Appreciation out of Anticipation

For more than a year I have been so focused on this pastoral candidacy thing and more than that on ministry work. I have not been satisfied with where I am and what I am doing. I have tried to refocus myself on God's will rather than my own in the last few weeks. In the past I have found that I feel more satisfied and blessed when I pray for God to direct my life according to his will instead of praying for whatever thing that I want.

It was praying for God's will to direct my life that set me on this path to ministry work in the first place. It has been praying for God's guidance and the courage to follow it that has helped me to do things that "Rob" would never have done in the past. When the bible says that, "I can do all things through Christ, which strengtheneth me", it means what it says.

When we have prayer time during church and people offer up their prayer requests, I often have the feeling that instead of asking for whatever it is that we want we need to ask God what he wants of us. God is our Father in heaven and in comparison to him, we think as children. So although we might hate to admit it, it is true that He has a better idea of what we really need. Should we not ask for and follow his guidance? Since we see through a glass darkly should we not seek the vision of the One, whom can see clearly?

God, help me to appreciate the blessings and responsibilities that I have now. I know that I have been greatly and truly blessed to have continuous employment over the last sixteen years. I know that I have been even more blessed to be able to keep a work schedule that allows me to go back to college and continue to do work in my church for your kingdom and you body. Help me to appreciate where I am and what I am doing rather than getting caught up on what I cannot yet do!