He Can Use All Kinds

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Just as each of us has one body with many members, and these members do not all have the same function, so in Christ we who are many form one body. – Romans 12:4-5a

I just finished writing a post that I’m pretty excited about, so excited I’m tempted to “publish immediately.” But it’s not Friday.

I have self-diagnosed with mild O. C. D. (obsessive compulsive disorder), having read the definition: “having a tendency towards excessive orderliness, perfectionism, and great attention to detail.” Yep, that’s me – at least when it comes to blogging. (People who have been in my house might not apply that to every area of my life.)

I realized very early on that I would not be one of those prolific bloggers who post something every day. I don’t have that kind of time, mainly because I devote so much time and attention to each post down to the last detail. I’ll spend at least an hour writing a piece, then another hour or two trying to shave it down to roughly a thousand words. I will proofread so many times I lose objectivity and have to set it aside for a different day to approach it with fresh eyes.

I post every Friday. I figure for my followers with Monday-Friday jobs, it gives them all weekend to read my latest. Once a week has proven doable for me, so I make the effort to post every Friday. Part of my obsession is wanting to be reliable.

This compulsion to be reliable was reinforced by a follower who wrote in a Christmas card that she always looked forward to Fridays, because reading my blog was sometimes the only thing that kept her going through the week. So, if I post too much too soon, would there be a Friday I draw a blank or run out of time and let this follower down? Yes, I know, I’m making myself out to be too important here, but still, I aim for consistency.

I have another quirk that you might not expect in one with O. C. D., and that is A. D. D. (Attention Deficit Disorder) or as I call it, “E. D. D.” (“Easily Distracted Disorder.”) I saw a t-shirt once in a catalogue that I probably should have bought. It said: “I have O.C.D. and A.D.D. That means everything has to be perfect, but not for long.”

Yes, I am one of those who has a hard time focusing on pretty much anything. The best way for me to “focus” is to multitask. That way my brain can jump back and forth repeatedly from one task to the other and not get bored with either.

… until a third thing comes to mind, derailing everything, and all bets are off.

But I digress (*surprise, surprise*).

Can God use someone like me? Well, I sure hope so!

The Bible says in multiple places that the Body of Christ (the Church – Christians) is made up of many members, and just like a human body, every part has a job to do. An ear may not be able to see as the eye can, but it can provide hearing, which the eye can’t.

We all have our weaknesses, but the good news is that God can heal us of those weaknesses.

Or use us in spite of our weaknesses.

Or, He may do something even more extraordinary and use us through our weaknesses!

“How in the world does He do that?!“

I’m glad you asked. 😉

Let’s start with the O.C.D. A fellow blogger was expressing his frustration over this affliction and the way it interfered with his life. I’ll be the first to admit, being obsessive can really get one’s journey stuck in the mud. As with any problem, the first step is to PRAY. I can’t fix any problem without God’s help. As I purposefully redirect my attention to Him, He may remove the obsession. Or He may change its direction to something more worthy of obsessing over.

There are certain things I have felt “called” to do, which I have discussed in other posts. I am so convinced I am called to them that I feel compelled to fulfill that calling daily. As I told my fellow blogger with O.C.D, we are the people God can count on to keep our commitments. So, those things I have committed to pray about daily, I pray about daily.

Now comes the fun part (being sarcastic here), and I’m pretty sure there’s some spiritual warfare going on. After all, the battlefield is the mind. As convinced as I am that I’m called to daily prayer, I am also convinced that the enemy of my soul wants to derail my prayers at every corner. And here’s where the A.D.D. comes in.

I’m having a productive time of prayer, and my phone beeps. Or I think I heard it beep. I start to wonder what that beep was about, or where I even left my phone. Am I forgetting something that’s happening today? Was I supposed to be somewhere? I hope not. I wouldn’t want to repeat the blunder when I missed that meeting 23 years ago …

Fortunately, I am retired now, and although I’m still busy, my time is more flexible than before. Still, most nights I am up well past midnight, finishing up the things (mostly prayer) I am committed to do every day, without fail! Because of A.D.D. I didn’t get to them earlier, but because of O.C.D. I am not going to bed until I finish praying! Fortunately, I know God hears prayers that go out in the wee hours of the morning as much as He does the ones at dawn prayed by the got-it-all-together saints. *sigh*

Can distractions, in fact, be used by God for something positive, and not just leaving people like me struggling to “Pray without ceasing”?

The answer is “Yes!” And I’ll tell that story next time.

Prayer: LORD, You know each of us, because You made us. We acknowledge our imperfections and are all the more grateful that You choose and use us anyway. Help us not to use our quirks as excuses, but to serve You all we can with what You’ve given us. And when we fail, thank You for Your mercy and grace, in Jesus’ name. Amen.

Published by seekingdivineperspective

I am a forgiven sinner and adopted child of God, seeking to see life from His perspective - as opposed to the world's flawed perspective - and living my life accordingly.

Published

44 thoughts on “He Can Use All Kinds”

  1. Excellent post. And thank you for this: “We all have our weaknesses, but the good news is that God can heal us of those weaknesses.” Amen and amen.

    Just for the record, if you ever go completely mad and post a blog on Wednesday, I promise to read it! 😀

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    1. Haha! Don’t tempt me, David. I just happened to write several pieces while quarantined and finally got out of the recent rut of last minute writing. I could post them all but I know better. I get busy (Grandchildren are all in sports now, so lots of games to go to!) and glad to have a little “buffer.” 😉

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  3. Brother Lawrence had an interesting perspective on “praying without ceasing.” As opposed to us constantly talking to God, he caused me to imagine it like a child sitting on his father’s lap, just being aware of his presence. When we Practice the Presence, this is living in constant communion with Father, and “praying without ceasing.”

    Practice the Presence


    ❤️&🙏, c.a.

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  4. Thank you for sharing this Annie, God can use us with all our weaknesses. It helps us when we have that perspective rather than thinking they are an obstacle to be used by God.

    I always post on Friday too, in the morning , might be Thursday for you as being in Australia, we are ahead time wise. I put a lot into each post and so I prefer to do one a week.

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    1. Well put, Mark. When I was songwriting with about 20 songs in my repertoire, I was intimidated when I heard of a songwriter who had written thousands of them. My husband said, “Well, you can write a thousand mediocre songs, or you can write twenty great ones.” 😏💕

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  5. Amen! God can use anybody and often it’s our perceived weaknesses that He uses and molds into our greatest strengths. In the olden days we would just call your careful blogging, “conscientious, disciplined, and faithful.” All these assorted afflictions can be a real pain to live with, but in the Lord’s hands they can become some genuine gifts.

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  6. I was somewhat bemused by the characteristics of your self-avowed “disorder”: attention to detail, devotion, excellence, proven, reliability, consistency, conviction, commitment, productivity, and probably some I missed.

    You can find some truth about you in Ps. 139:14.

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      1. Haha that’s neat!! Our “quirks” do make us unique and maybe sometimes make us feel a bit like we have a superpower every now and then😉..which to point that thought to Jesus He could use for His glory!!
        ❤️❤️❤️

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  9. So relatable Annie. Especially the parts about proofreading and editing to a fault, and also getting distracted and derailed in my early morning prayers. I giggled all the way through this message. I’m glad I can laugh at myself when I read it in black and white. It seemed like God was pointing this out to me to let me know I’m not the only one with these ‘ ‘endearing qualities’, and that even so, He can use them to work together for my good and His glory. I have this short little poem I say to Him often, ” Father God, please help me to be what you created in me to the best of my ability.” ….Yes, we are fearfully and wonderfully made.
    Thank you so much for this post, and for the reminder that God
    can use distractions for something positive, even for people like me who struggles to pray without ceasing as well.
    I can’t wait ’til next time for your answer. 🤗❤
    God bless,
    Susan

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  10. Oh, you’re Susan! Thanks for letting me know, I’ve been calling you “Lilly”! 🙄
    I’m glad I helped you laugh at yourself. That’s so emotionally healthy! Yes, I think you’ll like next week’s story. Thanks for stopping by. 😊💕

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    1. That’s ok.😊 Lily or Lily of the Valley is what the name Susan means. That’s why I chose it for WordPress. The gravatar is a picture of the flower….Until next time, God’s blessings to you.

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  11. I have similar feelings about blogging regularly. Although I have not been perfect with it, I keep trying. The Christmas card person – what a wonderful gift. It just makes me feel warm inside when someone is actually looking forward to virtually hanging out with me (i.e. reading my posts).

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  17. I find endless consolation in the idea that God can use all kinds. If that is indeed true (and countless stories in the Bible tell us it IS true), that means God can even use ME! Thanks for this timely reminder.

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  18. Wow! This so describes me and my struggles too. If your paragraphs had tick boxes I would have a checkmark in 90% of them. It’s almost as if I was reading something from someone peeking into my soul. And I am! The Creator who knows each of us better than we know ourselves has used your message to silence the inner critic [enemy of souls] from stumbling into the pit of shame and condemnation due to the distractions of his evil whisperings. Thank you, Annie, for writing and sharing this!

    I’m reading this on Wednesday because I get behind in reading the blogs I follow. Then through the week and E.D.D. (Easily Distracted Disorder), I catch up. Reading this is such a reminder that God loves me AND, “there is now no condemnation for those in Christ Jesus…”

    He has a plan and purpose for each of us. Hallelujah!

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    1. Manette, thanks SO much for your response! Talk about getting behind, I have about a hundred old posts I recently rescued from my spam folder, where they were not supposed to be! I’ll be busy for a while. 🙄
      P. S. I think you’ll like the story I’m posting today. 😏

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