Personal Insight for Those in Ministry

Last night I sat alone in the dark, with only the lights of the Christmas tree glowing. I enjoyed the Presence of God so near as my Father, my Brother, and my beloved Friend. This past year I have learned what it means to be Family with Him. I have found a Father so wonderful and faithful, so affectionate and affirming! I have embraced my Father's Firstborn, Jesus, as my Brother and accepted His gift of sharing our Father's inheritance. I have deepened my friendship with Holy Spirit, Who daily counsels and guides me. The Trinity, once allusive and hard to comprehend, has become a precious Threesome to me.

This revelation of my heavenly "Family" has dramatically changed my view of life and ministry in 2008. For years I was driven by a need to perform because I believed that God gave each of us responsibilities - tasks, ministries, businesses - to do FOR Him. They were ours to grow or destroy. This created a pressure resulting in cycles of discouragement and burn-out over the years. When I finally received the truth that I, as a born-of-the-Spirit daughter of my Father, am in the Family Business - everything changed! I am working with my Father, Brother, and Best Friend in my Father's business. His business cannot fail! His business will never be destroyed! I am not responsible for running the business nor can I take credit for it. It is HIS. I simply do what He is doing.

I once had a picture of ministry that looked like a corporate business meeting. The CEO met with His leaders at a large table with professional papers and graphs. There was presentation of need, correction, and goal-setting. Deadlines were put into place. The pressure was on. Everyone left with a serious face, ready to run! Now my daily meetings seem more like a family gathering. I meet with my Father, Brother, and Friend around a large kitchen table filled with those same papers and fun snacks. We are enjoying being together and there is laughter as we fellowship. There is no pressure. We discuss the same issues with the understanding that every goal and task is OURS. That makes all the difference...

If I could say anything to those of you who are young (or old) in ministry, it would be this: Slow down and take time to simply SIT with your heavenly Father, your Brother, Jesus, and your Best Friend, Holy Spirit. Enjoy your spiritual Family. Embrace your Father's business and lay aside any notion of your own. Erase all personal agenda and let Him set the course of your life. Ministry is not a doorway of opportunity for you to prove yourself, fulfill your destiny, or to make a difference. Ministry is your Father's business, introduced and established in/through the life of Jesus, your Brother. The Holy Spirit is Chief Operations Officer, making sure the Father's wishes and instructions are made known and His plans moving forward. You simply listen to and cooperate with Him. You can't make or break your Father's business. Surely you can help or hinder it by the decisions you make...but you can't stop it. Be released from any man-made pressure to perform. Enjoy the ministry. Enjoy your Family!

The beautiful thing about this Family Business is that you get to share in the full inheritance without the burden of running the business or making all of the decisions. You give your hands and feet to the ministry and He does all the rest. The burden is carried by your Father. And He loves you. He chose to adopt you as His own. He knew your strengths and weaknesses before you did. Your Brother, Jesus, loves you too. He has already taken the punishment for any mistakes you have made or will make. He purchased everything you need to do what you will be asked to do with His death and resurrection. God IS love and Holy Spirit loves you too. He is an ever-present Friend, ready to instruct and guide you every minute of the day. You are never alone. Your job is not to make the decisions, but to listen until you hear the decision already made in heaven. Doesn't that make your job easier???

As you look to the New Year, may it be with new-found joy and expectation. There will be MANY changes in 2009. For much of the world, there will be increased hardship. But for those in the Family of God, there will be abundant provision, peace, and joy. I'm sitting at my Father's table and am determined to know Him even better in the months ahead. How about you?