As a pastor and leadership/ministry coach, I have the pleasure of working with many individuals pursuing dreams and visions. One issue I continually have to address is clarify the difference between explanations and instructions. Instructions speak to “what” God would have us to do. God can not hold us accountable for anything he hasn’t made clear. Therefore, he is very specific and leaves no room for ambiguity. On the other hand, explanations often live in the land of faith; they include the “how, when, where, and why.” Herein lies the problem; we ask God for instructions, when in fact what we really desire is explanations.
When Jesus told Peter to join him for a walk on the lake, he simply said “come.” Jesus did not explain to Peter how the water would support his body weight. Stop wondering how the water is going to support you! If that is your focus, you will never get out of the boat. This is what faith is all about. There will be questions for which you won’t have answers. Faith does not strip away the unknown, faith enables us to walk into the unknown with the assurance our steps are being ordered.
I don’t want to suggest that God never gives explanations; only that he often uses the unknown to build up our faith and keep us focused on him… Tomorrow, I will be responding to emails and posts received over the past week. I will use Fridays to do this and to provide “coaching” tips as well. So be sure to post your questions! Grace and Peace!
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3 comments:
I think that for me it hasn't been about explaination nor instructions. I have struggled with how I was to prepare for this journey with the lord. Like in you example; I placing myself in Peters sandals would have became consumed with preparation issues. However, thru the word, prayer and my first attempt at fasting, and your blogs God has revealed to me that faith and sincerely yeilding to the holy spirit is all that one needs to accomplish any task he places before us. He alone gives the increase.. God Bless \0/
This is really an eye opener,we walk through life thinking that we really have a clue.Then again pastor you come along and let God use you to end all our/my elusions.God bless you & keep it coming.
Clarity! I am continually blessed by how the Word is broken down and made plain so that all can understand what our Heavenly Father is saying to us. God Bless your ministry!
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