To many who know and love Travis Green’s music, he is known as a multi-award winning and nominated artist in all three categories of music (Dove, Grammy, and Stellar). He is also a megachurch pastor in Columbia, South Carolina, where he enjoys teaching and pastoring his congregation at his cozy Forward City Church. During this time in his life, Green has written a new book titled, “Are You Praying for The Wrong Thing,” which Travis admits has nothing to do with prayer but rather stewardship.
Travis Green: Actually, this is not a book about prayer. Although the title says prayer, it is more of a book about stewardship. Many people ask themselves why God doesn’t answer their prayers. It may be because they focus on things instead of strategies, putting their energy into miracles instead of stewardship. If I can use my wisdom like Solomon, I can graduate from being loved by me and used by me to being trusted by God, which I call the trust zone.
CWH: What do you want readers to take away from this book?
TG: As you read this book, I want you to ask yourself how you should manage what God has given you, and when you pray to God and ask Him to grant your wishes, don’t just see God as a spirit. He will grant you your heart’s desires That’s not the joy part.
CWH: What is a Trust Zone?
TG: When God trusts you, you are entrusted with heavenly resources, you are placed in a position of divine stewardship, you are able to handle more, and finally you are able to take hold of the things that are in our hearts. This is the premise of this book.
CWH: You’re a husband, a father, an artist, and a pastor — how do you manage to do it all?
TG: It’s not because I need more money or I want to do something else. That’s not why I wrote this book. I really [the question]What does it mean to be trusted by God?
I just love God, and I’m a steward of what He’s given me now, not just begging for the next one, but pleasing Him, and He’ll give me my heart’s desire. We often think of God as Santa Claus, not sovereign, and when we say God will give you your heart’s desire, that doesn’t mean He’ll give you what you want. It means He’ll give you what you want. There’s a difference. I’ve tried to compartmentalize my life, but God just decided to pour so much into my life, and I think a lot of times we try to overcomplicate things.
CWH: You write in the book about when God called you to start a church. How did you know that you were being called to do that?
TG: I gave God a list of reasons why it was a terrible idea, and there are many people in the Bible who thought that what God commanded them to do was a bad idea.
So my first reaction was, this is a terrible idea. Lord, let me explain to you why this is a bad idea. And God’s mercy erased all my excuses. So I called my wife and asked, “Hey, are we going to start a church?” And she said, “Yeah, I’ve always known. I’m just waiting for God to tell me.”“ And from there it’s one step at a time, when God calls us to something, one step at a time.
Go, and I will show you where to go. That is liberating, because I don’t necessarily have to know where I’m going. I’m just trying to see if you have enough faith to start walking.
CWH: What are you working on musically?
TG: I’m recording in Nashville next week. It’s been a while since I’ve done a solo project. I I’ve been working hard with my church worship team for the last couple of years and I’m ready to get back in the studio.
Photo credit: ©Facebook/Travis Greene Tagged photos
