This past weekend at NCC‘s Leadership Retreat, Pastor Mark talked about the idea of input vs. output, that we need to concentrate on the input (i.e. doing the right things) and let God focus on the output (i.e. how everything turns out).

The theme for this year’s retreat was Greater Things. In fact, this is the theme for NCC in the coming year, and so we’ve been thinking and talking about the greater things that we are believing God for. To tell you the truth, I’ve been having a hard time putting my finger on what these are for me.

I realized that right now I’m much more concerned about the input than the output. I’m more concerned about seeking God, investing in others, and supporting the team and fixing the facilities at Union Station than I am about seeing a very particular thing happen.

It’s a strange tension, because I do think it’s a good idea to set goals (and have set them), and I do have a large scale vision for what I believe God is going to do.

I guess it comes down to something like this. If I’m being the person that I’m supposed to be and doing the things that I’m supposed to do, then God will give the increase. He will make the vision happen. Otherwise, I’m probably doing it out of my own strength, likely trying to build some kind of personal kingdom for my own glory.