There's Nothing There

Though it's been a while since I've brought this phenomena to your attention when it's happened, it does happen quite frequently... times that I will go through my day, realizing that I have no idea what to write for the next days' post and invariably, God will drop something in my spirit or bring something to the forefront of my mind in short order.

And I do mean short order... often within a couple of minutes; a surprising number of times I felt as though I could count the second that had passed. It's happened just that quick.

By later afternoon yesterday, I still had nothing. It started making me a little nervous. God has always come through as I've written this and yesterday, I was just... there was no direction. No inclination. Nothing passing through my mind that the Holy Spirit was standing with high-lighter in hand, ready to say "there it is."

As I pondered what to write, the "there it is" moment happened.

Is this how pastors feel when they prepare for a sermon?

A wealth of experience; a library full of notes, stories, and biographies. Commentaries seemingly too numerous to count. Their shouldn't be a lack of insight. Not to mention the obvious, they are preachers of the message of Christ. How can something in God's Word not jump out at you?

Yet, for all the occassions I've heard, of a pastor ready to preach a sermon or a message, and the day of, or perhaps the night before... maybe even moments before stepping to the pulpit, the Holy Spirit has said, "can it... I've something else for you to say." Alternatively, what happens as the week comes to a close, they have sought the face of God and prayed and there is nothing standing out as the basis for a sermon.

I know that seems hard to believe that a pastor couldn't find a gold nugget somewhere and not turn it into a 3-pt sermon in quick fashion, but I've no doubt that it happens. For those who genuinely want a fresh word; that God would speak and direct their life, ministry and congregation... they do wait and seek Him to speak and direct what comes forth from the pulpit.

They are not desirous to fill an hour time slot with fluff any more than I am to simply fill a few minutes of your day with my insignificant perspective.

Thus, pray, this #seniorPastorMonday, for those pastors finding themselves in places of difficulty; in their search and struggle for what God would desire to speak to their church through them. Pray for a renewal in their heart and mind. Times of refreshing to overflow. May God bring about perspective and insight in their studies, as the Holy Spirit would stand with high-lighter in hand, ready to help. Pray sermons and messages would be delivered with the anointing of God, not because of the one speaking, but because of their willingness to be used by God. May their be and remain, a humility about their ministry... that it is not about them and what they bring about, but the Work that God accomplishes in the lives of people by one's obedience to the calling God has placed upon their life.

To preach the Gospel
To reach the lost.
To be ministers of the love and grace of Christ.
For the glory of God.
Whose Word will not return void.

- PNC

---