“Dad and Mom, we need you to pray that God would expose land mines––and soon! We think there may be a lot of them.”
My husband and I had just stepped into a new ministry assignment and knew we needed to rally the troops we trusted. Why? We could not escape the weighty sense that we were stepping onto a minefield. Minefields are fraught with explosive danger lurking under the surface. The land before us possessed explosive spiritual devices which could bring catastrophe and destruction indiscriminately. All it would take was the slightest pressure by anyone in its proximity. You see, land mines aren’t choosy; they take out soldiers and civilians alike.
What can land mines look like to those in pastoral ministry? Many things: patterns of selfishness, offense, and bitterness in the congregation; habitual deception, both of self and others; immorality; lack of self control and tendency toward rage; rebellious attitudes that refuse to accept God-ordained leadership; idolatry of traditions, comfort, and social clubs; jealousy; church leaders who draw lines around their faith, refusing to exercise it for crucial aspects of ministerial responsibility; financial corruption; individuals and families using manipulation, control, and domination to hide sin; and refusal to embrace the Word of God.
Yikes!
But here’s the good news: God protects His servants! Psalm 91 promises safety for those who trust in the Lord. He can keep pastors, their wives, and their families safe from the fowler’s snare and disaster from coming near their tent, providing shield and rampart in the midst of trouble.
Are you walking through a minefield? You walk under the cover of the feathers of the Most High, God Almighty! He will empower you to identify and disarm the danger, or He’ll lead you through to safety.
To watch an interview with Kimberlee sharing more on this subject, click here.
For more from Kimberlee, check out her blog here.
Silently Bleeding 