Done Differently

Surely, I can't be the only one who has noticed this phenomenon. We look at today's battles, struggles, frustrations and decisions and spend considerable amounts of time in thought and prayer, in conversation and consideration as to what we should do regarding a matter. Then somewhere along the way, perhaps at some point in the conversation you realize...

... if I had done things differently earlier, perhaps this present situation would be so difficult an ordeal to manage or solve.

We can't live in the past; and by and large, you really can't go back and correct. Certain circumstance you may be able to repair and "make right" and you should, given the opportunity and means. But it's the past that keeps us up, causes a point of frustration and regret and has the potential to bring more confusion to the present day reality rather than bringing insight and clarity as to what we should do differently.

So for what it's worth, while we aren't fortune tellers, neither are we history's correcter. All you have is today's reality, today's resources, today's information and the lessons learned along the way. The ideal solution may not be possible, so while compromise may be point of agony, doing little or nothing about a matter is worse.

On this #deaconThursday, pray for church leadership, that God would guide them in the decisions they face. Pray that regret would frustrate their responsibility. Pray that yesterday's confusion would be useful to bring clarity to the matter at hand. May God grant them wisdom beyond their years and experiences. Pray for their conversations; that communication be honest and real, full of truth and of love; not antagonistic, but productive and fruitful. May fear of the critics and criticism neither hinder nor frustrate leadership from doing what we needs to be done and furthermore, doing what God has called and directed them as He guides their feet and illuminates their path.

For the glory of God
And the advancement of the cause of Christ.

- PNC