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needed, all in my early 20s. I remember my pastor and mentor saying, make absolutely sure there’s nothing you’d rather be doing before you make this step. Money and all that goes with it often has a mesmerizing effect. As Jesus said in the Sermon on the Mount, “You cannot serve God and wealth” (Matthew 6:24). Later in His ministry, Jesus told the Rich Young Ruler, “If you wish to be complete, go and sell your possessions and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow Me” (Matthew 19:21). Tragically, the prosperous lad walked away grieving because he was a person of great wealth. Thankfully, Instead of walking away from God’s call grieving, Elisha walked toward His call anticipating. Yet, there would be other issues to face, such as: Security - Elijah not only walked away from a prosperous situation, but a secure one as well. No doubt his father Shaphat was a respected and upstanding man in the community. Many great relationships and a large amount of community capital had amassed over the years– lots to walk away from. In early 2017, after serving nearly 18 years at the First Baptist Church in a small county seat town in Northwest Georgia, answering a fresh call from God, my wife and I moved to the outskirts of metro Atlanta. She left a school where she had taught the entire time we were there. I was not only a church pastor, but community pastor as well,serving on boards, active in a civic club, and chaplain of the football team. Add to that, familiarity with doctors, dentists, mechanics, plumbers, grocery stores, restaurants, etc. Our daughters were grown and gone. We knew it was right. But I didn’t realize how much that predictability, security, familiarity, and even notoriety had become a stronghold in my life.

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