Distracted? Overwhelmed? Burdened? Busy?

Distracted…Overwhelmed … Burdened… Busy

All the time my brain is full of the many to do lists I have. I’m always trying to check off as many as I can. Ministry is an amazing adventure, when Sunday morning comes around “The Big Day”  Everything we do is in preparation for that day. The first and third Sundays at the church are particularly busy as we have a brunch after the morning service and preparing for the ever growing children’s ministry.

I am very excited about the growth but there was a sense of business and worry that started to take over. The questions of the morning begin…

Was it communicated clearly?

Will the volunteers show up?

Do we have enough food?

Will the visitors have a good experience?

The litany of questions began swirling around in my mind, we did as much as we can to get ready yet there is always room for improvement.

Our Sunday school lesson today is on Numbers chapter 13, the account of the 12 spies going over to the Promised Land to scope things out. The 12 spies come back and 10 of them say there is no way for us to take the land, they are giants. Caleb and Joshua told the people they could take the land shared the account of the wonderful things to be found there.  The people chose to listen to the 10 and did not try to enter the land promised to them by God.

I wonder how many times we have had this same thing happen to us in our ministries.

Yes, that is a great idea, but it just is not possible with a small congregation.

We just don’t have the resources for anything like that.

We will never get all the volunteers we need for an outreach like that.

It is sad to think those 10 spies not only looked at, but walked on the Promised Land the Lord had told them about.  Somehow it became to them the “maybe land” or the “it might happen land” or  the ever popular “not in a million years land” God had already set it apart for them, why did they doubt that he would fulfill His promise to them?

They let their own human thinking and fear govern over the promises of God.

It is when we fatigue our faith over and over again by applying our own standard, test and spies to point that faith becomes so weak that we (I) become incapacitated in regard to the promises of God.

Faith should have lead all 12 of the spies, but human reason prevailed.

I am determined to familiarize, hold on to and step out in faith with the promises His has already given to us in scripture and to me personally.

It is so incredibly easy to listen to the world tell us why we should not passionately pursue the purpose that God has given us.

Connect with faith filled women.

Recount the promises already fulfilled in your life and walk with God.

Attend Bible studies.

Listen to him speak to you in prayer.

Read about the promises God has given to us in his word.

Here is just a start…

Not a single one of all the good promises the Lord had given to the family of Israel was left unfulfilled; everything he had spoken came true. Read, Joshua chapter 21

“God’s way is perfect. All the Lord’s promises prove true. He is a shield for all who look to him for protection. Read 2 Samuel chapter 22

The Lord’s promises are pure, like silver refined in a furnace, purified seven times over. Read Psalm chapter 12

Praise the Lord who has given rest to his people Israel, just as he promised. Not one word has failed of all the wonderful promises he gave through his servant Moses. Read 1 Kings 8:56

Your promises have been thoroughly tested; that is why I love them so much. Read Psalm 119: 139-141

I publicly proclaim bold promises. I do not whisper obscurities in some dark corner. I would not have told the people of Israel to seek me if I could not be found. I, the Lord, speak only what is true and declare only what is right. Read Isaiah chapter 45

I prayed to the Lord my God and confessed:“O Lord, you are a great and awesome God! You always fulfill your covenant and keep your promises of unfailing love to those who love you and obey your commands. Read Daniel chapter 9

What a great start to a treasure of the great and precious promises he has for you!