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For those who are led by the Spirit of God are the children of God (Romans 8:14, NIV).
A privilege of being a child of God is being led by God.
Being led by God will mean change – sometimes small but at other times big. Being led by God means accepting and growing through change.
I’ve begun to define the changes of God in my life as “repositioning.”
Almost two years ago, I repositioned myself from Senior Pastor to Discipling Another. Often others have asked, “Pastor, how is retirement?” This question doesn’t sit well with me, as I don’t consider myself “retired.”
Recently, I’ve begun to answer, “I haven’t retired; I was repositioned by God.”
Sooner or later, you will be repositioned. I hope that you never retire, never stop serving God’s will, and never lose your zeal for our commission to disciple the nations.
During the biggest “repositioning” in my life, I’ve learned…
First: Hear God!
Jesus wants to talk with you. As you listen, He will let you know when it is time to change. Learn to wait until He speaks and then move quickly. Please, do not change until He speaks.
I was sitting on the shore of the Sea of Galilee in early March 2022, when God told me to devote the rest of my life to the content that He had given to me. That content has always been discipleship.
The original commission of Jesus to disciple the nations was also given 2,000 years ago on the shore of the Sea of Galilee.
No, I’m not apostle-esque in the stature of my calling. But last week a brother sent me an email letting me know that a pastor was using First Steps Conversations to disciple 30 to 40 pastors in Kenya.
Second: Let Go!
Don’t hold anything too tightly as it hurts too much when God takes it away.
There is a shelf-life to every calling. Sooner or later, your service will no longer be needed, and staying involved after your “reposition” will hinder, dampen, or perhaps destroy what it took years to build.
I was walking down a street in Springfield, Ohio, before my “repositioning” when a pastor (I didn’t know him well at the time) came up to me and said, “Grant, the Lord told me that the key to your leaving Fellowship is to make sure that you let go!”
To be honest, I was offended – I thought, well, of course, I’ll let go. But it’s been much harder than I anticipated. What has helped me “let go” was a clear calling on the Sea of Galilee when God “repositioned” me to another ministry.
Third: Say Goodbye!
When I repositioned, I said goodbye to close friends.
It’s been lonely. Brothers that I’ve spent years serving the Lord with were no longer close. We were going in different directions and keeping the same relationship would hinder my repositioning.
There has been a lot of grief in my spirit over the past two years because of this “repositioning” of friends. Fortunately, when God takes away, He also replaces, and I’m developing new friends and a new team.
God never leaves you alone; He provides all things for your “repositioning.”
Hear God… Let Go… Say Goodbye.
Yes, difficult. But Jesus is Lord, and though His leading causes the pain of change, His renewed glory and fire more than compensate.
Remember, if you ask me how I’m doing, I will say, “God is repositioning me!”
You too – someday!