15 years ago this morning I woke up to spend my first morning in Wise County as the Lead Pastor of Grace Fellowship.  I was so excited about being a part of this new church! I believed and asked God to do something here that had never been done in a rural setting.  I’m still believing & asking Him for this.

I had no idea of the incredible journey God would take us on.

As is my habit, I got up that morning and spent time alone with God praying and reading from His Word.  One portion of what I read that morning was from 1 Kings 3 where Solomon asked God for wisdom as the leader of God’s people.  The verses that grabbed my heart that morning were these…

⁷ “Now, O Lord my God, you have made me king instead of my father, David, but I am like a little child who doesn’t know his way around. ⁸ And here I am in the midst of your own chosen people, a nation so great and numerous they cannot be counted! ⁹ Give me an understanding heart so that I can govern your people well and know the difference between right and wrong. For who by himself is able to govern this great people of yours?”  1 Kings 3:7-9 NLT

My prayer was similar.  Lord, I feel like a little child who doesn’t know how to lead this new work.  I’m in desperate need of You.  Please give me wisdom and discernment to lead well and to discern between good and evil.

15 years later I’m still reminded that I am like a little child and am totally dependent upon God.   As I shared on Sunday, January 20th, there are times I’ve gotten ahead of God; making decisions based on my own thoughts and trying to do things in my own power.  Anytime, I’ve done this – I’ve messed things up!  I’m still on the journey and still learning how to submit to God and depend on Him.   In light of this, if you pray for me, please pray that I’ll have God’s wisdom and discernment and depend on His direction and power in all things.

The photo above is of one of the “prayer cards” that I use in my time alone with God.