The PF Women Team at our Annual Team Retreat ~ 2018 Today on Seth Godin's blog, he said: It's tempting to decide to make a profit first, then invest in training, people, facilities, promotion, customer service and most of all, doing important work. In general, though, it goes the other way. Yes, it does. If you are waiting to make a profit before you do these things, in my experience you're not going to make a profit. So many organizations, ministries and churches are struggling with financial issues. I know your pain. As anyone who follows our story knows, our ministry was in a ton of debt four years ago when I came on as director. Since that time, we've gotten out of debt and turned a profit every year. God has done amazing things through out team, for which we give Him the glory! I find that what Seth is saying here is absolutely true, with one disclaimer. For Christian leaders, spiritual disciplines must always be first. Before we started i...
I had to investigate this thought recently when reading a book, Confessions of a Pastor by Craig Groeschel. He didn't talk about Pentecostals in the book, however I began to think about it from the viewpoint of my experience. Often I have leaned toward the thought that if you're really praying you are on your face before God, deep in fervent prayer and intercession, not multi-tasking, not doing anything else, just going after God 100% to the exclusion of everything else. Now I'm not so sure...
Oh, don't mistake, I think that's still important! And obviously especially as a Pentecostal pastor, I want to spend times doing just that. But I realize I have been too hard on myself about the amount of time I spend in prayer. Prayer, Groeshcel reminds us, is simply communicating with God - talking to Him. I do that all throughout my day. I ask Him constantly what to do about things, how to proceed, what to say to people. When somebody is talking to me, I try to listen to their heart but at the same time I'm saying, "God, show me right now what they need..." When I'm unsure, I instinctively turn to Him. When I have a creative burst, I realize it's from Him. I start talking to Him about all the details that start forming in my mind. I talk to Him in the car, while I'm walking, on my bike, in the shower, sometimes yes, when others are talking to me, I'm tuned out to them and tuned in to God.
Because I was doing something else all those times, I never considered it prayer, but instead to just be microbursts of conversation with God that didn't really amount to anything significant, but just a routine sort of thing. I now realize, what usually takes place - most of the biggest things that have happened in my life spiritually have often come out of those microbursts throughout my day with God, and not what He tells me when I'm laying with my face in the carpet, interceding.
I think if most Christians looked at this aspect of their lives, they might also be set free to realize, they pray a lot more than they think they do, because prayer is simply having a conversation with God. And lots of people do that each and every day although they may not be doing "carpet time" as some call it, or going to a prayer meeting. That's a freeing thought, it really is.
Oh, don't mistake, I think that's still important! And obviously especially as a Pentecostal pastor, I want to spend times doing just that. But I realize I have been too hard on myself about the amount of time I spend in prayer. Prayer, Groeshcel reminds us, is simply communicating with God - talking to Him. I do that all throughout my day. I ask Him constantly what to do about things, how to proceed, what to say to people. When somebody is talking to me, I try to listen to their heart but at the same time I'm saying, "God, show me right now what they need..." When I'm unsure, I instinctively turn to Him. When I have a creative burst, I realize it's from Him. I start talking to Him about all the details that start forming in my mind. I talk to Him in the car, while I'm walking, on my bike, in the shower, sometimes yes, when others are talking to me, I'm tuned out to them and tuned in to God.
Because I was doing something else all those times, I never considered it prayer, but instead to just be microbursts of conversation with God that didn't really amount to anything significant, but just a routine sort of thing. I now realize, what usually takes place - most of the biggest things that have happened in my life spiritually have often come out of those microbursts throughout my day with God, and not what He tells me when I'm laying with my face in the carpet, interceding.
I think if most Christians looked at this aspect of their lives, they might also be set free to realize, they pray a lot more than they think they do, because prayer is simply having a conversation with God. And lots of people do that each and every day although they may not be doing "carpet time" as some call it, or going to a prayer meeting. That's a freeing thought, it really is.
Comments
"And in the morning, rising up a great while before day, He went out, and departed into a solitary place, and there prayed."
There's a beauty and joy in praying. To me there's more than just a simple "Starbucks Conversation with God" I truly believe that prayer is so important for the spiritual nourishment of our souls.
In the meantime I would just like to thank you for your blogs. To me when you write you let more out and you're more of yourself then when you speak behind the pew's of the Church.
May God Bless you in everyday life. In the meantime if you would like to read my recent blogs I've written you can check them out at .... AssyrianCSLewis.blogspot.com
In Christ,
P.S Bahi