My attention focused more on the Full Moon BBQ sandwich in front of me than the initial introductory remarks during the Jan. 30 luncheon at the State Evangelism Conference.
I knew our correspondents Michael J. Brooks and Tracy Riggs Frontz had the coverage well in hand, so I chose to finish my meal cautiously and quietly as Mark Clifton shared.
As he wove stories throughout his presentation, my mind wandered down a few familiar trails.
Many of us have experienced moments in our ministries where we ran ahead of God, didn’t keep prayer as a priority and got caught up in all the possibilities at the expense of excelling in the present.
We also sometimes complicate daily life and routines rather than choosing simplicity.
Clifton says a simple strategy is the best option, and his suggestion is to “love people, practice generosity and seek Jesus’ direction in every endeavor.”
Think about it — so simple, yet massively powerful.
What if?
What if we spent more time loving people where they are, praying for them and mentoring them to make needed next steps?
What if we eagerly approached each day intentionally looking for ways to be generous — with our attention, time, resources, prayers and compassion?
What if we had an ongoing, never-ending conversation with Jesus? What if we talked every aspect of every day out with Him?
Of course, use discretion with when to have that conversation out loud and when it should be in your mind. Otherwise, you might start concerning those around you. Ha!
Along with urging us to stay focused on loving, giving and praying, Clifton shared another point that hung heavy in the air for me.
“Jesus won’t resource our plan, but He won’t spare resources for His plan.”
Is it really that simple?
Is it truly as simple as seeking out, listening to and following the Lord’s plan? Absolutely.
Still, we so often rely on our own thought processes, decision-making skills, research from the experts and personal preferences. Many times we blame others for not following our lead rather than carefully evaluating how we are leading.
The Lord brought this concept home for me last week when He solved a puzzling situation in a matter of hours after I had spent years attempting to figure it out.
Instead of praying through it and seeking His guidance from the start, I worked in my own strength, assessing the options and contemplating proposed next steps in the process.
I’m a pretty good problem solver, so in my mind I should have been able to handle the issue easily.
However, once I released it totally to Him, He gave me — within minutes, by the way — a clear, efficient and beautiful outline of what to do next.
It’s a plan that far exceeded my expectations of what was possible.
‘I keep praying, You keep moving’
Meditate on this excerpt from the lyrics of “Honey in the Rock,” written by New Zealand singer-songwriter Brooke Ligertwood and American contemporary worship musician Brandon Lake:
There’s honey in the rock, water in the stone
Manna on the ground no matter where I go; I don’t need to worry now that I know
Everything I need You’ve got
There’s honey in the rock
Praying for a miracle, thirsty for the Living Well
Only You can satisfy …
Freedom where the Spirit is
Bounty in the wilderness
You will always satisfy …
There’s honey in the rock, purpose in Your plan
Power in the blood, healing in Your hands …
I keep looking, I keep finding
You keep giving, keep providing … I keep praying, You keep moving; I keep praising, You keep proving …
You are all that I need …
Jesus, who You are is enough …
Oh how sweet, how sweet it is
To trust in You, Jesus.
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