Just Be 30-Day Challenge

Just BE Available – Day 23

Webster says ‘Available’ means suitable or ready for use; having sufficient power or efficacy; of use or service; at hand; readily obtainable; accessible

Synonyms: usable, attainable, reachable, obtainable, feasible, handy, possible; ready, willing and able, getatable

GOD says in Isaiah 58:6-9, ‘This is the kind of fast day I’m after: to break the chains of injustice, get rid of exploitation in the workplace, free the oppressed, cancel debts. What I’m interested in seeing you do is this: sharing your food with the hungry, inviting the homeless poor into your homes, putting clothes on the shivering ill-clad, being available to [all] your own families. Do this and the lights will turn on and your lives will turn around at once. Your righteousness will pave your way. The God of glory will secure your passage. Then when you pray, God will answer. You’ll call out for help and I’ll say, “Here I am.” (MSG).’
Are you getatable? Yes, this truly is a word that Webster uses to describe available. But it makes perfect sense when I think about it. Jesus makes Himself getatable to His children and is a very real help in time of need. The God of the universe, Creator of Heaven and earth, became getatable, or obtainable, through His Son, Jesus. And He is here today in our midst. When you choose the hurting, the underscored; when you help the one in need, love on the broken in spirit, when you stand up for someone who no longer has the drive to stand for themselves. You too are being getatable.
Success by the world’s standards is measured on an almost unattainable scale. But God, through His Son, made victory, which really is what success is, possible to those who would choose to become children of His. Don’t misunderstand me, there are highly effective and successful people everywhere. Their bank accounts represent their worth, the placards on their doors represent what they do, their crowd represents them, even their style represents how they perceive themselves and their lives. It is all notable and good, and to be successful is a many splendored thing.
But, at the end of the day, in the quiet of the night, true victory or raw defeat rises up and looks us in the eye. And we can’t avoid its direct stare. Who are we? Who am I? Our bank account and our professions, our social agenda and our clothing only become what we hide behind most often; that doesn’t depict who we truly are, deep inside. Maybe that makes us qualified but does it make us available?
Inside of every one of us is an innate desire and cry, ‘Pick me! Pick me!’ We yearn to be qualified and pursue to be picked. But are you, am I, available? Here’s what God says is available: caring for humanity and having your heart broken for what has broken His. Be that one down in the trenches, with your heart spread out on the slab of someone else’s pain, pulling the needle from her arm or the bottle from his lips, wrapping your coat around their shoulders on a sub-zero night, giving all you have available to you to be available to someone else, standing with someone who has had the world turn its back and just giving them one more chance, like Jesus gave you and me, planting yourself on your face at the foot of Jesus and interceding for someone in need. Most importantly, it is identifying with and being available to shoulder the hurt or fear of your neighbor; being there; sometimes, even, just listening.
Sister, we don’t need a degree or a certificate on the wall. All we need is to be available. Like the prophet spoke so long ago in Isaiah 6:8, ‘Also I heard the “voice of the Lord, saying: “Whom shall I send and who will go for us?” Then I said, “Here am I! Send me.” (NKJV).’
I don’t think you know your worth. But it is immeasurable in the hands of an Almighty God. If you make yourself available to Him and He takes your offer, I think you can go anywhere and be anything He purposes for you. What is your availability? What is your hope today? You have a plan? Would you lay it at Jesus feet right now?
What is your worth?

Day 23 Challenge: Are you available to be used of God? Be sure to commit your schedule to God and remember to deliberately leave gaps in your day for sitting in God’s presence.