Only If God Moves

I have been very burdened for many people and many upcoming local churches. Out of my burden, I have been praying and laboring to shepherding the saints, seekers, and the local churches to be raised up. As I have been laboring on this line, I also met with many mysterious obstacles. At times, the new ones seem very positive, yet other times they seem to show different faces. Sometimes, I was encouraged and other times I was discouraged. Perhaps, I have been struggling in my own natural man to achieve my own heart's desire. Therefore, the Lord began to lead me to a deeper experience of Christ.

Now I learn one very important lesson in shepherding: Move along with God's move if only God moves. If the Lord does not move, I shall not move. If the Lord does not do anything, I shall not initiate anything either. All my burden and labor would mean nothing if the Lord is not the one who burdened me or moves in and through me. I am learning to discern between my own personal burden and the burden the Lord burdened me with. I am learning and learning...

I have a burden for a particular local church to be properly shepherded into the fellowship of the Body. I have been praying and fellowshipping with them for many years now. Though there has never been a direct opposition to my shepherding, I could sense that some saints are indirectly opposed to it. My reaction was to simply pray for them. This reminds me of the apostle paul's experiences in dealing with the local churches. Though he cared for them, they misunderstood his care and often reacted in a negative way. But the apostle Paul exhibited such maturity and grace in handling all kinds of treatment meted out to him, with much grace.  O may I learn from such a pattern!

I have also initiated a weekly time of prayer with some key brothers both in Manipur and Meghalaya. In fact, we started off quite well and regularly. But later, a brother in each state began to not respond to my call for prayer. For some reasons known to them best, they decided to not join our corporate prayer though they promised that they would love to pray when I proposed to them first. I do not understand what concept they reacted to in this way of late. But I kept praying with the other brothers who were open and available for prayer. Perhaps, they have their own personal reasons that I may not need to know. I leave the matter to the Lord. But as for me, I simply continue to pray with whoever is open and available for prayer. Even upholding these brothers who initially prayed with me and back down later. As long as at least one brother is there to pray with me for the particular burden, I will continue to pray and pray.

This is an important lesson I have been learning from the Lord these days. Move, only if the Lord moves. If the Lord moves, do not stop due to opposition or negative response. Continue to move as long as the Spirit leads you. I am engaged in a battle; siding with God against His enemy, to accomplish what He intends to accomplish in me and through me. On the one hand, I do not press too much beyond what the Spirit impressed me with. Yet, on the other hand, I should not back down due to mere opposition from the enemy and his frustrating tactic. I must stand firm in the move of God and move in His move.

Lord, grace me to be one with You all the time; moving only if You move. Amen!