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From Ordinary to Extraordinary

From Ordinary to Extraordinary

Last updated on: November 19, 2018 at 10:52 am by Ann White

From Ordinary to Extraordinary 2018-11-19T10:52:32-05:00 Ann White

LOGO Patheos Explore the world's faith through different perspectives on religion and spirituality! Patheos has the views of the prevalent religions and spiritualities of the world.

What is God challenging you to do that you need more courage to accomplish?

Photo credit Prixel Creative / Lightstock

Do you sometimes wonder if God can really use you? If you’re capable of doing the things you sense He’s calling you to do? If so, you’re not alone. We all feel that way at times. And, if you feel that way now — you’ve just reached a level of humility that allows God to do great things in and through you. You have also reached the place where God can work without your self-sufficiency getting in the way.

Women of Courage

Recently, I spoke at a conference on Finding Courage in the Women of the Bible. I spoke about how our lives can go from ordinaryto extraordinaryas a result of our response to our encounter with God. I firmly believe, and I’m living proof, that God can use anyone, with any strength or weakness, to bring glory to his name. If God could take this ordinary, everyday, wife, mother, and grandmother, who was toting around a ton of baggage from her past, and propel her into a fulltime ministry that reaches people of all ages, all over the world — there’s no telling what he can do with you! All we simply have to do is say yes to God and embrace the opportunities he puts before us, and trust him to do the rest.

That is what the Scriptures mean when they say,

“No eye has seen, no ear has heard,

and no mind has imagined

what God has prepared for those who love him.”

1 Corinthians 2:9

Women of the Bible

Mary, the mother of Jesus was a common youth, an unwed mother who was engaged to a carpenter before she became the mother of Jesus (Matthew 1:18; 13:55); Elizabethwas an elderly Pastor’s wife and a relative of Mary before she became the mother of John the Baptist (Luke 1:6-8, 36); Annawas an elderly widow, temple servant, and prayer warrior before she was chosen as the one who would recognize and announce Jesus the Messiah, the one who would rescue Jerusalem, to everyone (Luke 2:36-37); the Samaritan woman had been married five times and was an outcast among the Jews and within her own community because of her ethnicity and lifestyle before she became the first evangelist to Samaria (John 4:9, 17-18); Priscillawas a wife and tent maker before she became alongside her husband, a powerful Christian influence throughout Corinth (Acts 18:3); and Lydiawas a merchant who sold purple fabrics before she became the first believer in all of Europe and started the first church in Philippi (Acts 16:12-15). These are just a few examples of the many women of the Bible who went from ordinaryto extraordinarybecause of their responseto their encounter with God.

God uses women just like you and me to encourage, inspire, and make a difference in our families, neighborhoods, communities, government, and world. Mother’s, Grandmother’s, daughter’s, sister’s, girlfriend’s, and wives are vital to God’s plan of salvation and spiritual growth for mankind.

In my new devotional, She is Strong and CourageousI focus on women of the Bible, women in history, and women in our world who have allowed their encounter with God to propel them into challenging, God-inspired adventures. By allowing God to supply them with courage, these women pursued callings far above and beyond their own natural abilities. They went from being ordinary mothers, grandmothers, housewives, and businesswomen to extraordinary women of God — all because of their response to their encounter with God!

What will your response to God be when he calls you to do something you don’t feel equipped or qualified to do? Will you trust him to supply you with everything you need?

I can everything through Christ who gives me strengthen

Philippians 4:13

God’s power works best in my weakness

2 Corinthians 12:9

About Ann White

Ann White is the Founder, Executive Director of Courage For Life in Marietta, GA. She is an internationally known author, speaker, and passionate Bible teacher. Ann founded her global ministry out of a calling to share with others how God and His Word brought restoration to her life and marriage. You can read more about the author here.

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