"Hassle-Free"

First of all...

A huge thank you to those joining me in prayer, daily, as we pray for pastors, church leaders, missionaries; not to mention the impact the church is called to make upon their community as we work to share the gospel of Christ and grow in the grace and knowledge of God.

I hope and pray that these posts are providing insight and more importantly, prompting you to pray for and encourage your pastors and leaders daily. It has been my desire, as I've stated on a number of occasions, that I don't want these posts to be repetitive... at least not on a daily or weekly frequency.

That said, I know the past few weeks and months, we've prayed a number of times for deacons and advisors and their ability to speak wisdom as they inform, debate and offer perspective to their respective decision makers.

These past couple of days have been pretty incredible, politically speaking and I trust you haven't been thrown by my mixing politics and prayer this week... I've simply been trying to follow what I felt the Holy Spirit was prompting me to share. Thus, certainly the concern for deacons and admins to advise well arose again as I reflected on the new President-Elect (regardless of who it would have been), but the twist came, not in the advice, but in the stability of their lives.

There's a scene from my favorite television show, where a reporter is giving some "sage dating advice" to the President's personal aide, a young man in his 20's who is dating the President's youngest daughter. The two had had a fight and the reporter, in making his point offers this closing remark... "if it were me, just for now, I'd make sure I was the one guy who was hassle-free."

Leaders, whether in politics or the pulpit, have enough on their plate when it comes to responsibilities, focus, direction and whatever decisions cross their desk, necessary to keep church, country or organization moving forward. And we all have lives in which we are dealing with "stuff". But when our stuff begins to take the place of such dominance that it interferes with our work, the efforts of the organization or the ministries of the church, then we have become a hassle, rather than offered ourselves to service, hassle-free. Such trouble, however long it lasts, usually ends with negative-impact results.

So, pray with me this #deaconThursday, that not only advisors advise well, but that they would render their lives and their service "hassle-free." May God strengthen and cover in grace those in church operations, that whatever they encounter outside the four walls, they would not be detoured or distracted as they continue to their service to the church (or the country, for that matter). Pray a level of stability about their lives, their homes, their finances, their emotions and their mind; may God guard their heart and spirit... not distraught or afraid; but confident. May the boldly proceed in the calling and purpose God has established them in and laid before them to walk through this life.

Hassle-free,
In service to God & Country.
For the glory of God
And the cause of Jesus Christ.

- PNC

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