Shaken Up!

So, I am living life seeking what God has in store for me next. I’ve come a long way from where I used to be spiritually and socially. I am now in my fourth year as an associate pastor, I have two children and am enjoying life with my wife. Our days are busy though we have tried hard to keep things simple and to make time for others. My wife and I have fully settled in our community and church family thus things seem relatively comfortable and happy for us. Yet my wife and I are experiencing some things that are making us restless. Really this is good because anytime you get too comfortable it’s almost certain you will loose some effectiveness.

Anyway God has really been laying some things on my heart. He has been teaching me truths from scripture that I never saw so clearly before. Some of these things are: community within the body of Christ; Church structure, creation of the church, making disciples, and it’s leadership beginning with Christ and the Apostles. What’s more is that in wrestling with some of these things I was talking with a brother in Christ and we learned that each of us is wrestling with similar things. Now this is good news because I had been praying for a kindred spirit to walk and talk with about spiritual things, family life and obedience to God. Thus we connected and will be meeting regularly every other week. I am excited about this. I know God is challenging me and teaching me for a purpose but I don’t know what that is yet. I have some suspicions but won’t mention those to anyone other than my brother in Christ who I will refer to “my kindred spirit.” Of course I have spent time in prayer about these things as well.

Wrestling with God’s truth is good. It means you have an understanding of something but your flesh is resisting the application of it.

All of this said, does this have any application for your lives or am I just rambling on about mine? I certainly hope that someone out there can relate with my honesty in talking about such things. There are applications though for you to glean from this. Mainly, If you are too comfortable in life then think about making some changes and praying for what God has in store for you next. Changes can be big or small. We all need to be changing and growing into Christ likeness. I don’t think we can just sit by though and assume that we are growing into Christ likeness. I believe it takes intentional effort and energy. Sometimes and perhaps more often than not it takes God shaking us up some. I know one of the dangers of pastoral ministry is that we get so caught up in running programs and keeping momentum going that we forget why we were really called. We forget our main purpose. It really is easy to happen, it’s happened to me and I have only been in ministry for a few years. Thank God He has shaken me up twice in my ministry thus far. So, you are living life and I hope seeking what God has in store for you next.

James 4:8-9
Come close to God, and God will come close to you. Wash your hands, you sinners; purify your hearts, for your loyalty is divided between God and the world.