Lockstep...trust-obey-stay in step

For years, I have been praying a prayer to the Lord that I would stay in step with Him. This has been my heart’s desire. I don’t want to jump ahead of His timing and force my will and attempt to push doors open before God is ready for them to be opened. And, I don’t want to lag behind when God opens a door, out of fear, unbelief, or thoughts of being unworthy or ill-equipped.

If you have been a faithful follower of my writings, you have probably picked up by now that I had many insecurities to overcome before I totally surrendered to the call of ministry. My sights weren’t set on pastoring…not in a million years. My husband failed to reveal his childhood impressions of a call to ministry while we were dating. Me, a pastor’s wife? That would have been laughable back in my young adult years! It’s a good thing I didn’t know any of this before we were married, because it could have made me run from a relationship with him.

Most people know me for my sweet demeanor and easy-going manner, but those who know me well know that I can have a slight rebellious streak and can be a bit edgy or feisty. In my mind, those traits didn’t translate well to a submissive, sweet, front row sitting, fish bowl living, life of a pastor/pastor’s wife.

But over the years, God softened my heart and made me see that He uses the most unlikely people to carry out His plan. His disciples had some rough edges, and so did/do I, and He helped me to see that He had a greater purpose for me than what I had ever dreamed.

Fast forward to today, where not only do my husband and I pastor a growing church, but we also oversee other pastors across the US. In each season along the way, we have had to learn not to push doors open when we sensed God was moving us in a specific direction, but wait for His timing and for his divine opening of each door. We (mostly me) also had to learn that sometimes God opens a door that we weren’t expecting, and it would require courage and faith to walk through those doors, even while questioning our ability to carry out this new call.

Thus, my prayer, stated at the beginning of this blog, developed. Lord, help me to stay in lockstep with you. Help me to wait on your timing and not jump ahead of you, and help me to not lag behind you, dragging my feet…digging my heels in when you call me into something new. Help me to run with you, arm in arm…lockstep. Courageously! Boldly! Filled with faith! Overflowing with confidence that you equip those you call, and you will never leave us or forsake us, wherever you take us. And as we trust you, obey you, and stay in step with you, you will lead us into the fulfillment of both our destiny and your greater purpose. 

 

Galatians 5:25 “Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit.”