Wednesday, July 30, 2025
Are You Available?
“As Samuel grew up, the Lord was with him, and everything Samuel said proved to be reliable.” (1 Samuel 3:19 NLT)
In certain jobs, workers designate their hours of availability. That is, the times they can be scheduled to work. Employers consult these hours of availability to draw up weekly shifts and to determine whom to call to cover shifts for workers who are sick or on vacation or to lend support during times of heavy demand. Needless to say, workers who have a lot of availability are usually popular with their managers.
The same principle applies to the Christian life, with a few important distinctions. First, the Christian life is more than a job; it’s an identity. It’s the single most important priority in our lives. If you’re new to the Christian faith, or if you’ve neglected your faith in the past, you need to understand that, as your faith goes, so goes your life.
And that brings us to the second important distinction. If you’re a disciple of Christ, you don’t get to choose your hours of availability. Committing your life to the Lord means always being available to be used by Him. Our prayer should be, “Lord, You can use me whether it’s my day off or not. I may be out surfing or on the golf course or out snowboarding, but I want You to call upon me. I am available to represent You. Please call on me.”
Availability pleases the Lord. The Old Testament tells the story of Samuel, a boy who served in the tabernacle. One night, the Lord called to him, “Samuel! Samuel!”
Samuel replied, “Speak, your servant is listening” (1 Samuel 3:10 NLT). Samuel was ready to do anything the Lord instructed. He made it clear that he was available to serve.
Nine verses later, we see the result of Samuel’s availability. “As Samuel grew up, the Lord was with him, and everything Samuel said proved to be reliable” (1 Samuel 3:19 NLT). God does amazing things in the lives of those who make themselves available to Him.
God doesn’t choose spiritual giants; He makes spiritual giants of people who give themselves to His service. David was a shepherd whose own father couldn’t picture him as a king. Gideon thought so little of himself that he asked God to perform two different miracles just to prove that there was no mistake. But they made themselves available to God. And God took it from there.
It’s been said that ninety percent of success in life is showing up. In the Christian life, the percentage is one hundred percent. If you’re a Christian, the Holy Spirit dwells within you, guiding and directing you. So “showing up” in the Christian life is a matter of following His prompting, prioritizing God’s will, obeying the commands of Scripture, and living in a way that honors Christ. If you make yourself available to God in those ways, He will use you in ways you can’t imagine.
Are you available to be used by God? If so, let Him know. And then listen for His call.
Reflection question: How can you make yourself available to the Lord?
Copyright © 2025 by Harvest Ministries. All rights reserved.
Greg Laurie is the pastor and founder of the Harvest churches in California and Hawaii and of Harvest Crusades. He is an evangelist, best-selling author, and movie producer. His latest film ‘Jesus Revolution,’ from Lionsgate and Kingdom Story Company, is now available on-demand worldwide.
For more relevant and biblical teaching from Pastor Greg Laurie, go to www.harvest.org
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Listen to Greg Laurie's daily broadcast on OnePlace.com and weekly podcast on LifeAudio.com.
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Harvest is excited to offer the official graphic novel of The Chosen. Created by Dallas Jenkins and based on the acclaimed series about the life of Jesus, this compelling comic-style book is a creative way to introduce people of all ages to the gospel. With vivid art and faithful storytelling, The Chosen: Called by Name brings the world of the New Testament to life. Request your copy today when you support the work of Harvest Ministries.
