, as we live our lives doing good in His name.

Prayer starter: Lord, it is very easy to sit back to do nothing, but it is so much better to actively let Your light shine. Help me stand in opposition to evil, and act on Your goodness every chance I get.

Matthew 5:16

In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deed and praise your Father in heaven.

God's love is not based on feelings

**Joyce Meyer

It is impossible for human love to be unconditional, like God's love. But as believers in Jesus Christ, we have the love of God in us. We can let that love flow freely, without conditions. Our love fails, but God's does not. Our love comes to an end, but God's does not.

Sometimes I find that although I cannot love a person in my own strength, I am able to with God's love. The true love of God does not depend on feelings, it is based on a decision. It is not based on whether or not that person deserves it. And it is absolutely freeing to be able to love people without stopping to ask if they deserve it.

Human love depends on feelings. It loves people because they have been good to us or they loved us first. That kind of love comes and goes.

God's love is totally different. It is not based on anything except God Himself. When we receive Christ as our Savior, the love of God is poured into our hearts by the Holy Spirit. Pour out God's love to others today.

Prayer starter: God, my love may run out, but Yours never will. I will continue to draw on Your endless love so that I can give it out to others, without being concerned about whether they deserve it or not.

Romans 5:5

And hope does not disappoint us, because God has poured out his love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit, whom he has given us.

Loving without getting tired

**Joyce Meyer

God speaks frequently in the Bible of our responsibility to the oppressed, widows, orphans, fatherless and foreigners. He mentions those who are lonely, neglected, forgotten and devalued. He cares deeply for the oppressed and the hungry.

People can be hungry in many ways. They may have plenty of food to eat but be starving to feel valuable. God lifts up those who are bowed down with sorrow; He protects the stranger and upholds the fatherless and the widow. How does He do this? He works through people. He needs committed, submitted, dedicated people who live to meet the needs  of others.

Mother Teresa once said, 'Do not think that love, in order to be genuine, has to be extraordinary. What we need is to love without getting tired.'

I have come to understand that many people we encounter daily are just trying to survive until someone rescues them, and that someone could be you or me. Let us allow God's love for the hurting and broken to work through us, meeting the needs of those who are hurting spiritually, emotionally, and physically. Let us love without getting tired.

Prayer starter: Holy Spirit, empower me to love without getting tired. Give me Your heart for the hurting and the needy and show me how to meet their needs.

Psalm 146:7-9

He upholds the cause of the oppressed and gives food to the hungry. The Lord sets prisoners free.

The Lord gives sight to the blind, the Lord lifts up those who are bowed down, the Lord loves the righteous.

The Lord watches over the alien and sustains the fatherless and the widow.