I will never forget when Psalm 2:8 rang as clear as a bell in my heart. I was in my dorm room listening to a new worship tape, when the verse in song came on. Because it had an attractive melody, I began to sing along. “Ask of me, and I will give the nations as an inheritance for you, as an inheritance for you; my children. Ask of me and I will give the nations as an inheritance to you.”
The first verse was God inviting His children to ask for the nations. The second was our response. “Here am I, send me to the nations. As an ambassador for you, as an ambassador for you, my father; Here am I send me to the nations, as an ambassador for you.”
Before long, I found myself pacing in the room replaying this song over and over again. But, it was becoming more than a song. It was becoming a prayer. “Here am I Lord, send me.” With urgency I asked the Lord to use my life to benefit His Kingdom and His estate.
That is when I felt the Lord whisper into my heart. “You haven’t asked Me for your inheritance.”
I knew we were not having a conversation about money or possessions, but ministry and influence. I paused.
Even though Acts 2:8 says, “Ask of me, and I will make the nations your inheritance, the ends of the earth your possession”, I did not ask for a nation that day. Instead I asked for a generation. “Lord, would you use me to influence the emerging generations. Let me be an ambassador for you. Let me make you known.”
I sensed that God was pleased with my prayer…and from that encounter on, He has been leading me and guiding me as I have worked to serve young people.
I don’t share that story because I want you to know my story. I share it because, I want you to know that God invites you to ask for your inheritance. What burdens your heart? What do you feel the Lord has called you to do? Have you talked to Him about that? If you feel called to missions, have you asked the Lord for the nation/nations that you are drawn to? If you believe God created you to contend for a generation, have you asked?
Take a moment and talk to Him what is on your heart. He is waiting for you to ask. If you are willing, He will use you as an ambassador to share truth with many.
Alone, you sit in your room. No one else can see you; the door is shut. The desk lamp that pushes light across your room is on, illuminating every corner. Sitting at the desk with your face buried in your hands, you fight to believe. Struggling to trust, to hope, to hold onto what you have heard and want so desperately to believe, you force out a prayer:
“God, you know I love You. You know I want nothing more than to live for You. I have tried to surrender everything to You, but sometimes, I care more about looking good than living right.” In a moment of total honesty with yourself and with God, you continue. “God, I feel like a failure. I have so many opportunities to be a witness for You, and I fail. I feel condemned. I feel worthless. Will I ever be able to get this right?”
Fighting back the anguish, you end your prayer. Heart still heavy and eyes weighted down, you walk over to the bed and flop down. Reaching to the table next to you, you grab your Bible. It is obvious that it has not been neglected. The cover is worn and mangled; the pages, abused. Inside, there are things written in the margins--little notes that have given you courage and strength over the years. Yellow blocks highlight many Scriptures that had become near to your heart. It is obvious to anyone who might see this Bible that it has not been left on the shelf. You have spent hours reading it; digesting it. God had spoken things to you many times as you have faithfully read through its pages.
However, tonight you face new struggles and insecurities. Yesterday’s encouragement is not good enough. Something fresh has to come out of these pages.
Searching for hope, you open the cover.
For some reason, you allow the pages to flip to the middle of the New Testament. They come to rest on Philippians, and your eyes stop on a yellow block in Chapter Four.
“I can do everything through Him who gives me strength.” (Phil. 4:13)
You have read this many times before, but something makes you read it again.
Maybe it is the fact that you want to laugh in disgust and declare that this proclamation is not meant for you.
Possibly, it is because in the midst of recognizing your weaknesses, you want to believe that this verse can be true--God CAN still use you.
As courage begins to simmer in your heart, you sense God’s whispers, “My plan for you is still very exciting, and I can’t wait to help you accomplish what I created you for. You are not destined to fail, you were crafted to succeed. I am offering you strength for the future, not a rebuke for the past.”
You sense renewed hope and strength returning. God has not left you and He has not forsaken you. After a few minutes in silent prayer, you fall asleep knowing that tomorrow is a new day.