In our church we have monthly trustees’ meetings where we look at two columns: the budget, and the actuals. The budget is just a plan, and some of you may be familiar with the expression that says, “If you want to make God laugh, tell Him your plans.” But we all know that budgeting is still a prudent practice. Anytime you have limited resources and fixed expenses, you need to plan.
For contrast, the actuals show the reality you end up with. There are good and bad surprises with these. Someone who practices tithing may have a windfall year, which brings a bigger intake. Or there can be unexpected mechanical issues and the accompanying unplanned expenses. That’s just with money, but we can apply this to our prayer experience as well. Even when our prayers are answered, there’s always some unknown variable. There are always things that we can’t plan for or expect – because life is like that. No one knows the future, and none of us can craft it exactly to our liking. What can we do? At least two things: 1) We can trust in God, and 2) we can pray. These two things go together, but the second is specifically addressed in John 15:7 – where Jesus said, “If you abide in me and my words abide in you, ask for whatever you wish, and it will be done for you.” Some have mistakenly lined up this teaching with popular consumerism. One pastor described it as vending machine theology: insert prayer, receive product. But we have to remember that God knows our needs better than we do ourselves – which is why we pray with a spirit of trust. Notice also that Jesus spoke in conditional language. We should pay close attention to this…
When these things are in place, the combination is potent and powerful. God has all the resources in the world! If you’re facing big problems, understand that we have a bigger God. There are all kinds of fruit-bearing goals can come into fruition by the power of God. And that, my friends, is a wonderful thing. God bless you, Andrew McHenry, Pastor First Congregational Church
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Andrew McHenryI am a husband, a Congregational pastor, and a native Kansan currently living in Thermalito, California. In the past I have also been a prison chaplain and a youth pastor. Interests include reading, railroads, prog rock, KU, and the KC Royals. Archives
March 2024
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