Available?

Isaiah 6:8 “Then I heard the Lord’s voice, saying, ‘Whom can I send? Who will go for us?’ So I said, ‘Here I am. Send me!’” (NCV)

Over the next few days, we are going to be going through a contemplation that is big on my heart.  And I am trusting God that He, Himself will open your eyes to see

 and respond to God’s Word appropriately, in the Name of Jesus. The phrase, “here I am” means I am available. When you say to God or to someone, “Here I am”, it is like saying I am here for you, use me, send me, engage me. The question is, what happens when we say to God, “Here I am”?

When I was growing up, I used to play soccer (football). And in soccer, we played a game called ‘set’. ‘Set’ is sweet because if they score your team, your team goes out and another team comes in. So, it is usually very engaging. Now, imagine your team just came in, your set just came in, naturally, you would not want to go out. You will do everything to stay on and keep playing. But that is usually the point when you hear your mother, your grandmother, or someone from your household calling your name. How would you feel? Just when they pass the ball to you, you have a plan of what to do to keep your team in play. How! What do you do? 

Do you say, ‘Here I am’? For me, most times I pretend I did not hear the call because of the game. Sometimes, they need to come out and get me. So, the next thing I feel is the whack on the back of my head and the rest is history. The point is, at that time they were calling me, I was not available as far as I was concerned. But as far as my mother was concerned, I was always available. Therefore, anytime she calls me, I have to respond. For those of us who are parents, we are like that with our children too. As far as we are concerned, they are always available. But we forget that they also have their own plans, and they also have their own thoughts. 

Now, most of the time when God calls, and you are engrossed in ‘the set’ you are playing, you are reluctant to say, ‘Here I am. I am available’. Or in my case, when I eventually grudgingly go to heed the call, I step into the kitchen and say, “Yes, Mommy, here I am”. In my heart, I am still not available because the only thing on my mind is how to get back to playing my ‘set’. Sometimes, even with God, that is how we are. However, we need to get to the place where we say to God, I am available. I am available to hear God. I am available to serve God. I am available to go for God. I am available to be used by God. I am not just available, I am willing. 

Prayer: Father, help my heart to be yielded to You, available to You, and willing to go for You no matter what, in the Mighty Name of Jesus. Amen!