Stepping Beyond the Program

Instead of following the typical flow of a Sunday service, Dr. GreGory felt led to set aside the usual structure. He got up first, referencing last week’s message about putting God in front of everything we do. There was no communion, no formal preaching—just a heartfelt admonishment and pure praise.

This unexpected shift was the service itself, teaching us a profound lesson: God's order is not like ours. He doesn’t move in our 1-2-3 steps or fit neatly into our schedules. It taught us that every Sunday—and every day—we need to let God have His way instead of clinging to our regularly scheduled plans.

Putting God First

As Pastor spoke, he brought us back to the heart of worship: putting God first in everything. He admonished us to surrender not just our schedules but also our expectations. When we truly let God take the lead, He can move in ways that far surpass our plans or imagination.

This aligns with the story of Hezekiah in Isaiah 38, which Dr. GreGory reflected upon.

Hezekiah’s prayer wasn’t part of a structured program—it came from a deep place of need and trust. And God responded by granting him 15 more years of life. Like Hezekiah, we are reminded to turn our hearts fully to God in prayer and praise, trusting His power and timing.

Preparing for Worship

Preparing for worship is like tuning an instrument before a performance. Before we come into God’s presence, we need to quiet the noise of our lives—laying aside distractions, attitudes, and disappointments. Worship isn’t just a segment of the service; it’s the very act of surrendering all of ourselves to God.

A Heart of Gratitude

Pastor also emphasized the importance of gratitude, even when life doesn’t meet all our expectations. He said, “I know who God is,” and that’s enough reason to give thanks. Whether we’re facing loss, uncertainty, or unmet desires, our gratitude is a testimony to our trust in God’s sovereignty.

This surrender means being ready to follow God’s flow, even when it disrupts our plans. It’s about trusting that He knows best, even when the path looks different from what we expected.

Takeaway for the Week

This week’s service was a powerful reminder to:

• Let God lead, even when it disrupts our plans or routines.

• Surrender distractions and align ourselves with His flow.

• Trust in the transformative power of prayer and praise.

• Cultivate a heart of gratitude, focusing on who God is rather than what He gives.

As we move forward, just as Dr. GreGory modeled by stepping beyond the program, we must remember that anything wonderful can happen when Jesus is exalted, but it starts when we let God have His way.