Contrary to popular belief I’m not Dwayne’s new assistant. But things are changing for me. Not my job role at IHOP but instead I’m in the midst of one of those “internal re-fresh/re-evaluate/re-go-for-it seasons” … you know what I mean.

Back in the summer of 2001 when I was praying about moving to IHOP-KC to do the onething internship (except back then it was the “I2″ internship - Ihop Inernship. Get it?). At the time one of the primary verses for my life had been Jeremiah 29:11 - “For I know the plans I have for you…” I was big on destiny and calling. I still am actually.

So I’m up late one night reading my Bible, and I go to Jeremiah 29:12 - “Then you will call on me and come and pray to me.”

I had one of those internal audible moments. I knew the next season of my life was going to be a season of Jeremiah 29:12, i.e. International House of Prayer. What I thought was going to be a 10 month season has now turned into 60 months, and will probably continue for 60 more.

Thinking about spending 10 years of my life at IHOP makes me want to cry. 1) because I can’t think of any better place on the planet that I would rather be. 2) I can think of somewhere I’d rather be: Colorado. (When I say I’m wasting my life in Kansas City, I sometimes mean it spiritually and sometimes literally. I mean seriously, have you seen Colorado? It’s amazing. If IHOP were still in the trailer I’d be tempted to get a semi and hit I70.)

So, I’ve been thinking a lot about my life here at the HOP and my future plans to move back to Colorado one day and how is it all working together? I’ve had two questions rolling around in my head for about six months now.

1. What is my role with the House Of Prayer in Castle Rock?
2. What am I doing now to prepare for that role?

These are hard questions to ask. Especially because #2 can’t really be answered without the blank filled in to #1. I’ve had a lot of dreams (the night time asleep kind) about my involvement with IHOP. I’m planning for the best and worst: To lead the thing. That kind of idea used to feed my pride when I was younger before I had a better understanding of leadership.

Now I’m walking around the prayer room with these 2 questions burning a hole in my spirit so I decided to get some stuff on paper. When in doubt, journal. I write down my life vision again. What am I really going for? Who do I really want to be? What do I want to be doing in 5 years and in 50 years so that I don’t look back sorry? This is the condensed version of what came out:

1. To have a personal relationship with God through the Word. I want to be a man of the Word using it for the purspose of encounter.
2. To be a man daily living a Sermon on the Mount lifestyle. To not only do, but to teach the commandments of the Word.
3. To be faithful in whatever position the Lord has me in the present while working towards the fullness of the mantle and destiny He has for me in this age and in the age to come.

Being the personality type that I am; I had to add another list to my main list. A sub-list if you will. How then shall I live? or How in the world do I make those happen? Actually the answer was quite easy, thanks to MB:

1. Faithful and diligent with how I spend my time (focusing on Pryaer, Fasting, Study / Meditation of the Bible)
2. Faithful and generous with how I spend my money
3. Covenant with my eyes to look on no worthless thing
4. Bridal my tongue
5. Grow in communion with the Holy Spirit

Although I really feel the need to get some practical training and discipleship in the area of leading an IHOP I know that the greatest Teacher is the Holy Spirit. He will show us all things. He will open my eyes to see wondrous things from the Law. When I feel like nobody is paying attention to me, or nobody is sowing into my life it’s my job to go deeper in the Word.

It’s my job fight for what I’m called to do in the grace of God. I refuse to cross my arms with the woe is me fat bottom lip.

Last weekend while I was in Florida the Lord spoke to me again with that same internal audible. Jeremiah 29:14 - “I will bring you back…” Basically that means my hopes and prayers for Castle Rock aren’t just mine, they’re God’s too. I can’t really explain it much more than that, but I’ve been launched into a deeper and more tender place with God.

I’m not the only one around here that’s going through this. There are many people on the IHOP staff that are in the midst of change, and shift into a deeper mantle leadership and anointing.