This is one of the most wonderful things Holy Spirit is teaching me in this season. It started back in the fall of '08, when preparing for a gathering of our church family, I collapsed under the burden of anxiety, fear and insecurity. I was desperately trying to learn how to minister in the Holy Spirit and my mind was tied in a thousand knots. I felt the pressure of not wanting to let our community down and the weight of my own self-judgement had become more than I could bear.
My gracious wife offered to pray with me and as we sat with Holy Spirit, through a series of pictures He communicated to me - Whatever is your business is also your responsibility. Whatever you surrender to Me becomes my business and therefore My responsibility. Just like that I felt weight fall off my shoulders and peace and joy began to overwhelm my soul! I was so excited to hand our ministry over to Holy Spirit that day, to let everything be His responsibility.
The past months have been a daily process of my learning how to surrender my life and ministry more deeply and consistently to Him. Holy Spirit is sweet to regularly ask me when I am tempted to carry the load - "Eric, is this your business or mine?" This journey has opened my heart to understand that when it's about me, it's up to me; but when I make it about Holy Spirit, it's up to Him! Now that is LIGHT and EASY! Jesus said, "But I, when I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all men to myself (Jn 12:32)." When we lift ourselves up, then we're responsible for drawing people to Jesus, which is impossible! But when we make it all about Him, we get to watch as He reveals Himself in glory and draw people to Himself.
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