What is the first thing that you think, when you see someone of authority?
We live in a world where updates are offered continually as bugs in software are being revealed and security threats are discovered.
It’s just like us and our walks with Christ.
We easily get bogged down with the cares of this world, and our minds become dull after steadily absorbing the negativity in the world around us. Our thinking becomes prone to the attacks of satan and we don’t hear God speaking to us on a daily basis anymore.
We need to implement a constant upgrade cycle in order to keep the mind of Christ in the forefront position.
Daily prayer time, bible reading, and consistent church attendance are vital to keeping sharp and alert as to what is happening in the Kingdom around, and within us.
Do not be conformed to this world (this age), [fashioned after and adapted to its external, superficial customs], but be transformed (changed) by the [entire] renewal of your mind [by its new ideals and its new attitude], so that you may prove [for yourselves] what is the good and acceptable and perfect will of God, even the thing which is good and acceptable and perfect [in His sight for you]. (Romans 12:2 AMP)
The default setting of humanity is conformity. It takes consistent hard work to make the transition from being easily influenced, to influential.
For who has known or understood the mind (the counsels and purposes) of the Lord so as to guide and instruct Him and give Him knowledge? But we have the mind of Christ (the Messiah) and do hold the thoughts (feelings and purposes) of His heart. (1 Corinthians 2:16 AMP)
I want to remind us all, that in the tasks and projects God is is calling us to, we must all start somewhere in order to get where we are going. Often the beginning steps are so small that we wonder if we’re even making a difference.
The goal that you have in your heart may seem insurmountable, but you must remember that it’s not by our power that it comes to pass. Yes, an effort is demanded on our part but more often than not it’s to prepare us for what is going to happen. It’s God that does the heavy lifting.
Noah put a tremendous amount of time and energy into building the ark. He was responsible for making the accommodations, as well as taking care of the animals once they were on-board. Noah had duties within this vision, but God was faithful in filling the ark. Noah’s efforts were not in vain.
If you are called to lead worship, start by setting some individual worship time aside every day, and choose to invest some time honing the skills you have. Or if it’s preaching and teaching, get your bible out often and ask God to show you something new that you can apply to your life, and share with the people around you.
What ever it is that you have been created for, I encourage you strongly to start cultivating that gift, and the associated skill-set. We should all pursue excellence on this side of heaven in all that we put our hands to.
Do not despise these small beginnings, for the Lord rejoices to see the work begin.
(Zechariah 4:10a NLT)
I was running Saturday night, and I wanted to finish strong so I asked God to help me do just that.
I was reminded then and there, that it’s not when I’m strutting around on my own strength that I can achieve great things, but instead when I admit, “I can’t do this without you” that the awesome things happen.
God’s word says in 2 Corinthians 12:9 that His grace is sufficient for us, and that His strength is made perfect in our weakness.
It’s in the times where we have done all to stand, and keep standing in faith that the astonishing happens. We finally reach the goal that we have been working towards, or we finish that project that just seemed impossible, or we run a little further or faster than we did last time.
Let’s never forget to ask God to help us in what He has assigned us to do. He’s the other man of our unbeatable tag team, reaching through the ropes yelling, “Tag me! Tag me!”
All we have to do is humble ourselves to Him and say, ok God, I need your help!