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Pastor: Do You Know How to Navigate Your Future?

I am reminded of my friend Dr. Jeff Crawford, President of our Cross Church School of Ministry and Teaching Pastor of Cross Church.

Dr. Crawford is a man with an earned doctorate degree. He is gifted, articulate, educated and called. He could be in the academic realm elsewhere or be serving as a pastor of a large church, just like he was a little over one year ago.

Yet, God has called Jeff to be here. It seems all of his gifts, training and passion merge in this position with us. Just think what it would be like if Jeff had held on to his position so closely that he would have refused the calling of God to come here. Thanks, Jeff and Julie, for following God’s calling. Thanks for being 100 percent willing to go anywhere, anytime, to do anything God calls you to do.

Will you, pastor?

2. Live with your “YES” on the altar.

When is the last time you placed your “YES” on the altar? I mean, you said, “God, whatever it is you want me to do, my answer is YES. Whatever you are calling me to do, the answer is YES.”

There is something liberating about living with your “YES” on the altar. Oh yes, I have been somewhat sobered by this statement when there have been moments I sensed God was about to do something new with me. I mean, while exciting on one end, it is extremely sobering on the other end.

It may do you well again, pastor, whether you are 80 or 28, to kneel down one day this week and pray: “Lord, just one more time, I want to live with my YES on the altar. If you ask me to do anything other than what I am doing, I yield willingly and my answer is YES.”

3. Be willing to stay as much as you are willing to leave.

Pastoral ministry is hard. It is much easier, especially in today’s world, to leave after three or four years than it is to stay. People are hard to please. Many times, we are like football coaches: Not only are we judged by our wins and losses, we are also judged and scrutinized by the way we win.

My point: It is easier for a pastor to leave than to stay. Pastors, some of you may need to stick it out where you are. God will use it all to work in your life powerfully. Sometimes, God does something fresh in us, not when we leave, but when we once again realize that He wants us right where we are.

As you navigate toward your future.

As you navigate toward your future: Pray, believe and trust the Lord. As I have said many times through the years: I am so glad God loves me so much that He protects me from myself when I don’t know how to protect myself and my future. Yes, God is faithful. You can trust Him.

Yours for the Great Commission.