The Fresh Work of God
Sometimes in ministry, I feel I’m leading on last year’s ideas. Instead of clearly sensing direction from God, I tend to do what last worked.
Those dry times are generally a direct result of my own spiritual negligence. Instead of seeking God passionately, I am occasionally lulled into a business-as-usual approach to prayer and study of God’s word.
Instead of expecting a fresh work of God in my life, I seem strangely content with doing ministry from memory rather than ministry from fresh revelation from God.
A few months ago, I determined that experiencing the presence and direction from God would be my top priority daily. I stepped up my time in prayer, time in God’s word, and started recording what I believed God was showing me.
This week I’ll talk about some of the fresh works I’m excited about as a spiritual leader.
How about you? Are you living on last year’s work or a fresh work of God in your life?
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Love the topic. One of my favorite quotes fits well here: “Never let your memories be greater than your dreams” - I beleive this comes from Doug Ivester. This is my spiritual prayer as I lead the church I am in as well as in life.
Looking forward to this topic.
I agree 100%….There are two things that I am completely diving into right now .
#1 My Current identity! Identity Theft in the Church is one of the largest problems in the body of Christ. WE DO NOT know (I do not really embrace) WHO we are. Along with my study in THE WORD, I am reading Neil Anderson’s book, “Victory Over The Darkness.” I am realizing the POWER of reclaiming my identity.
#2 Living past my feelings (which are controlled by my flesh) and choosing to live in the “fruits of the spirit”. Do I win this battle every day ? NO WAY! But, I am on a MISSION to live a life of NO regrets!!! Cant wait to read what others have to say…It encourages me to press on!
I run a bible study, help with KACC website, broadcast our live services, and upload the recorded services to the net.
I feel exactly like Craig. I feel like even though I am doing a lot, it’s business as usually. I don’t want that.
I love that hunger I get during prayer. You know, when you’ve been praying for more than 3 minutes straight. It’s like your prayer endorphins kick in. I need to keep reaching for that connection and do like Craig. I also need to ramp up my relationship with God. Thanks for this post.
Critics can usually tell when an artist paints from memory. The real masterpieces, like Monet’s landscapes in Giverny, come from the discipline of hauling an easel and brushes and paints outdoors and sitting in the sun and painting what you actually see.
When Amy spoke on Thursday, I liked how she kept praying that God would help people see what the Word said with fresh eyes. How ridiculous it is to come to God with a “been there, done that” attitude. Our marvelous Creator certainly has something new to do in and through us when we seek Him. I can hardly wait!
Freshness is so importnant in leadership and ministry, thanks for sharing this post. ONe area is I am forcing myself in spiritualk habbit to open God’s word DAILY and read something that strikes my soul, eat it, chew on it, meditate over it the whole day. I’ve added this to my journaling, running and book reading agenda and it’s making a difference already.
Freshness. Seek it.
I’m traveling that road as well. I started with simply reading the Word daily (for devotional purposes only), something I was neglecting. I’ve found that slowly but surely, as I do this, my prayer time is increasing as well. As I mediate more on the word, I naturally begin to talk to the Father about what I’m reading.
I once heard Robertson McQuilking (former pres. of Columbia International Universtiy in SC) share that during dry times he would habitually make himself spent time in the word and prayer. For a while it is work but he shares that as he stays at it, he’ll all of a sudden find himself yearning for it. “we shall reap if we faint not…”
Same here! I’ve upped my prayer life recently…because for a short while there I felt like I lost “it”…which is all about freshness!
Looking forward to this series! And Jim, great quote! I’m gonna have to keep it!
In Christ!
Been gone all day Craig but definitely track with you on this. I am about to preach a series on Spiritual Passion and find myself wanting God to do a fresh work in me before and while the series is going on. I really am tired of dried-up religion. Go for it this week! You will have an eager listener.
This is so rich! You are right. I often tend to do ministry out of memory, instead of seeking God for HIS direction. Thank you for leading the way for us…
Thank you Craig for the timely reminder not to settle for ‘business as usual’. I too want to expereince God in a fresh new way every day… thank you for the encouragement to get out there and do it!
So GOOD! This was entirely what our staff mtg revolved around today. If fact, I believe the phrase shared that captured our conviction was this…”the longer I do ministry out of routine vs. being ruined by Jesus, the louder the ticking is of the clock on our spiritual relevance and usefulness. thanks Craig
So good…
I have found as I get older that all the “stuff” involved in a relationship with Christ pales in comparison to sitting at His feet…
Ministry, bible study, prayer… etc, are all good things, but if I am not connected through those things to Jesus, and growing in love with Him… they all dry up…
At the end of my life… I want to be more in love with Jesus, and closer… than anything else…
I love getting older and learning the things that really matter… that make everything else sweeter…
to me its like knowing Picasso personally rather than just admiring his work from afar…
Thanks for sharing…
Thanks for your meaningful and transparent thoughts!
I think my favorite verse ever is Is. 43:18-19, I keep that verse in front of me because I know in my own life I tend to spend to much time focused on what worked and what God was doing yesterday and miss the new thing that God is springing forth right in front of my eyes.
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As ministers of the gospel, our job is to hear from God, and speak what He says, and how can we do this if we do not spend time with Him. God is always speaking, it is up to us to listen. Pastor Craig can’t say enough about how thankful I am that you are allowing God to use you in such a incredible way, doing things no one has done, and going places no one has gone, as you are charting this new territory I pray that you would be listening out for God, and growing in your relationship with Him, as you obviously have, and that He would continue pour out His wisdom and revelation in you.
Blessings