Thinking & PRAYING twice before we act!

As Pastors we receive invitations to conferences, retreats, and meetings to the right and to the left to the point that at times we have to "pick and choose" because they are many options, in and outside our state, at times.  If we are not careful, and ignore the voice of GOD when HE speaks and says yes to this and no to this other one, we're going to be facing many challenges because attending to all of them, will leave us with little or no time to do our pastoral duties. Not to mention that the challenges to face can and will make our life REALLY complicated. 

I do not want you to think “well that’s only to the pastors”, because if you ponder of the facts, that even as a Mother/Homemaker we need to make choices, and most of the times more sensitive and important that going here and there.  Sometimes maybe simpler decisions that we take on a daily basis, but I’m sure this do happen, often very often.  Think about the times, that you have an appointment at ten, when suddenly one of the kids called in sick from school, while your husband needs you, the dog comes inside with muddy paws, the doorbell rings, and to top it all, we feel the urge to use the bathroom!  See somethings can be put off, others don’t! LOL  

We MUST present our requests to The LORD for HIM to be the One who leads us, because there will be times, where we simply NEED to go to the bathroom, and everything else can be placed in prayer even while we are doing our business, in that enclosed room.

The truth of the matter is that you TALK to The LORD before you choose what to do. “Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.” Philippians 4: 6-7

 

Let me bring it home….

An invitation came, for an out of town meeting, I wanted to go since I had missed the fellowship with my other fellow female pastors, but the circumstances seem to be not quite right, and I hadn’t been totally convinced that this was for me to go. I knew it was out of town, and there will be some additional traveling time and expenses, but I thought, well is an enrichment meeting, and it’s for all so, I’m going!   So after sharing simply about it with my husband, and although is for me, sometimes he comes, and he said he would so I made plans, and registered.

A few days later, my son’s car broke down, until then I had an idea but didn’t know for sure how hectic having one car down in the house can be especially if you’re the chuffer. Praise God, my job is on-call basis, and my husband is an ARMY Medical Retiree, because otherwise it would have been worst! 

Then my husband, mentioned not being comfortable to leave the town and our youngest daughter home alone for a long period of hours, while my middle son is at soccer practice, while the oldest is at work.  So he started to ask me question about this particular invitation, usually depending on his physical state sometimes he chooses to stay home, while I’m gone. As the conversation when on, we start to get deeper into the details of the conference, the different speaker at this meeting, where they were coming from and the possible benefits, and so on.  Then, the more I dug into the information, and thru my husband, The LORD allowed me to realize that coming to this out of town meeting would bring more that I would want it to bargain for. Then the immediate question aroused, now what do I do? Because I’ve registered, or so I thought! And unless I have an emergency or I’m in the hospital, I do not cancel my appointments, especially if they have to do with ministry.  Well, I decided to recheck our registrations, just to realize I was not registered for this conference, my registration didn’t get processed! Surprise!!!

See, we just HAVE TO MAKE TIME, to hear and understand when GOD is talking to us, and I had just failed to, like we all do sometimes. All because I allowed my desire to fellowship with my colleague’s to go beyond the time I spent praying about going to this meeting.  "When we push too much, for things to happen, we can end up with a painful discomfort in our bottom” is what I usually say.  So, what else to do, but confess, repent, for this not to happen again?! 

... And my friend, this was yesterday’s lesson for me.  If this has been a lesson for you too, do not hesitate to comment, and always pray for you and me, to stay focus in The LORD, and to “TRUST in THE LORD with ALL our HEART and LEAN NOT on our OWN UNDERSTANDING; in ALL our WAYS SUBMIT to HIM, and HE WILL MAKE our PATHS STRAIGHT.”  Proverbs 3:5-6

Until next time, I pray the Lord blesses you with a great life to be lived for HIS glory, and I pray in JESUS name, AMEN!!!