In Consider Your Ways in Ministry- Part 1, I covered the misplaced priorities, me-first mentality, and missing worship that the Israelites struggled with during the time of the prophet Haggai’s ministry. They laid the foundation of the temple but then let distractions and discouragement keep them from building upon that foundation. God told them to “consider your ways”.
Consider Your Ways in Ministry Part 2
Haggai 1:6 KJV ~ Ye have sown much, and bring in little; ye eat, but ye have not enough; ye drink, but ye are not filled with drink; ye clothe you, but there is none warm; and he that earneth wages earneth wages to put it into a bag with holes.
The people lived in lack and were hungry, thirsty, cold, and poor. There never seemed to be enough, but God gave them the solution to their problem: consider your ways, and get to work.
Go, bring, build
Haggai 1:8 KJV~ Go up to the mountain, and bring wood, and build the house; and I will take pleasure in it, and I will be glorified, saith the LORD.
Go, bring, build, and God will be pleased and glorified.
In recent years, my husband and I experienced a ‘go, bring, build’ moment ourselves. We prayed for God to show us in the word whether it was His will for us to move and lead a new church plant in the next county over or not. Saying yes to this opportunity meant uprooting our family and leaving our home of 17 years. God gave us several verses and confirmed the calling through multiple people and circumstances, but we wanted to be double-dog sure we heard Him correctly before taking the next step.
And then, true to form, God gave us a verse so clear in its direction that we knew we had better start packing our bags.
John 15:16 KJV~ Ye have not chosen me, but I have chosen you, and ordained you, that ye should go and bring forth fruit, and that your fruit should remain: that whatsoever ye shall ask of the Father in my name, he may give it you.
God said go, and we went!
The Lord is With You in the Ministry
God gives us the promise of His presence, just like He did for the Israelites in Haggai 1:13 and 2:4 when He told them to be strong and work for I am with you.
Haggai 2:5 KJV ~ According to the word that I covenanted with you when ye came out of Egypt, so my spirit remaineth among you: fear ye not.
Even after all the ways they sinned against Him, God remained with them because of the covenant He made with them. God always keeps His promises!
When you got saved, you entered into a permanent covenant with the Lord. You may lose fellowship with Him when you sin or have a distant relationship because you don’t seek His face, but what God has sealed by His spirit remains forever.
The Lord of hosts is with you in what He calls you to do!
Consider Your Ways
Proverbs 4:26 KJV ~ Ponder the path of thy feet, and let all thy ways be established.
Take some time to ponder the path of your feet. What direction is your life going, and what direction, if any, is your ministry headed?
The Lord convicts us of areas we need to repent and line up with His word. He challenges us to have a ministry mindset, to go and make disciples and bring Him glory. And He comforts us by reminding us that He is always with us.
The choice to change is up to us.
Lamentations 3:40 says- Let us search and try our ways, and turn again to the LORD. If you’re going through a dry spell, a season of discouragement and lack, then consider your ways.
Are you saved? Have you built on that foundation of salvation? Are you serving the Lord with a right heart of worship for His glory and not your own? Or are you focused on serving yourself?
Psalm 119:59 KJV ~ I thought on my ways, and turned my feet unto thy testimonies.
If you’re convicted that you’re not headed in the right direction, then repent and return to your first love, rest in His grace, and rely on His truth and Spirit to guide you in all you do.
More Help for Your Ministry:
How to Start a Women’s Ministry in 10 Steps- Part 1
5 Steps to Help You Focus and Finish Strong
The Importance of a Sober Mind for Spiritual Stability
10 Qualities of a Good Steward
3 Reasons Why Prayer is Essential to Your Spiritual Growth
Renew Your Mind and Revive Your Heart with ‘It is Written’
Encouragement to Endure in Ministry
The Call to Invest: Biblical Discipleship For Women
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Pray With Confidence
Prayer is a must-have for ministry! If you would like to grow in your prayer life, then check out Pray with Confidence. It’s a website for helping women overcome prayer obstacles, and I’m one of the regular contributors. Here are a few links I think will be a blessing to you:
5 Things to Thank God for When You Don’t Feel Thankful
3 Short Prayers for Spiritual Stability
2 Things to Remember to Find Peace in Chaos
19 Bible Verses that Reveal the Will of God
15 Bible Verses About Rest When You’re Feeling Overwhelmed
You also want to check out the prayer resources, Bible verses, and challenging questions tabs. There are many great options to boost your spiritual growth!
There are things that God has given me eyes to see and a tender heart for. He is opening doors and yet I still ask “who me?”. It’s nice to know I am not the only one who wants to be sure.
I would rather be certain than jump into something mistakenly thinking it was God’s will! It’s not disobedience or sin to make sure we hear and are discerning his direction properly, it’s wise! Blessings to ya as you follow the Lord’s leading! 🙂
There’s so much goodness in those minor prophets. Thanks for unpacking this message from Haggai. Misplaced priorities are not just a 21st century problem!
Definitely not! Thank you for reading and commenting. Blessings to ya! 🙂
I also want to make sure I’m being led in the right direction. It’s hard not to question why or ask are you really sure about this Lord? Visiting from Sunday Thoughts.
I think God can handle our “why’s” and “are you sure?”. He’s pretty gracious and compassionate and knows we are but clay. Being led in the Lord’s direction and not our own is so important! Thanks for reading and commenting! 🙂