“I being in the way, the Lord led me…” (Gen. 24:27, KJV).
There is a big difference between getting in the way, and being in the way. Let me explain.
One of my earliest childhood memories is the total recall of a night, in 1958, when my dad came to my room, of a church parsonage, sat on my bed, and handed me a black, three-ringed binder, filled with lined, hole-punched white paper. He opened his Bible, to read this passage of Scripture to me, and said, “You are going to love this. Take notes.”
I had recently shared with my dad, and the people of Forney Avenue Baptist Church, that I had been called to preach. Some laughed. Dad didn’t. When he showed up in my room, I could sense something had changed between us. I was being initiated into his fraternity, and it was about to get real.
As the storyline of this thrilling passage unfolded, I was filled with excitement, when the servant was given a great commission that would take him on a great adventure. Over the years, I have learned, when God wants me to take a leap of faith, these two things happen at the same time … every time.
Spoiler alert: The story has a picture-perfect ending. It never gets old, and it ends with a prayer of praise to God, not a pat on the back to the servant. This is how all great adventures of faith should end.
Don’t take my word for it. Read your Bible.
“And he said, Blessed be the Lord God of my master Abraham, who hath not left destitute my master of his mercy and his truth: I being in the way, the Lord led me to the house of my master’s brethren” (Gen. 24L27, KJV).
In the fall of 2019, my long-time friend, David Lane, invited me to join him and 40 North Carolina pastors on a trip to Israel. It was a great experience, that nurtured old friendships, and built new relationships, with some of God’s finest pastors.
After returning from Israel, David sensed God was up to something new in North Carolina, and he commissioned me to go to that state, for a season, to network with pastors, and lay track for a movement of God. He shared this passage of Scripture with me, and challenged me to pray for God’s leadership, and follow His lead.
“I, being in the way, the Lord led me.”
In January of 2020, Dana and I put all of our furniture in storage, packed up two cars, and left Dallas, Texas for Raleigh, NC. We prayed all the way there, and we haven’t stopped.
For the past two years we have traveled the state, reconnecting with pastors we met on the Israel trip, and holding Pastor Prayer Gatherings in North Carolina churches while staying in 60 different hotels, guest houses, missionary houses, camp grounds, and parsonages. The last two years have been an incredible adventure of faith, as God has provided continuous answers to HIMpossible prayers.
In 2022, David believed it was time for the American Renewal Project to launch this model in other states. Since February, Pastor Prayer Gatherings have been held in North Carolina, Missouri, South Carolina and Iowa, and will soon land in New Hampshire, Nevada and Delaware.
A total of 19 Pastor Prayer Gatherings will be conducted in five states in the next 70 days. Please pray for the success of this venture. Please pray for David and Cindy Lane, and the American Renewal Project as these Pastor Prayer Gatherings are launched. Pastors are being called upon, to lead their people into the prayer closet to hear from God, and to pray for “all who are in authority.” They are also challenged to lead their people into the voting booth to speak for God and elect those who honor His authority, not defy it.
Are you getting in the way of a movement of God, or are you being in the way of a great adventure?
“I am the way…” – Jesus (John 14:6)
Jesus refers to Himself in the present tense. His name is not, “I Was,” or “I Will.” His name is “I Am.”
To sense His Presence, you must embrace Him, in the present tense. If Jesus seems far away, guess who has moved? This is not a trick question.
The integrity and intimacy of your walk with Jesus is revealed, by what you do with the next 20 seconds. If you are tense, take a deep breath, and lean into the intimacy of His Presence. You will always find Jesus in the present tense.
At times, over the past two years, Dana and I have felt like the couple on the road to Emmaus revealed in Luke 24. The KJV described their walk with Jesus, as a “heart” that burned within them. (Luke 24:32)
To be honest, over the past two years, sometimes this great adventure with Jesus has felt like heart burn. Can I get a witness?
There are days on this journey of faith that we sing, with the confidence of Paul and Silas. Not often, but we do. Other times, and to be honest, most days, we scream like Thelma and Louise, driving off of a cliff, at full speed, chased by bats out of hell.
God must never tire of hearing me squeal like a little girl. He seems to love leading me into impossible situations that cause me to scream … a lot! In the end, we stick the landing, as He transforms the impossible into the HIMpossible.
One of my favorite movie scenes is from the classic, “Butch Cassidy and The Sundance Kid.” Sundance, afraid to jump off a cliff, into a raging river in order to escape the relentless posse, confesses to Butch, “I can’t swim.” Butch laughs, and says, “The fall will kill you.” They jumped together and survived the ordeal. So, we pray and jump.
Get the picture? If you find the life of faith to be boring, you are doing it wrong. For an authentic adventure with Jesus, take a daily walk with Him. His adventure can make an adrenaline junkie cry for relief, and cause the strongest Christian, to go weak in the knees.
That’s the point. Your walk with Jesus is best experienced on your knees. Prayer leads you to His Landing Zone, not your Comfort Zone.
As they arrived at their destination, and the end of their conversation with Jesus, the couple on the Road to EMMAUS spoke three little words to Him. They urged Him to, “Stay with us.” (Luke 24:29)
Jesus did. He always does when His followers cannot get enough of Him. Praying power always leads to staying power.
Dana and I believe the best is yet to come. Being in the way means we must be prepared to jump, and to stick the landing. Have you experience too much of Jesus lately? Me neither.
Pray! Jump! Meet you at the Landing Zone.
“Lord, teach us to pray,” (Luke 11:1), and to get out of the way to be in the way.
Talk less, pray more.
Dr. Gary and Dana Miller are founders of TALK LESS! PRAY MORE! Ministries, and live in Arlington, Texas. Gary also assists Mr. David Lane, as National Field Director for The American Renewal Project.
