A Dented Water Bottle

In the past few years, several different companies have released a variety of stainless steel water bottles and cups.  As people have gone out to collect the latest brand, I have continued to use my bottle that is over five years old.  It has several dents and scratches, but it still works perfectly, keeping the water cold for hours on end.  As people, we are kind of like this water bottle.  We all have some dents and scratches- wounds and weaknesses, but God can still use us in spite of this.

It’s easy to feel unqualified.  We can often feel unqualified to carry out a certain mission, to complete a certain task, and to make a difference.  But God knows what He is doing.  And if we rely on Him, He will give us what we need, when we need it, to do whatever it is He is asking of us.

If we open our hearts, place our trust in God, and allow Him to work in us,  He will be glorified.  And this is our mission- to glorify God in what we say and do in our daily lives so that others might come to know Him, or to enter into a deeper relationship with Him.  God wants to use us to share His love, mercy, and goodness with the world around us.  Are we cooperating?

One of my favorite quotes from St. Teresa of Calcutta is, “Give yourself fully to God.  He will use you to accomplish great things on the condition that you believe much more in His love than in your own weakness.”  Do we believe that His love is more powerful than our weaknesses?  If we rely on ourselves, we will not be able to do what God wants us to.  But if we rely on His love, we cannot begin to know all the ways God will use us.
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Every day, I pray that I am open to the promptings of the Holy Spirit and that I would allow God to use me as He wills.  I fail at this often, but always come back to this simple prayer.  Throughout your week, may you remember that although you are like a dented and scratched water bottle, you can still be used.  May you allow God to work in you to glorify His name today and always!