PASTORS' DAILY DEVOTIONAL
Jul
05
05
Spiritually Connected
Richard Waialeale
Scripture
"We must pay more careful attention, therefore, to what we have heard, so that we do not drift away. God also testified to it by signs, wonders and various miracles, and gifts of the Holy Spirit distributed according to his will." (Hebrews 2:1,4)
Observation
When Paul says in scripture to pay attention, otherwise we may drift away. The example is like a boat forgetting to drop its anchor into the water. If they want stability, and the purpose is to stand in one area, they need to drop the anchor. Often in ministry, when we master our assignment and continue to do the same thing week in and week out - it can get pretty stale. Our attitude can get sour and we bend towards drifting away from our original assignment. Sort of like a boat that forgot to drop its anchor. So how do we maintain the joy of serving? How do we stay spiritually connected, having the joy of serving in one area?
Application
God has truly blessed me in ministry and keeps moving me one step at a time. The key here is my attitude facing Him and throwing my heart over the line for what I need to do. If I'm drifting in all kinds of directions, God's blessings are falling at my waist side, never spiritually connecting with me. In other words, I'm missing His blessing cause I'm not connected. My attitude is skewed. One of the things God has called me to do is minister to the homeless population - huge problem in this state. It's not something I believe I'm gifted in, nor did I think of doing this ministry, it's just something I know God has showed me time and time again to do. With the amount of homeless people just in the community I planted God's church, I started feeding 8 - 12 people (out of over two thousand). I thought to myself, how come there isn't more for me to serve? And then for reasons beyond my power, we were forced to shut down after less then a year. I began to think, good, now I can focus on the church. But then another opportunity came along, and with greater vision and blessings. I saw how my attitude was wrong and I needed to change, facing in the direction of where God was. Once I changed my attitude and posture, threw my heart over the line for this ministry, slowly but surely, God began blessing this ministry. As of today, God is still opening new doors to serve the homeless and I need to continue to land in this area and serve with all my heart. If ministry seems stale, perhaps we're facing in the wrong direction and our hearts are not into it.
Prayer
Lord I pray for humility and to lose my selfish pride. I pray from Jeremiah 29:11-13, where it says, For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart.
So Lord I will seek You with all my heart to discover the plans You have for me. In Jesus Name I Pray. Amen.
So Lord I will seek You with all my heart to discover the plans You have for me. In Jesus Name I Pray. Amen.