Vision PLUS

So I've been seeking God and asking for direction and vision for the future of theSHIFT. I now have all kinds of ideas and concepts swirling around in my brain. Some are of my own creation and some are of the Holy Spirit... but which ones are which?

I've found two particularly good ways of identifying what the Holy Spirit is saying. I know there are more, but these two are specifically at work in determining theSHIFT's future.

1. VERIFY WITH SCRIPTURE

If what you are feeling led to do is in line with what God says in His Word, you're probably on the right track.

FOR EXAMPLE:
We were praying about what moral standards we should hold our leaders to. We felt led to limit them to 3 basic things: avoid sexual immorality, drunkenness, and gossip. I wasn't sure if this was specifically Holy Spirit led until I read 1 Corinthians 5:9-11 in my devotions a few days ago.

9I have written you in my letter not to associate with sexually immoral people— 10not at all meaning the people of this world who are immoral, or the greedy and swindlers, or idolaters. In that case you would have to leave this world. 11But now I am writing you that you must not associate with anyone who calls himself a brother but is sexually immoral or greedy, an idolater or a slanderer, a drunkard or a swindler. With such a man do not even eat.

So, unless you're a swindler or especially greedy, the 3 things we felt led to enforce with those that are "brothers" or "leaders" in theSHIFT were confirmed by the Scripture.

2. ASK THE OTHER PEOPLE INVOLVED

If several people are seeking God and getting the same ideas at the same time in different places, chances are, you aren't all making it up (the Holy Spirit is at work).

This one blew my mind! As the leader, so many leadership books emphasize telling your people what the vision is. So I passed on some of the vision that I felt like God was calling theSHIFT to, and I slowly got "buy in" from the people that are committed to the group.

Then one day, I felt like I should ask what THEIR vision was for theSHIFT. What I received was VISION PLUS! Not only did I hear confirmed what God was conceiving in my heart, I heard vision that was even bigger than I had imagined. And instead of looking for "buy in", it was already there!! Because it wasn't my just my vision, it was THEIRS!

So excited about what God is doing... and so excited that I'm not making this up! :)

Curtis