I spent an hour or so this morning with the small group of pastors from the Patchogue/Medford area that I get together with on a monthly basis for coffee, fellowship and prayer. They’re a great bunch of guys. We’re all very different and so are our congregations, but this area needs all kinds of churches for all kinds of people.

While we were praying, one of our clan – no names, but he’s the Baptist – had me in stitches as he talked to God. His prayer went something like this …

“Lord, sometimes we get very frustrated because after we’ve worked hard to get everyone on board with the vision, we discover that the only one who’s not with the program is you.”

I’m not sure if you’re meant to, but I laughed. I couldn’t help it.

I’ve been there so often, thinking I was totally clear what God wanted me to do and then when the moment arrives, realizing that isn’t it at all.  That’s why I tend to use phrases like “I think” or “I feel” far more often than the presumptuous assertion “God told me”.

It has also been important for me to appreciate that while I might enjoy consistency, God’s path for us  is full of twists and changes. That keeps us trusting him and aware of the fact that he is the one who is mapping our course, which I guess is a very good thing.