There are two kind of people in this world: Those that believe you never act without a plan and to do so is failure from the start and those that believe that planning is a surefire way to have the Holy Spirit walk right of your life. In my opinion, there is some truth to both sides of this argument.
It is a conviction of mine that you can plan the Spirit right out of your life just as easily as you can blame the Spirit for the results of all your impulsive, quick triggered reactions that caused you to chase every rabbit on the trail.
If you know anything about the life of the apostle Paul, then you know that he set sail many times, from many different places, all the while trying to carry the Gospel of Jesus to those folks that never had heard it before. But (there is always a but), there were many times when his plans changed because conditions or situations changed.
"For we wanted to come to you, certainly I, Paul, did again and again, but Satan blocked our way." 1st Thessalonians 2:18
You can't convince me that Paul woke up one day with the bright idea of travelling to Ephesus strictly based on whim. I have never lived in a world where boats were the major form of long term travel but I can promise you that no man in his right mind just goes on a trip to share the Gospel without some sort of a plan, especially in a world where you just can't catch a flight back home if things start to go awry.
Every great leader that I have ever known has had some form or semblance of a plan to accomplish the goals and tasks that God had called him to do. I can't recall meeting someone who has heard a call from God that did not come with some sort of qualifying characteristic or skill. Yeah, Abraham was told to walk, and that's all he was told to do. But (there it is again), instances like his are few and far between. More often than not, when God calls you to do something, it comes with some sort of direction or instruction as how to proceed.
So what do you do if you get "the call?"
I would recommend this:
PRAY AND PRAY HARD! Pray long and be patient. Then, when the time feels right move slowly. But when it feels right and God gives you the green light, act on it. Start moving. If God wants you to change directions, He will let you know.
The world won't change when we, Jesus' followers, are standing still, frozen in fear, over missing the will of God. It causes great men to stop and wait on the porch like a frightened pup instead of charging ahead with the confidence that God has gone before us.
It is a conviction of mine that you can plan the Spirit right out of your life just as easily as you can blame the Spirit for the results of all your impulsive, quick triggered reactions that caused you to chase every rabbit on the trail.
If you know anything about the life of the apostle Paul, then you know that he set sail many times, from many different places, all the while trying to carry the Gospel of Jesus to those folks that never had heard it before. But (there is always a but), there were many times when his plans changed because conditions or situations changed.
"For we wanted to come to you, certainly I, Paul, did again and again, but Satan blocked our way." 1st Thessalonians 2:18
You can't convince me that Paul woke up one day with the bright idea of travelling to Ephesus strictly based on whim. I have never lived in a world where boats were the major form of long term travel but I can promise you that no man in his right mind just goes on a trip to share the Gospel without some sort of a plan, especially in a world where you just can't catch a flight back home if things start to go awry.
Every great leader that I have ever known has had some form or semblance of a plan to accomplish the goals and tasks that God had called him to do. I can't recall meeting someone who has heard a call from God that did not come with some sort of qualifying characteristic or skill. Yeah, Abraham was told to walk, and that's all he was told to do. But (there it is again), instances like his are few and far between. More often than not, when God calls you to do something, it comes with some sort of direction or instruction as how to proceed.
So what do you do if you get "the call?"
I would recommend this:
PRAY AND PRAY HARD! Pray long and be patient. Then, when the time feels right move slowly. But when it feels right and God gives you the green light, act on it. Start moving. If God wants you to change directions, He will let you know.
The world won't change when we, Jesus' followers, are standing still, frozen in fear, over missing the will of God. It causes great men to stop and wait on the porch like a frightened pup instead of charging ahead with the confidence that God has gone before us.
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