I think it’s possible to become too good at ministry for our own good.

We can get so slick in promoting that we don’t need to pray for a harvest.
We can get so efficient in our programming that the Holy Spirit becomes more like an optional upgrade (heated seats) than the engine.
We can become so methodical in our planning that “Yes Lord” is replaced with “It’s not in the budget”.

I’m not sure how to solve this. I know that the answer is not decreasing our skill.  God wants us to be excellent, and dumbing down our approach to promotion, programming, or planning would dishonor Him and limit our reach.

Somehow though, we’ve got to stay on the edge, in that discomfort zone where He must show up…or else.  Some of us have gotten way too competent…now we’re becoming complacent.
And since God would never command you to decrease your competency, you must put yourself in a place of increased challenge.

• Preach some hard passages in the Bible that you will really have to grapple with and pray over.

• Increase your outreach giving until you actually need God’s provision in order to make budget.

• Launch a new campus in a portable location this Fall so you’ll need 200 new volunteers.

When you put yourself in a state of increased demand, it will force increased dependency on God.
And then He’ll have you right where He wants you…until the next time you starting feeling like you’ve got this under control.