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| The River Raisin, in our backyard |
(I further develop this idea in my book Leading the Presence-Driven Church.)
Step 1 in leading the Presence-Driven Church is: abide in Christ, dwell in God's presence, and be led by God.
Abide and obey. Beyond that there are no more steps.
Follow. When you follow, you don't need to know where you are going, or what God is up to with you. That's the need to be in control. You just need to trust where he is going. Following is an act of faith and trust. The Shepherd knows. That is enough.
In the last months of his life my friend Jim Devries talked with me about his experience of losing, incrementally, control of things in his life. A few days before he died, he said, "I like the way this is unfolding." Jim had placed his entire being into the shepherding hands of God.
In the last months of his life my friend Jim Devries talked with me about his experience of losing, incrementally, control of things in his life. A few days before he died, he said, "I like the way this is unfolding." Jim had placed his entire being into the shepherding hands of God.
Thomas Merton expresses it this way.
"The wonder of being brought, by God, around a corner and to realize a new road is opening up, perhaps—which He alone knows. And that there is no way of traveling it but in Christ and with Him. This is joy and peace—whatever happens. The result does not matter. I have something to do for Him and, if I do that, everything else will follow."
- Merton, Thomas. A Year with Thomas Merton, Kindle Locations 1209-1211)
