Day 24 — Here Am I

“Then I heard the voice of the Lord saying: ‘Whom shall I send? Who will go for Us?’ And I said: ‘Here am I. Send me!’”

— Isaiah 6:8 (BSB)

Isaiah had an amazing vision. He saw God seated on a high throne, with angels calling out, “Holy, holy, holy!” Isaiah was overwhelmed. He realized how sinful he was compared to God’s holiness. But then God cleansed him and took his guilt away.

And then Isaiah heard God ask a question: “Whom shall I send? Who will go for Us?”

Isaiah didn’t know exactly what the job would be. He didn’t ask for details first. He just answered: “Here am I. Send me!”

That’s what it means to answer God’s call. Not having everything figured out, but being willing. Saying, God, whatever You want, wherever You want, I’m available.

You might not know yet what God is calling you to do with your life. That’s okay. You don’t have to know the whole plan to say “Here am I.” You just have to be willing.

And being willing starts now, in small ways:

• When your mom asks for help, and you say, “Here I am!”
• When a friend needs someone to listen, and you show up.
• When your church needs volunteers, and you raise your hand.
• When God puts someone on your heart to pray for or encourage, and you do it.

Every time you say yes to God in small things, you’re getting ready to say yes to bigger things.

This week, you’ve learned that God made you for a purpose, gave you different gifts, wants to dream with you, pours out His Spirit on His daughters, and loves small beginnings. Now the question is: will you say, “Here am I. Send me”?

A true story: Lottie Moon was tiny, barely four and a half feet tall. But she had a big heart and a sharp mind. She was one of the first women in the American South to earn a master’s degree, and she could have done almost anything. When God called, she said yes, and went to China. At first, the Chinese children were shy of her and ran away. So Lottie baked cookies and offered them to the children. Soon they came running, and their mothers came too, and Lottie told them all how much God loved them. She stayed in China for almost forty years and loved the people like her own family. When famine came, she gave away her food and money to her hungry neighbors. To this day, Christians remember her every Christmas. You can read her whole story in Brave for God.

Think about it: What would it mean for you to say to God, “Here am I. Send me”?

Try this: Pray Isaiah’s prayer today: “Here am I, Lord. Send me.” Then watch for a chance to say yes to God.

Dear God, here am I. Send me. I don’t know everything You have planned for my life, but I want to be willing. Help me say yes to You in small things now, and in big things later. In Jesus’ name, Amen.