Who are you in Christ?

I have been thinking a lot lately... about understanding God's total direction for my life. I am just about to begin my seventh year of ministry in Wilkes Barre, PA and I realize that I stand at a crossroads. I once read that when you have been anywhere for six or seven years there comes a time of re-definement. Discovering the direction and path God wants you to take.

At First Assembly of God in Wilkes Barre... we have over the past three months; moved into a new facility, reached out to a brand new local community, and begun several very successful outreach endeavors. So I have found myself asking God, "what next"? Isn't it amazing that when we are at a place where we have come through accomplishment and a little bit of "spiritual stagnation" enters the picture, that we immediately assume that God needs to give us a new direction. I have often wondered why many pastors serve a church for three or four years, then they move on... serve somewhere else for three or four years, then move on again... and it becomes a merry-go-round of activity.

Well... God gave me a refreshing revelation just a couple of days ago... When I got caught up with... "OK God, what direction is next" I felt the Spirit of God tell me... "I'm not going to reveal another direction of activity for you, until you become more for me." As I was sharing this in staff meeting this morning, the Lord began to even more fully reveal the meaning of this. Many times when spiritual stagnation hits our lives, we want to put the same stagnant life in a new surrounding or doing a new activity, when in fact what needs to change happens from the inside out. I have realized that when I am seeking to grow deeper in the Lord and I am searching to be all I can for Christ... the where's, when's, why's and what's are always revealed. What do years 7-14 hold for First Assembly of God, Wilkes Barre? I don't know... but in God's perfect will, everything will be revealed, as I dedicate myself to being the growing, maturing man God wants me to be.

Where are you today? Is your life stagnant? Then who are you in Christ? Instead of a change of scenery, or change of activity maybe you just need to be all you can be for Christ. Try focusing on the inside out, be all that you can be for Christ and He will direct your steps... Wow, I've heard that somewhere before... (Prov. 3:5,6)