Availability Over Ability

“For the eyes of the Lord range throughout the earth to strengthen those whose hearts are fully committed to him.” 2 Chronicles 16:9 (NIV)

Most people get to watch history; very few choose to make it.

I can be a history-maker.

A thousand years before I was born, God knew I'd be right where I am today. He knew I'd be reading this devotional. It’s because God has something special, something unique in store for me.

I'm not sitting where I'm sitting by accident. I haven’t had the experiences in my life by chance. God designed my life to make a difference in the world.

No matter where I've been, what I'm afraid of, or what sin is in my rear-view mirror, God can still use me to make a difference in this world. What he needs from me is a total commitment to him. God wants me to be all in on his plan for me.

God is less interested in my ability; he cares about my availability.

God is looking for people like me to change the world.

The Bible says, “For the eyes of the Lord range throughout the earth to strengthen those whose hearts are fully committed to him.” 2 Chronicles 16:9 (NIV). God is looking for me—yes, me—so he can strengthen me and use me to make an impact. 

And it all starts with a committed and available heart. Starting today. Let God know that I'm committed to doing whatever he wants with my life. Tell him I'm available for him to use, and then watch how he answers my prayer.

In summary:

The passage centers on 2 Chronicles 16:9, highlighting God’s active search for individuals who are "fully committed" to His purposes. It dismantles the misconception that God only utilizes the exceptionally talented, instead asserting that divine selection is predicated on availability and heart posture rather than innate ability. The text frames human history not as a series of accidents, but as a deliberate design where individual experiences—including past failures—are repurposed for a unique, God-given mission. Ultimately, it serves as a call to move from passive observation to active participation in God's work through a definitive, "all-in" commitment.

Bottom Line:

God is not looking for my extraordinary talent; He is looking for my total availability to be the vessel through which He works.

Next Steps:

Conduct an "Availability Audit" by identifying one specific area of my life (career, finances, or a specific relationship) where I have been holding back control, and consciously surrender that area to God through a prayer of total commitment today.

Deepen Before You Develop - Why Following Jesus Is the Foundation of Real Leadership

“Anyone who wants to serve me must follow me, because my servants must be where I am. And the Father will honor anyone who serves me.” John 12:26 (NLT)

Jesus talked a lot about being a “disciple.” As a believer, this is a word I hear a lot too.

But what did Jesus mean when he used the word disciple? To be a disciple, I must spend time with Jesus.

In any relationship, the more time I invest, the more I'm going to get out of it. It’s true in my relationship with Jesus too. I can’t be a part-time disciple; it’s a full-time responsibility.

Jesus said, “Anyone who wants to serve me must follow me, because my servants must be where I am. And the Father will honor anyone who serves me” (John 12:26 NLT).

This verse teaches three things about spiritual growth.

First, spiritual growth is a choice. The verse starts off, “Anyone who wants to serve me. . .” God won’t force growth on me, and it won’t come automatically. I have to want and choose to serve him—to be his disciple.

If I feel distant from God, it’s not because he’s moved away. He’s always right there, inviting me to draw near to him. I have the choice to draw closer to him or to move away. 

Second, spiritual growth is a commitment. Jesus said that his disciples “must follow” him. After I've made the choice to grow, I “must” follow through with commitment!

I grow by making commitments. Getting married is a commitment that made me grow up. So is having kids, or taking on a new job, or pursuing an education. Anytime I make a commitment, I grow. That includes when I commit to being Jesus’ disciple.

Third, spiritual growth is a relationship. Jesus said, “My servants must be where I am.” It’s not about rules. It’s not about rituals. It’s not about a formula. It’s not about a bunch of expectations. It’s about being with Jesus. 

Obviously, Jesus isn’t here physically today. So how can I be with him? A great way is by having an ongoing conversation with him. Those can be quick prayers as I'm talking to someone at work, cleaning the house, or driving a car. As I do this over time, I will hear God speaking back to me, by filling my mind with truth and putting impressions in my heart.

Are you ready to start growing as a disciple of Jesus? It’s simple to get started: Just spend time with him.

In summary:

John 12:26 teaches that true discipleship means choosing to follow Jesus, committing fully to Him, and cultivating an ongoing relationship with Him. Spiritual growth begins with a personal decision—God does not force it—but requires consistent commitment, just like any meaningful life commitment that produces maturity. Being a disciple is not about rules or rituals; it is about being where Jesus is, spending intentional time with Him, and developing closeness through continual conversation and prayer. Growth happens as we prioritize His presence daily, recognizing that discipleship is a full-time relationship rooted in following, serving, and walking closely with Christ.

Bottom line:

Spiritual growth happens when I intentionally choose to follow Jesus, commit to Him fully, and consistently spend time in a relationship with Him.

Next step:

Deepen before I develop others.

If discipleship is about being with Jesus before doing for Jesus, then the greatest leverage point in my leadership is my proximity to Him. My influence will only be as deep as my intimacy.

Here’s what that means practically:

1. Protect unhurried time with Jesus

Not sermon prep. Not content creation. Not leadership development.

Just presence. Listening. Alignment. Conversation.

If I want to equip others at a high level, I must lead from overflow, not output.

2. Integrate “followership” into my coaching framework

I help people grow. What if I intentionally build this principle into my process?

Growth is a choice.

Growth requires commitment.

Growth is relational, not transactional.

That applies spiritually and professionally.

3. Model what full-time discipleship looks like in leadership

Let people see that my clarity, calm, courage, and conviction come from somewhere deeper than strategy.

I'm not just building leaders.

I'm forming people.

My next wisest move:

Align your 2026 focus (Alignment + Equipping) by anchoring my leadership development work in deep personal followership. Stay close. Then equip from that place.

Investing Your Life in What Lasts Forever

“The eyes of the LORD search the whole earth in order to strengthen those whose hearts are fully committed to him.” 2 Chronicles 16:9 (NLT) 

A thousand years before I was born, God knew exactly when and where I would exist. He doesn’t have me in the place I'm in just to sit, soak, and sour. He wants me to follow him with an active faith. Jesus used words like come, follow, go, obey, send, and do when he spoke to people. 

For example, Jesus said, “Go everywhere in the world, and tell the Good News to everyone” (Mark 16:15 NCV). He didn’t say go only to the places that are comfortable for me, sharing the parts of the Bible I like. He said, “Go everywhere . . . to everyone!” 

So how do I become a part of God’s work in my corner of the world? What matters is not my ability but my availability. God is looking to use people who will make themselves available to him. 

The Bible says, “The eyes of the LORD search the whole earth in order to strengthen those whose hearts are fully committed to him” (2 Chronicles 16:9 NLT). God’s not looking for superheroes—people with super-talent, super-energy, or super-intelligence. He’s just looking for people with committed hearts. 

So how can I develop a heart committed to Jesus—a heart like his? There are four ways. I'm going to look at two today and another two tomorrow. 

First, I must care about what Jesus cares about. Jesus deeply cares about two things—the world and the church. 

The Bible says, “When he saw the crowds, he had compassion on them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd” (Matthew 9:36 NIV). God has never made a person he doesn’t love. He loves the people I disagree with, the people I think are evil, and the people who didn’t vote the way I voted. He loves everybody. And if I want to develop a heart like Jesus, I have to learn to love them too. 

Jesus also cares about the church—which the Bible calls his body and his bride. The Bible says, “Christ loved the church and gave his life for it” (Ephesians 5:25 CEV). This is how much Jesus loves the church, Look at the cross. With his arms outstretched, it’s as if he was saying, “I love the church this much! I’m willing to shed my blood and die for it.”  

Second, I must be indifferent to what Jesus is indifferent to. Should followers of Jesus ever be indifferent to anything? Absolutely. Why? Because not everything is equally valuable. Not everything is equally important. Not everything is going to last. Some things aren’t going to last five minutes. Some will last five years, some 50 years, some 500 years. But some things are going to last forever. I need to invest my life in things that matter and in things that will last into eternity.   

Jesus was indifferent to things that didn’t help him fulfill God’s mission. He was indifferent to personal danger, religious traditions, and the opinions of other people. He was indifferent to timetables, politics, getting rich, and impressing others. 

Jesus focused on God’s mission and trusted God to take care of the rest. As he said in Matthew 6:33, “But first, be concerned about his kingdom and what has his approval. Then all these things will be provided for you” (GW). 

In summary:

God intentionally placed me where I am and calls me to an active, obedient faith—not comfort or complacency. His eyes search the earth for people whose hearts are fully committed to Him, not those with extraordinary abilities but those who are simply available. To develop a heart like Jesus, I must care about what He cares about—the world He loves and the church for which He gave His life—and become indifferent to what He was indifferent to, refusing to waste energy on things that don’t last or distract from God’s mission. Like Jesus, I’m called to focus on what matters for eternity, trusting God to handle everything else.

Bottom line:

God isn’t looking for perfect people—He’s looking for available, committed hearts. When I care about what Jesus cares about and let go of what doesn’t matter, I become someone God can strengthen and use to make an eternal impact right where I am.

Next step:

Pick one simple, intentional action that aligns with what Jesus cares about: people and the church. Commitment grows through action, not intention. I need to make myself available today to align my heart with God’s heart. When I do it will open the door for Him to strengthen and guide me in ways I can’t orchestrate on my own.

When I Help Others Grow, I Grow Too

In Romans 1:12 it says, “I want us to help each other with the faith we have. Your faith will help me, and my faith will help you.” (NCV)

God has wired me so that when I help other people grow, God helps me grow. My fastest growth comes when I’m in fellowship with other believers and encouraging each other’s commitment to following Jesus Christ.

The Bible says in 1 Timothy 4:7, “Keep yourself in training for a godly life” (GNT). I do this by staying in a small group, and getting a spiritual partner. Is it always easier to exercise when I’m doing it with somebody else? In the same way, I need someone to walk alongside me through my journey of faith, and I need to make the same commitment to others.

The world today doesn’t push us to commit to much of anything. It’s all about getting what I want right now. What I want can change from day to day, so the world says to just start going after something new each day, whether that’s a hobby, a job, a ministry, or even a person.

Nothing affects my life more than my commitments. What I’m committed to, will shape what I’m going to be in 20 years, because I’m becoming whatever you are committed to. Commitments shape my life! And if I’m not committed to anything, other people are shaping my life.

My commitments not only affect here and now; they also affect eternity, because every choice I make has eternal consequences. That’s why the Bible says in Romans 1:12, “I want us to help each other with the faith we have. Your faith will help me, and my faith will help you” (NCV).

This is why I need a church family, and a small group. When Christians commit to each other, we encourage each other to stay on track and keep our other commitments. We help each other out!

Do I Have a Safety Net?

In 1 Peter 3:8 it says, “Finally, all of you, be like-minded, be sympathetic, love one another, be compassionate and humble.” (NIV)

Nobody should ever have to go through alone. Nobody should ever have to wait in the hospital while a loved one is in life-or-death surgery. No woman should ever have to wait alone for the lab report on a high-risk pregnancy. Nobody should ever have to stand at the edge of an open grave alone. Nobody should ever have to spend the first night alone when their spouse has just walked out. 

Life’s tough times and tragedies are inevitable. Each of us will face them—but we don’t need to go through them alone. I need God’s safety net to help hold me up through difficult times.

What is God’s safety net? It is a group of other believers, a handful of people who are really committed to me. We call this kind of group a community. Here is God’s plan for the community: “If one part suffers, every part suffers with it” (1 Corinthians 12:26 NIV). Community is God’s answer to despair. 

Romans 12:15 expresses a similar idea: “Rejoice with those who rejoice; mourn with those who mourn” (NIV).

The first part of that verse is easy. When something good happens to someone, it’s often easy to join in on the party. But when someone is having a tough time, it can seem more difficult. But, really, it’s simple. When going through a crisis, we don’t always want advice. We just want somebody to be there to sit with you, hold your hand, put an arm around your shoulder, or cry with you. 

As Paul tells us, “Therefore encourage one another and build each other up” (1 Thessalonians 5:11 NIV). Encouraging someone doesn’t always mean giving a pep talk or words of wisdom. Sometimes the best kind of encouragement is just being present, sitting in silence, and weeping with a friend.

Do I have a safety net—a group of fellow Christians I know who I can count on in life’s toughest times? Honestly I have to say I don’t. What I need to do today is to begin being intentional about building those friendships. The hard times in life are inevitable, but I don’t have to go into them unprepared.

Group Bible study or a ministry team is one thing, but being part of a community requires what Peter lists as five key elements that should characterize any group of fellow believers: (1) one mind, pursuing the same goals; (2) sympathy, being responsive to others' needs; (3) love, seeing and treating each other as brothers and sisters; (4) tenderness, being affectionately sensitive and caring; and (5) humility, being willing to encourage one another and rejoice in each other's successes. These five qualities go a long way toward helping believers serve God effectively.

As I admitted above, I don’t really have someone who is part of my safety net. I need to begin being intentional about building those friendships. 

How to Start the Climb out of Debt

In Proverbs 3:27 it says, “Don’t withhold repayment of your debts.” (TLB)

God makes it abundantly clear in the Bible how he feels about debt. Proverbs says, “Don’t withhold repayment of your debts” (Proverbs 3:27 TLB). And in Romans you can read, “Let no debt remain outstanding” (Romans 13:8 NIV).

You probably already know this intuitively, but God makes it clear in the Bible: Debt is not a good thing.

Yet many people find themselves drowning in debt. Moving forward, they would be willing to pay as they go if they could just finish paying for where they’ve been.

That’s what God wants for us as well. He wants us to repay what we owe so he can bless us in our finances. But working our way out of debt isn’t easy. First we have to commit to do it, and then we need to make a plan for it. Let’s look at those two steps.

Commit to getting out of debt. You’ve probably noticed that it’s easy to coast into debt. You don’t even have to think about it. But you cannot coast out of debt. You’ve got to make a U-turn and start a long climb back up the hill. That requires a tough decision and a commitment to the time and discipline it will take to get out of debt.

It’s easy to feel alone on this uphill climb. But God knows right where you are! He understood this was going to happen a long time ago. And in the midst of your problems, he wants to help you, to strengthen you, and to grow you. He is with you in this challenge. You are not alone.

Make a plan to get out of debt. Getting out of debt is a day-by-day, step-by-step task. And it involves a word that most people don’t like: discipline. It means not buying that, resolving to do this, deciding not to do that.

The Bible says in Proverbs 21:5, “Good planning and hard work lead to prosperity, but hasty shortcuts lead to poverty” (NLT).

If you’re in debt, don’t ignore this warning from the Bible: Watch out for hasty shortcuts. If you’re in debt, you’re in pain—and you want to get out of pain as quickly as possible. And it’s tempting to take shortcuts.

But instead of chasing hurried shortcuts, look for God’s plan. Then commit to the plan, determined to do whatever it takes to accomplish your goals.

Imagine where you could be in a year if you took diligent steps to be free of debt. Then resolve to take those steps every day, relying on God’s wisdom and grace to do the hard thing. 

Happiness Comes from Harmony and Humility

In Philippians 2:6-8 I read, “Though he was God, he did not think of equality with God as something to cling to. Instead, he gave up his divine privileges; he took the humble position of a slave and was born as a human being . . . He humbled himself in obedience to God and died a criminal’s death on a cross.” (NLT)

Happiness comes from harmony, and harmony comes from humility. If I want to be a humble person, I have to learn to ask myself this question: “What would Jesus do?”

What would Jesus do in this problem? What would Jesus do for that person who’s hurting? What would Jesus do at the office? On the golf course? In your marriage?

Ask this question, and I’ll always come up with a humble answer that builds harmony and happiness rather than difficulty, defeat, bitterness, and resentment.

So, what does it mean to act like Jesus? Philippians 2 gives three examples:

Don’t demand what I think I deserve. “Though he was God, he did not think of equality with God as something to cling to” (Philippians 2:6 NLT).

It’s counter-cultural to give up my right to something? I have rights, but there’s a better way to get my needs met than demanding my rights. I can be tender without surrender, and I can be understanding without demanding.

Look for ways that I can serve. “Instead, he gave up his divine privileges; he took the humble position of a slave and was born as a human being” (Philippians 2:7 NLT).

If I want to be like Jesus, I’m going to have to learn to serve. Serving is a habit I can develop. And it starts not in the big things in life, but in the little things. God tests my humility every day in the little things, and then it’s shown in the big things. Character is revealed in the great crises of life, but it’s built in the little day-to-day things, like returning the grocery cart to the cart return area. 

Do what’s right, even when it’s painful. “He humbled himself in obedience to God and died a criminal’s death on a cross” (Philippians 2:8 NLT).

This is what it means to act like Jesus. What did Jesus do, even when he was in pain? He was understanding, not demanding of what he deserved. He looked for ways to serve. And he was a servant in every situation.

Jesus is the ultimate model of humility, and God gave him the greatest honor in the universe. God honors my humility, too, when I follow Jesus’ example.

In summary, happiness comes from harmony, and harmony comes from humility. To be a humble person, learn to ask: “What would Jesus do?” If I ask this question, I’ll always come up with a humble answer that builds harmony and happiness rather than difficulty, defeat, bitterness, and resentment. What does it mean to act like Jesus? Philippians 2 gives three examples: Don’t demand what I think I deserve. It’s counter-cultural to give up my right to something? I have rights, but there’s a better way to get my needs met than demanding my rights. I can be tender without surrender, and I can be understanding without demanding. Look for ways that I can serve. I’m going to have to learn to serve. Serving is a habit I can develop. It starts not in the big things, but in the little things. God tests my humility every day in the little things, and then it’s shown in the big things. Character is revealed in the great crises of life, but it’s built in the little day-to-day things, like returning the grocery cart to the cart return area. Lastly do what’s right, even when it’s painful. This is what it means to act like Jesus. What did Jesus do, even when he was in pain? He was understanding, not demanding of what he deserved. He looked for ways to serve. And he was a servant in every situation. Jesus is the ultimate model of humility, and God gave him the greatest honor in the universe. God honors my humility, too, when I follow Jesus’ example.

Several key characteristics of Jesus Christ are praised in this passage: Christ has always existed with God; Christ is equal to God because he is God. Though Christ is God, he became a man in order to fulfill God's plan of salvation for all people. Christ did not just have the appearance of being a man, he actually became human to identify with my sins. Christ voluntarily laid aside his divine rights and privileges out of love for his Father. Christ died on the cross for my signs so I wouldn't have to face eternal death. God glorified Christ because of his obedience. God raised Christ to his original position at the Father's right hand, where he will reign forever as our Lord and Judge. Often people excuse selfishness, pride, or evil by claiming their rights. They think "I can cheat on this test; after all, I deserve to pass this class," or "I can spend all this money on myself, I worked hard for it. However as a believer, I should have a different attitude, one that enables me to lay aside my rights in order to serve others.  If I say I follow Christ, I must also say I want to live as he lived. I should develop his attitude of humility as I serve, even when I am not likely to get recognition for my efforts. Am I selfishly clinging to my rights, or am I willing to serve?