Skip to content
  • The Alabama Baptist
  • The Baptist Paper
  • The Alabama Baptist
  • The Baptist Paper
  • Log In
  • Subscribe
  • Renew
  • Donate
  • The Alabama Baptist
  • The Baptist Paper
  • The Alabama Baptist
  • The Baptist Paper
  • Log In
  • Subscribe
  • Renew
  • Donate
The Baptist Paper
The Baptist Paper
  • Kids Edition
  • Latest News
  • Trending
  • Your state news
  • Classifieds
  • Kids Edition
  • Latest News
  • Trending
  • Your state news
  • Classifieds

First person: Staying in step with the Spirit takes discipline

Watching, listening, praying, waiting, praying some more, seeking with an openness to go and do as the Spirit leads — what if this were our consistent style of making missions and ministry decisions?
  • November 29, 2025
  • Jennifer Davis Rash
  • Editorials by Jennifer Rash, Featured, Latest News, Rashional Thoughts
(Unsplash photo)

First person: Staying in step with the Spirit takes discipline

Watching, listening, praying, waiting, praying some more, seeking with an openness to go and do as the Spirit leads — what if this were our consistent style of making missions and ministry decisions?

What if we also could balance these actions with an intentional effort to avoid defining next steps by what matches our preferences and expertise?

Jennifer Davis Rash, president and editor-in-chief of TAB Media

It’s not an easy ask for some of us, especially if where the Spirit leads is for us to resource someone or something else in which we have no control.

Support role

It means being in the background in a support role instead of out front leading the way, signing off on each aspect of the effort.

This type of behind-the-scenes role has less pressure than when we are placed in charge of an effort.

However, maintaining a role of praying and resourcing without a public position sometimes takes more discipline, maturity and focus to achieve.

Time in prayer

In seeking if, when and how to participate and/or serve in any area, the temptation might be to jump ahead and then ask the Lord to bless our work — or take the opposite approach and do nothing. With all the needs around us, we truly must spend ample time in prayer to stay in step with the Spirit.


EDITOR’S NOTE — This story was written by Jennifer Davis Rash, president and editor-in-chief of TAB Media Group. This editorial will appear in the December 4 edition of The Baptist Paper. Click here to subscribe.

Share with others:

Facebook
X/Twitter
LinkedIn
Email
Facebook
Twitter
LinkedIn
Email

Latest News

  • First person: 15 ‘surprising’ goals to set for 2026
    First person: 15 ‘surprising’ goals to set for 2026
    December 4, 2025/
    0 Comments
  • Miss Georgia urges Baptists to use influence to reach lost
    Miss Georgia urges Baptists to use influence to reach lost
    December 3, 2025/
    0 Comments
  • Student takes stand after receiving failing grade for Christian views
    Student takes stand after receiving failing grade for Christian views
    December 3, 2025/
    0 Comments

Sign up for the Highlights

Get all latest content delivered to your email a few times a month.
Email is required Email is not valid
Thanks for your subscription.
Failed to subscribe, please contact admin.

Related Posts

First person: 15 ‘surprising’ goals to set for 2026

You might be already thinking about goals for the upcoming new year even though we’re a few weeks away from 2026, and I assume that some of those goals are related to your spiritual walk.

Miss Georgia urges Baptists to use influence to reach lost

“My goal in life, my calling, is to know Christ and to make Him known. Everything that I do is situated under that purpose,” said Miss Georgia 2025 Audrey Kittila, a member of First Baptist Church Alpharetta.

Student takes stand after receiving failing grade for Christian views

Samantha Fulnecky’s final grade won’t be negatively affected by her Christian views on a controversial issue. The University of Oklahoma student recently complained she was discriminated against after receiving a zero on her essay that expressed her Christian views on gender.

African Christian leaders, health nonprofits fill gaps

African Christian leaders attending a conference with faith-based health organizations in late November called for countries on the continent to do more to replace U.S. Agency for International Development funds cut by the Trump administration.

Want to receive news highlights throughout the week? Sign up here!

Email is required Email is not valid
Thanks for your subscription.
Failed to subscribe, please contact admin.

About

  • Our Story
  • Our Team
  • Our Partners
  • Advertise and Promote
  • Classifieds
  • Contact us
  • Our Story
  • Our Team
  • Our Partners
  • Advertise and Promote
  • Classifieds
  • Contact us

Explore

  • Kids Edition
  • State-specific news
  • Archive
  • Opinion pieces
  • Sunday School lessons
  • Persecuted Church
  • Podcasts
  • Videos
  • Kids Edition
  • State-specific news
  • Archive
  • Opinion pieces
  • Sunday School lessons
  • Persecuted Church
  • Podcasts
  • Videos

Submissions

  • Story suggestions
  • Your Voice/Letter to the Editor
  • Photos / Videos
  • Corrections/other
  • Submission Policy
  • Story suggestions
  • Your Voice/Letter to the Editor
  • Photos / Videos
  • Corrections/other
  • Submission Policy

Subscribe

  • Subscribe
  • Renew subscription
  • Gift a subscription
  • Start a new member subscription
  • Start a new group subscription
  • Start a new subscription at the group rate
  • Hosted Church
  • Manage your group
  • Manage your account
  • Request free trial
  • Subscribe
  • Renew subscription
  • Gift a subscription
  • Start a new member subscription
  • Start a new group subscription
  • Start a new subscription at the group rate
  • Hosted Church
  • Manage your group
  • Manage your account
  • Request free trial
The Baptist Paper
Address:
3310 Independence Dr.
Birmingham, AL 35209
Copyright © 2025 TAB Media Group
  • Privacy/Terms of Use
  • Help
  • FAQ
  • Privacy/Terms of Use
  • Help
  • FAQ

Email:
news@thebaptistpaper.org

About

  • Our Team
  • Advertise and Promote
  • Classifieds
  • Donate
  • Photo Galleries
  • Contact us
  • Hosted Church
  • Our Team
  • Advertise and Promote
  • Classifieds
  • Donate
  • Photo Galleries
  • Contact us
  • Hosted Church

Explore

  • Kids Edition
  • Latest News
  • Trending
  • Your State News
  • Persecuted Church
  • Editorials
  • Opinions
  • Podcasts
  • Videos
  • Archive
  • Submit your news
  • Kids Edition
  • Latest News
  • Trending
  • Your State News
  • Persecuted Church
  • Editorials
  • Opinions
  • Podcasts
  • Videos
  • Archive
  • Submit your news

Subscribe

  • Manage your group
  • Manage your account
  • Subscribe
  • Start a new subscription at the group rate
  • Manage your group
  • Manage your account
  • Subscribe
  • Start a new subscription at the group rate

Log Out?

Lost your password?

Log In

Lost your password?

Log in

Become a part of our community!
Forgot your password? Get help
Privacy/Terms of Use

Reset password

Recover your password
A password reset link will be e-mailed to you.
Privacy/Terms of Use
Back to
Login
×
Close Panel