In youth ministry, you choose youth ministry resources, write sermons, and plan events with a specific purpose in mind. I also assume that you those purposes come through study of scripture and prayer and trying to line your vision up with what God desires. And the great thing is that when we do that, there are specific promises in scripture that God promises to fulfill. But the problem is that too often I feel like we do not see those promises fulfilled in our ministries. Granted, at the end of the day our students have free will so we only have so much control and power, but God is a big God so I think there may be another reason that we are not seeing the kind of fruit we might want.
Have you ever been to Krispy Kreme Doughnuts? If not what you need to know is that they have a red light in the window. And if that light is on you are promised a free doughnut. Now imagine you go in and they do not get that doughnut. You would possibly flip out and demand they fulfill their guarantee, their promise. Why don't we claim the promises of God like that for our ministries? Why don't we cry out and pray that God do what He said He would do in the lives of our students. Too many times I think we just put our work in and feel good instead of going out and demanding more through prayer and sometimes even fasting. Granted God will work in His own time and for His own purposes but their are promises that He must fulfill.
Now here is the other thing, I do not believe that Krispy Kreme would ever deny you your free doughnut. They have integrity and a reputation to upheld. But how much more does God? God is perfect, holy and righteous. God wants to reveal Himself to the nations. So we must know that if we claim His promises He will want to work to fulfill them in our ministries and the lives of our students.
Have you ever been to Krispy Kreme Doughnuts? If not what you need to know is that they have a red light in the window. And if that light is on you are promised a free doughnut. Now imagine you go in and they do not get that doughnut. You would possibly flip out and demand they fulfill their guarantee, their promise. Why don't we claim the promises of God like that for our ministries? Why don't we cry out and pray that God do what He said He would do in the lives of our students. Too many times I think we just put our work in and feel good instead of going out and demanding more through prayer and sometimes even fasting. Granted God will work in His own time and for His own purposes but their are promises that He must fulfill.
Now here is the other thing, I do not believe that Krispy Kreme would ever deny you your free doughnut. They have integrity and a reputation to upheld. But how much more does God? God is perfect, holy and righteous. God wants to reveal Himself to the nations. So we must know that if we claim His promises He will want to work to fulfill them in our ministries and the lives of our students.