{
 "id": "basics-def-availability",
 "question": "What is availability in the Christian life?",
 "answer": "Availability is the voluntary decision to be used by God, as the issue in the Christian life is never our ability but our availability. We cannot prepare or sanctify ourselves; we can only choose to be available to God and humble ourselves through the simple confession of our sins. To be sanctified, useful, and prepared for God, we need only to be available.\n\nThis availability involves presenting our physical bodies as a living sacrifice or offering (Rom. 6:13). Because the body is the temple of the Holy Spirit (1 Cor. 6:19), God wants it to be an instrument He can use to accomplish His plan. The goal is for every believer to be in full-time, 24-hour-a-day, Christian service.\n\nBiblical examples of availability include Moses, who accepted self-denial and hardship (Num. 12:3; Heb. 11:25–26), and Elijah, who obeyed instructions without argument (1 Kings 17:2–3, 8–9). Others include David, who stepped forward to fight Goliath (1 Sam. 16:13; 17:37, 45–47), Isaiah, who said, “Here am I. Send me!” (Isa. 6:8), Esther, who risked her life (Esther 4:16), Mary, who submitted to God's word (Luke 1:38), and Paul, who poured out his life for the Gospel (1 Thess. 2:8; 2 Tim. 4:16).",
 "url": "/faq/what-is-availability-in-the-christian-life/",
 "unit": null,
 "lesson": null,
 "lesson_title": null,
 "question_type": null,
 "tier": 2,
 "faq_class": "definition",
 "aeo_questions": [
  "What does it mean to make ourselves available to God in daily life?",
  "How can I choose to be used by God instead of preparing myself?",
  "What is the main difference between being available to God versus trying to sanctify myself?"
 ],
 "topic_anchor": "Availability",
 "derivation": "generated",
 "source_authority": "authoritative",
 "author": "Gene Cunningham",
 "book": "The Basics",
 "source": {
  "doc_id": "btbm-01-TheBasics-8-10-24",
  "ref": "The Basics -- Subject Index entry 'Availability' (printed pp. 100, 164)",
  "book_page": [
   100,
   164
  ],
  "grounding_pages": [
   100,
   164
  ]
 },
 "scripture": [
  {
   "display": "Num. 12:3",
   "osis": null,
   "book_pages": []
  },
  {
   "display": "Heb. 11:25–26",
   "osis": null,
   "book_pages": []
  },
  {
   "display": "1 Sam. 16:13",
   "osis": null,
   "book_pages": []
  },
  {
   "display": "1 Sam. 17:37, 45–47",
   "osis": null,
   "book_pages": []
  },
  {
   "display": "1 Kings 17:2–3, 8–9",
   "osis": null,
   "book_pages": []
  },
  {
   "display": "Isa. 6:8",
   "osis": null,
   "book_pages": []
  },
  {
   "display": "Esther 4:16",
   "osis": null,
   "book_pages": [
    112,
    306
   ]
  },
  {
   "display": "Luke 1:38",
   "osis": null,
   "book_pages": [
    112,
    308
   ]
  },
  {
   "display": "1 Thess. 2:8",
   "osis": null,
   "book_pages": []
  },
  {
   "display": "2 Tim. 4:16",
   "osis": null,
   "book_pages": []
  },
  {
   "display": "Rom. 6:13",
   "osis": null,
   "book_pages": []
  },
  {
   "display": "1 Cor. 6:19",
   "osis": null,
   "book_pages": []
  }
 ],
 "topics": [
  "Availability",
  "Confession",
  "David",
  "Elijah",
  "Esther",
  "Gospel",
  "Isaiah",
  "Mary",
  "Moses",
  "Paul",
  "Service"
 ],
 "topics_context": [
  "Race of life",
  "Christian, way of life",
  "Plan of God, goal",
  "Power and Holy Spirit",
  "God, knowing",
  "Prayer and essence of God"
 ],
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  157,
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  159,
  160,
  161,
  162,
  163,
  164
 ],
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