5 Ways an Ordinary Woman Can Serve an Extraordinary God

I must confess that right now I have a huge pile of laundry to conquer and a sink full of dishes. The charge to go into the world and make disciples seems beyond my capability. I can’t make time to wash my hair most weeks. How am I supposed to fulfill the Great Commission when I can’t even get to the grocery store to make dinner for my family? 
I am just an ordinary woman. The call to reach the lost seems like an extraordinary challenge.  
How can I have a missionary heart in the midst of my daily life? Reading through the Bible, I’ve found inspiration from the lives of 5 ordinary women who made an extraordinary difference.    
 
5 Ordinary Ways to Live on Mission for our Extraordinary God: 

1. She can pray: Oswald Chambers said, “Prayer does not fit us for the greater work; prayer is the greater work.” I might not ever walk on a stage to share the Gospel. I may never travel to Africa or start a non-profit in Jesus’ name, but I can pray for God to soften hearts in my family. I can present the names of my neighbors to the One who transforms lives. Like a modern-day Esther, I am appointed to pray and fast and walk through whatever doors God may open for me to speak the Truth in love. 
   
2. She can help: God loves to surprise us. If we are in tune with Him, He will present opportunities for us to meet needs and point people toward redemption.  Just look at the servant girl in II Kings 5. Naaman needed healing, and she knew a healer. “Let me tell you about Elisha,” she said. Naaman was “all ears.” Right now, someone in your circle of influence needs help. If you respond, you might just help them find healing from their sin as well as help in a time of need. 
3. She can encourage and support: Be a good friend who invests in others. Choose to be fully present, listen, and share your story like Priscilla in the New Testament. The church actually met in her home, and she partnered with her husband to encourage Paul, Apollos, and whoever God brought into her path.  
4. She can invite others in: Do you know how to bake a cake? Can you make a pot of coffee? Maybe God wants you to use the gift of hospitality to share the Good News. Lydia did. In Acts 16, we see her inviting people to her home as a springboard to inviting them to Christ. 
   
5. She can serve: In Acts 9, Paul introduces us to Dorcas, an ordinary woman whose heart beat with compassion for the needy. Like Dorcas, we are called to love the least of these. We don’t need a seminary degree or a huge bank account to accomplish this mission. All we have to do is show up and be willing to get our hands dirty in the name of Jesus. We are called to be His hands and feet in this broken world.  

​You can choose to be a world changer right now. Pray, help, encourage, invite others in, and serve. Ordinary acts of obedience can make an extraordinary difference in the lives of others.  

About Lyli

Lyli Dunbar loves teaching.  For 17 years, she mentored teenagers in the Christian school setting, and now she has serves as Associate Director of Curriculum at Trinity International University Florida. Lyli married her Prince Charming in her 40’s and has a heart for encouraging young couples and singles in God’s waiting room.  She enjoys road trips with her husband, connecting with women through Bible study, and reading way too many books. Lyli writes about life lessons and faith on her personal blog. You may also connect with her on Facebook, Twitter, and Pinterest.

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