In life I have to work like it’s up to me, and pray like it’s up to God. Both are true in ANY area of life, huh? As a pastor I have the responsibility of leading a flock. It doesn’t matter if it’s 40 or 40,000, the rules are still the same. Namely: No matter how good you are, you’re never good enough to be God, so let Him lead.
Soooo, praying and studying the Bible are critical. Listening to God and walking forward in faith that He is guiding is critical. Doing what I believe God says to do with His flock is critical. Everything is critical!! Even the feedback some people give is critical, and I don’t mean the important kind of critical, I mean the you should do it the way I say kind of critical.
Pastors have to have thin skin so they can be sensative to the needs of their flock. Pastors have to have thick skin so they can take the hits that come with the territory and still move forward in faith. Two completely different kinds of skin are necessary for pastoring. No wonder so many pastors feel like they’re getting skinned alive!
In other words, it is impossible to be a pastor. Good thing God is a miraculous God. He makes the impossible possible. In fact, the Bible says God chooses the “foolish” things in this world to counfound the “wise.” I think that mean He uses people who know they are personally incapable of doing anything right without God’s guidance. It’s true. Without Him we can do nothing, but with God all things are possible if we will believe.
So I work, pray, work, pray, listen, oben, listen, obey. I left out cry, beg God for guidance, weep over people who should get it by now and just don’t, study the bible searching for the exact Word the Holy Spirit wants delivered to the people, oh- and I still have all of the responsibilities of a husband and father.
Do you know how many pastor’s families fall apart because they’re busy building the church? It’s crazy! It’s also easy to sit back and arm-chair-quarterback somebody else’s life, huh? He should have this. He obviously should have that. The real root though, is work, pray, listen, obey, and do it all over again.
Oh God, bless the men and women who answer your call to minister, to serve, to care for your children. They have needs, they get beat up by the very ones you put in their care. And bless their families. The spouse, the children who give so much alongside your chosen vessles. Bless them, God! Help them…all of us…to get a LOT done while there is still time. And hasten the Day of the Lord!
