Then I heard the voice of the Lord asking: Who will I send? Who will go for us? I said: Here I am. Send me. Isaiah 6:8 CSB

After these things God tested Abraham and said to him, “Abraham!” “Here I am,” he answered. Genesis 22:1 CSB

I have to first thank our online Bible Study leader for her challenging idea for this coming week. Thank you, Sara!

We have been talking about Samuel and God’s calling on his life; first as a judge and prophet, but also as Samuel anoints God’s choice, Saul, as Israel’s first king. Though Israel has “rejected God” as their king, God answers their demand by giving them a human king “like the other nations.”

When God called Isaiah, he said, “Here I am. Send me.” When God called Abraham, he said, “Here I am.” When God called Jacob, he said, “Here I am.” When God calls us to do something, or the Holy Spirit prompts us, how do we respond?

Do we also say, “Here I am!” Or do we say, “When I have time, I will,” but we don’t. Or “After I get through with what I’m going through now, I will.” Or do we even say, “I can’t.” We sometimes  have lots of reasons and excuses why we can’t answer God’s calling.

I was convicted this week, as many times I have felt the prompting of the Spirit but get busy doing something else and forget about it. I sincerely regret the times I missed out on blessing or comforting someone because I didn’t answer with, “Here I am.” So, this week I will answer each prompt or call with “Here I am. Send me.”

This week, just as Sara challenged each of us, I want to challenge you. When the Holy Spirit prods you to send a sympathy card to someone you know is hurting, say, “Here I am,” and do it. When you feel God has put someone on your heart, say, “Here I am,” and pray for them or text them or visit them. When your pastor asks you to step up and help out, say, “Here I am.”

This week and moving forward, let’s answer God’s calling with “Here I am, send me!” I promise to share one of my stories next week and would love to hear one of yours!

I thank God for each one of you! And I thank you for joining me this week in a challenge to hear and respond to God’s calling and the Holy Spirit’s prompting with “Here I am. Send me.”

Blessings and rejoicing in answering God’s calling!