Welcome James!

By Kaitlyn Cey

I remember being at a leadership event shortly after beginning as a Pastor at Elim Church. James Guskjolen sat on a panel, and reminded our group: “You don’t ever want to grab more responsibility, territory or influence than God Himself is orchestrating for you to walk in. If you do, you begin to live in your own power and strength – and forego the power of God in your leadership. Wait on His timing. Listen for Him. Remain in Him.”

I won’t forget his words and his encouragement to live reflectively aware of the Holy Spirit’s guidance. James has served in many different leadership capacities – locally, nationally and globally within the Pentecostal Assemblies of Canada. He has faced personal and professional challenges greater than most can imagine – and he has remained firm in faith throughout. To live firm in faith, to James, means to live reflectively – so that you can grow your awareness of the Holy Spirit living in you.

Here is James’ practical guide for you to live reflectively and thrive.

Reflection Has Revealed God’s Purposes For My Life

By James Guskjolen

“Over the margins of life comes a whisper, a faint call, a premonition of richer living which we know we’re passing by. Strained by the very mad pace of our daily outer burdens, we are further strained by an inner uneasiness, because we have hints that there is a way of life vastly richer and deeper than all this hurried existence, a life of unhurried serenity and peace and power.”
– Thomas Kelly

Most of my private life has been consumed with reflecting upon the importance of being reflective in order to fulfill God’s purposes for my life. The tension, of course, is answering the question with which we singularly struggle:

“Do I want “this” because it is God’s purpose or because it is my purpose for my life?”

This question can paralyze us. It is as though we believe our purposes are always in opposition to God’s purposes. Nothing could be further from the truth.

God made us in His image. Part of this blessing is that we are filled with the compulsion to desire more than what is. This compulsion is not bad; though it can be if we desire that which is clearly outside of God’s parameters. I think of Adam and Eve choosing to live outside the structures God had placed upon them, for their benefit, by eating of the one tree that was off limits.

So, back to the question: “What’s the importance of being reflective in order to pursue God’s purpose for my life.”

This would seem easy. It is. And it isn’t. The Apostle Paul was aghast (perhaps his followers were, too) that he struggled so much with the clearly obvious. You can read about his dilemma in Romans 7.

I don’t have any deep answers to the question under consideration. But, I’ve learned a few key things that have helped. They are:

1. Be more still. Constant motion may satisfy something. Or nothing. Either implicitly or explicitly, the Bible tells us to be still. To rest. And in this we shall know God and, by extension, His purposes for our lives. In quiet moments of reflection we become conscious of the Lord’s work in our lives. It is here we discover His purposes.

1. Carve “still time” out of your day. Several times a day. Meditate upon a favourite verse or a specific trait of God. You need this to decompress from the anxiety life throws at you and reengage the peace of God that energizes. It is here we experience the essence of truly living.

1. Can you settle for God’s purposes if they don’t match your purposes or those of the leadership guru’s who consistently claim, albeit subtly, that we are never good enough unless we’re changing the world. How different from how Jesus sees our purpose: To love God. To love others. There’s not much there about changing the world. But it does. This is our “reasonable service”. It is here we find deep contentment.

1. Be grateful and thankful for all things and in all things which draws attention to God. This attitude is the process through which we begin to recognize the purposes of God in our lives. It is here we experience the co-mingling of purpose and praise.

1. Read the Bible. Do what it says. It is here you’ll find God’s purpose for your life.