Here he was, the pastor of the church my husband and I had just received the green-light from the Holy Spirit to begin attending, standing on the stage addressing the accusations being said against him. 

What is happening? I thought to myself as I watched the pastor become emotional towards the way his own congregation had turned on him. 

Rewind a year or so earlier, my husband and I were attending a church we felt had begun to show signs of back-sliding. So, we visited a new church out of curiosity and immediately felt peace as we listened to one of the most anointed pastors we’ve ever heard. However, when we asked the Lord if we could transition to this new church, He said no. 

So we didn’t.

We continued to serve the current church we were attending, even though we were unsure what we were still doing there. After a year passed, I was getting very weary in my spirit and so was my husband. We knew we weren’t supposed to be at this church, and yet, every time we asked the Lord if we could finally transition to the new church, He said no. 

Until it happened. 

On this Sunday morning, my husband and I were faithfully serving the church the Lord had kept us at when the pastor got on stage and started talking about transitioning. I felt goosebumps all over and heard the Holy Spirit whisper, “Now you may go.” 

On the ride home from church that day, I told my husband what I had experienced at church, and to our excitement, he had the same experience! We stepped down from our service positions at church, said our goodbyes to our friends, and eagerly anticipated our new church family.

Our anticipation was instantly greeted with confusion as we entered the church building and noticed the chaos and disorder leaking out in every direction. 

What happened here? This is not the church we first attended. I thought to myself as we found our seats in the congregation.

The pastor continued to lay out the events of what had taken place the week before, and I sat there trying to wrap my mind around everything. We knew the Holy Spirit led us here, but why now? The entire church had fallen apart! 

Apparently, half the congregation formed their own alliance against the pastor and accused him of stealing money. This caused a ripple effect of dismantling the congregation with some people leaving because they didn’t want to participate in the events that unfolded the week prior, and others leaving because they didn’t want to have to choose a side.

Then there was my husband and me…. sitting there confused out of our minds!

My first response was to find another church since obviously we could not prove or deny the accusations and law-suits coming against the pastor. Why would we want to attend a church where the pastor is being sued for hundreds of thousands of dollars?

However, with our confusion came prayers and soon all the clouds lifted to reveal that the Lord had indeed called us to transition at the perfect time to come alongside this pastor we still felt was supernaturally anointed. 

The Lord knew many people would leave this congregation and this pastor solely on the assumption of guilt, without first consulting with the Lord. So, the Lord brought my husband and me to discover the truth, and stand firm on the truth that had been revealed to us. 

I share this story because this season of my church-life was my absolute favorite season I have experienced. Unrestricted by walls, those of us who remained took the Gospel to the streets. We met and prayed for people at college campuses, in coffee shops, around shopping centers, scattered downtown, in hospitals, and anywhere we could find people. The testimonies we shared with one another were powerful and encouraging. Truly, this was God’s intention for us all along.

Lifestyle Christianity means giving up what we understand for what we don’t understand, yet. It’s saying yes to our Creator who is arranging the puzzle pieces of our life with those we are supposed to connect with later on. Even without us knowing where exactly we are going. 

The people who left this pastor prematurely missed out on the supernatural miracles we got to experience on the streets. They trusted their “gut” feeling instead of the voice of God. If we want to experience the fullness of God’s provision over our life, we have to be willing to trade our understanding for the wisdom of the Lord. He will not reveal His purposes to us every time He asks us to do something and no knowing can be difficult for us to accept.

But would you really rather follow your own understanding and give up on the abundant lifestyle God has intended for you to experience? Only you can make that choice. 

For me, I may be confused out of my mind, but if God says to go, you better believe I am going. 

Then I heard the voice of the Lord saying, “Whom shall I send? And who will go for us?” And I said, “Here am I. Send me!” Isaiah 6:8

Be blessed, my friends!