Archive for the 'Leadership' Category
Facing Your Future Boldly: A Challenge Not Only to Pastors, but to Everyone
Every pastor is concerned about his future. Some of this concern is due to a deep desire to be where God can use us greatly. At other times, our concern is motivated by fear.
Regardless if one is the pastor of a local church or a committed Christ-follower, the future is always unknown. We are intrigued about the future and always want to know as much as we can about it.
Scripture teaches us that when we come to the end of ourselves, God is ready to step in powerfully and supernaturally with spiritual breakthroughs. This reality gives us boldness, even in uncertain and troubling times. How can you face your future boldly?
Facing the Future with Humility
1 Peter 5:6 says, “Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, so that He may exalt you in due time” (italics added). This call from God concerning humility means that we are to lay ourselves low before God, to become insignificant and weak before God. Within the context of the entire Scripture, I believe we do that through prayer and fasting. A decision to fast is a decision to humble yourself before God. If you want to face your future boldly, nothing creates holy, humble boldness more than prayer and fasting.
Facing the Future in Desperation
Ezra 8:21–23 says, “I proclaimed a fast by the Ahava River, so that we might humble ourselves before our God and ask Him for a safe journey for us, our children, and all our possessions… So we fasted and pleaded with our God about this, and He granted our request” (italics added). Desperation is not bad. In fact, I believe God creates it at times within our hearts and lives. I want to challenge you to face your future with desperation for God to work in your life. I believe God will meet you at the point of your desperation for Him.
Facing the Future against All Odds
The drama recorded in 2 Chronicles 20 speaks of how King Jehoshaphat proclaimed a fast so the people would seek the Lord for guidance, direction, and, most of all, protection. They were surrounded by their enemies but against all odds, they prayed and fasted, requesting God to move miraculously. God answered their prayer and saved them by His mighty power. They needed a breakthrough and God gave them one! When you are up against all odds, pray and fast. Do not shy away when the circumstances seem hopeless. That is exactly the kind of situation God loves to move in among us.
Facing the Future with Good Company
King David fasted. God filled him with hope. Jonah fasted. God gave Nineveh a revival. John the Baptist fasted. He preached with power and fire! Jesus fasted. Everywhere He went and everyone He touched were never same. The apostle Paul fasted. No one, other than Jesus, had a greater influence on the church of Jesus Christ not only in his generation but in the generations following. What more do I need to say? If fasting and prayer were good enough for these men, how can you walk away from them? You cannot dismiss prayer and fasting. God calls everyone to practice prayer and fasting, often in different ways and for different times. The issues are not how long, or should I, but when. God wants us to pray and fast.
Facing the Future with Power
In Matthew 17, Jesus told His disciples that if they wanted to move mountains, they would have to believe. Then He shared with them that demonic forces and major obstacles cannot be overcome without prayer and fasting! What an incredible statement. Special power for a specific need comes only through prayer and fasting. What a superb statement and reality taught to us through Jesus’ life. Therefore, when we pray and fast, we face the future with supernatural power! I challenge you right now: face your future with God’s power! Practice it. Do it! When you pray and fast, the powerful presence of God will accompany you and wake up in you like never before.
Now What?
It is more than obvious that God wants you to face your future boldly. In my book The Power of Prayer and Fasting, I share how you can face the future boldly with God.
Whether you read my book or not is not important. But reading God’s book, the Bible, is imperative. You best walk toward your future when you have a Word from God in your heart and a prayer proceeding out of your mouth that stands on this eternal Word of God. This is called faith.
Now is the Time to Lead,
Ronnie W. Floyd
Dr. Ronnie Floyd is the President & CEO of the Southern Baptist Convention Executive Committee.
Guest Post | Why I Love the Local Church by Jeana Floyd
Today, RonnieFloyd.com welcomes guest writer, Jeana Floyd. Jeana is the wife of Dr. Ronnie Floyd, mother, grandmother, author, and 25-year breast cancer survivor.
I have a love relationship with the local church. The church has been my life – I was born a pastor’s child and eventually became a pastor’s wife. My father pastored Southern Baptist Churches for over 50 years. And although I said I’d never marry a preacher, that’s exactly what I did. Almost 39 years later, I still love my “preacher man” and the local church.
Benefits Outweigh the Negatives
I believe the benefits of being a minister’s wife in the local church far outweigh the negatives.
The local church supported Ronnie and me – way back when we were newlyweds. Our very first church loved and supported us wholeheartedly and gave us our start in ministry life. They followed Ronnie’s leadership as though we were “40 something” even though we were barely “20 something”. I have many sweet memories from that wonderful church. I vividly remember that in that small town with one grocery store and one gas station, there was a passion for ministry, regardless of the population marker located at the outskirts of town. Whether it was the First Baptist Church of Cherokee or Cross Church of Northwest Arkansas, the work ethic and passion for ministry have remained unchanged all these years.
As ministry life progressed, so came the birth of our two sons. Precious women poured into my life and mentored me in my new role as a mother. Our churches have also provided substitute parents and grandparents, a special blessing when living away from family.
My Life was Changed as a Pastor’s Wife
To write with complete integrity, I must share that I was truly saved while serving as a pastor’s wife. I had made a decision as a child out of obedience to my parents, not because they forced me in any way, but my desire to please them led me to make a decision that I would doubt for many years. I did not mean to live in a deceitful way. I loved God and I loved His church and would always rationalize how could I not be saved? But great conviction led me to an understanding that my love for the church and God had not led me to a true salvation experience. I truly gave my heart to Jesus as a pastor’s wife in 1985 and have not doubted since that time. I am grateful to have settled that most important decision of my life not only for eternity’s sake but also for the many challenges I have faced since that time. Now I know for sure that regardless of what I go through as an individual or pastor’s wife, He is with me.
The Church is Our Family
When I was diagnosed with cancer, the church became our family in a deeper way, and instead of being the ministers, we were ministered to. Both of our families lived in another state, which made it difficult for them to be with us during this challenging time. The church became our daily support system in that hard season and I gained another appreciation for what the local church can mean to all of us.
As our children grew, committed Sunday School and small group leaders came alongside us as parents. In the teen years, their youth pastors became a huge influence in their lives. These influencers helped to guide our sons into becoming godly young men, who in turn have become godly husbands and fathers. Without a doubt, the church had a huge impact on where our sons are today in their spiritual walks. I have no regrets raising our children in ministry life. In fact, I consider it to have been a blessing and great benefit for our entire family.
Today I have a new concern and investment of the church for my grandchildren. Again, coming alongside their parents, the church provides a huge opportunity for their spiritual growth. I am thankful for this provision, again, through the local church.
No Regrets
Each place we have served has a special place in my heart. Each one of those places taught us distinct lessons through our time served there. Some have been more difficult than others. There have been hard times as well as great times. God has used specific people to grow us, mold us, and to refine us in His calling to serve Him in the local church.
My greatest joys in life are being a wife, mother, grandmother, and pastor’s wife. You might say that I love my job. I have no regrets at the life investment Ronnie and I have made in the local church. I have definitely experienced first hand the faithfulness of God, serving Him in the local church in the good times and the challenging times. The Church of Jesus Christ has withstood many trials and challenges, but God’s Word tells us “Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever” (Hebrews 13:8). What a privilege to serve Him in ministry, to reap the benefits as an individual and a family, knowing that His Church will stand the test of time, now and forever.
Jeana Floyd
Dr. Ronnie Floyd is the President & CEO of the Southern Baptist Convention Executive Committee.