So, did you buy a Powerball ticket last week when it was over $550 million?!?! I did. In fact, any time the Powerball gets to be over $300 million, I usually buy a ticket. I don’t have anything against the lottery, but I don’t normally play. But, every time I do play, I make a deal with God (as if to justify me playing the lottery) that I would give X amount to the church, X amount to this charity, X amount to this and X amount to that. I somehow think that by making this “deal” with God, he’ll let me win…I’m still waiting.
As I was getting ready to by my Powerball ticket, I thought, “Is what we do with the Powerball somehow linked to how we do ministry?” By that I mean, do we get distracted from time to time with a new idea, a new way of doing things that we lose sight of the original plan God had for us and our ministry.
I’m reading a new book that I will be reviewing on this blog in a week or so (and even giving 3 free copies) called “Leading Change without Losing it” by Carey Nieuwhof. Its a fascinating read so far for me. In it, Carey talks about sticking to the original plan God gave you. He says, “Moses kept his focus on fulfilling the original plan, which is even more amazing when you consider that the original vision wasn’t even his idea”. There were times when Moses could have been distracted and changed the plan that God had given him. But he didn’t and the benefit to so many was immeasurable.
In the same way, like me and the Powerball, we can get distracted in ministry by doing something that God hasn’t called you to…something that wasn’t part of the original plan. For instance, if he is calling you to reach out to non-believing teens, then don’t get distracted by focusing on a new knitting club to reach home schooled children. Now that may be an extreme example, but you get the point. Keep to what God has called you to, the original plan, and don’t get distracted. Then, even though hard times may come, you don’t have to question whether or not you are in the right direction because you know God’s original plan. Now, you may have to change your tactics but you don’t have to change you plan.
Remember, there are many great ministry opportunities to do out there. But God has something specific for YOU to do. Keep focused on that and don’t get distracted by the Powerballs out there. He’s got somebody else in mind for that.
So right now, TAKE A MINUTE and think through what God’s original plan was for your ministry. Are you keeping to it or did you get distracted? How can you get refocused on this plan?
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