Craig Clouston

 

Someone’s Gotta Move

May 10

But when he, the Spirit of truth, comes, he will guide you into all the truth.

John 16:13

“The worship team is still in a state of flux,” Pastor David confided. He and Bruce had been praying God would provide the perfect worship leader for more than a year. Yet, no one had emerged as a clear candidate. Several people wanted the position, but David and the church leadership hadn’t felt God’s confirmation in any of those cases.

Then a couple months ago Ron and his wife showed up at church, and began attending services regularly.

“Ron led worship and was youth pastor at a previous appointment,” David advised the leadership. “I’ve been praying that God will make His intentions clear. I actually prayed, ‘If it’s of Your will that Ron be our worship leader, Lord, You have him come to me and ask about it.’”

It occurred to Bruce that Ron, having recently been through a church-split, might be praying the very same type of prayer. He chose his words carefully, “David, I know your heart. But what if Ron is praying the same prayer as you? ‘Lord, if this is where You want me to serve, then You make it happen.’ He’s never going to ask you, and you’re never going to ask him. And the perfect candidate for worship leader will languish, right along with our church.” He paused a couple heartbeats, “If that’s the case, then someone’s gotta move. It might be wise to leave yourself open to the possibility that that person might be you.”

†

If we set the parameters of God’s response to our prayers we effectively limit where and how He can resolve the situation. God will not violate free will, even in answer to prayer. Nor will He force us to listen. And like Pastor David, if His answer is not what we expected, we might miss His leading.

John, in today’s passage, wrote that God’s Spirit would come and guide us into all truth; but only if we remain open to His suggestions.

The truth is He may ask us to move in order to affect the desired results.

Prayer

“Help me to listen for Your response to my prayers instead of placing restraints on my requests, Lord. Make me sensitive to Your Spirit. In Jesus’ Name, amen.”