One of the things I’ve been asking the Lord to show me is how to be present with the people I’m with. Traveling allows me to meet extraordinary people who I’m sure could all have their own novels written about them. At the very least, a full page in a kinfolk type magazine.
I thought this a very a noble prayer and as per usual the lesson I thought I would learn was much different than the one God showed me. I thought I would eventually realize why I don’t need to be on Instagram so much and learn the true beauty of being with the people I was doing ministry for. I thought I would learn to speak such accurate truth to my teammates that they would surely retreat to their journals to process the truth that I had spoken. Of course all of this knowledge would come from the time I spent sitting with God because that’s the holy thing to do.
I thought the Lord was going to show me all of these things I could do for the people around me. I started going through a devotional every morning with the two other guys on my team so we could grow closer and achieve more intimacy with God. Here’s about the two guys on my team, we’re all so different from each other it’s comical. I’m more of the feeler type and they’re more of the thinker type. We all get along great however, to say they don’t always understand my skinny jeans and desire to spend all of my hours in a coffee shop is an understatement. Not wanting this difference to get in my way of leading others to intimacy, I emailed one of the wisest ISTJs I know and asked how to lead thinker men. Here was his response to my question:
“Remember that your only responsibility is to love them which means being in relationship with them. I don’t want to assume to much regarding your motivations, but I feel like I should say that you would be good to put down any agendas you may have regarding their growth in relationship with God. Just be in relationship with them and love them. God will show you how to walk out that love for His purposes and perhaps there will be growth in intimacy with God as a result of that. Perhaps there won’t be discernible growth in intimacy. But you can be sure of this. God manifests in community. As you endeavor to be in community with these two, God will be working His purposes in the midst of that and you’ll be one of the tools He’s using. Be OK with that.”
The feedback you’re hearing is from every mic being dropped. Thanks, Steve.
I thought that by doing things for people I would achieve intimacy with them. What I’m learning is that being with someone is much different and what actually leads to intimacy with them. I think this same truth applies with God. It’s that Mary and Martha balance so many of us are trying to work out. It’s so easy to get caught up in the work that I’m doing for God that I miss being with Him. I thought I was supposed to learn how to do all the right things for people. Now I’m learning that to sit and love people is more what I’m called to.
