BY SHAWN ANDREWS
LEAD EQUIPPING PASTOR AT DAYBREAK CHURCH
“Deep and lasting changes in the church is brought about by a faithful few who are burning interiorly as a consequence of the deep work of the Holy Spirit within them.” - Thomas Dubay
I read that quote recently, and I asked myself this question, “Is there a Holy Spirit work of God burning within me that is transforming me to be so much like Jesus that it is making a deep and lasting change in the people of my church?”
In our day-to-day life in ministry, it is easy to avoid those kinds of questions. Our lives are so full of ministry to others! People have needs, the church has needs, and Sunday is coming with an unrelenting frequency.
Is it possible that in the process of helping others experience God, you lost your own intimacy with God? Maybe, in this past season, you’ve found yourself exhausted and you've even forgotten why you said yes to ministry in the first place.
It's common for people committed to building into the church to become satisfied with only experiencing God instead of being intimate with God.
Let me ask you, are you deeply hungry for renewed intimacy with God?
And what about those moments when your attitude and your behavior don't line up with Jesus? Most of the time, you can hide it, suppress it, and keep it in check. But occasionally, that church person gets under your skin. And more often your spouse or children or those closest to you take the brunt of your behavior. It's not that you aren't trying to get it under control, to be loving, it's just it feels like something is unraveling inside you and you don't know what to do with it.
Let me ask you, are you hungry to be more deeply transformed?
There are many reasons we get stuck and plateau in our faith. The question we must ask is, “Can I get what I most deeply want?”
If you find yourself in a place of unsatisfied spiritual hunger, maybe joining my 2022 development track Theodyssey is for you. It is not for everyone or in every season. It will dismantle false beliefs, open us to God’s healing touch, and require serious spiritual honesty. It requires a high commitment to the process, but the dynamic growth process of Theodyssey might just bring new awareness, open new possibilities, and provide ongoing tools that can help you root yourself in God's love, and renew a deep friendship with Jesus.
You have a lot going on. But, if these questions caused you to pause, perhaps this is your season.
You can learn more about the Theodyssey here. If interested in joining the track in 2022, please submit an interest form below. Currently, this track is only available for official workers and spouses.