2023-10-10
2 Chronicles 31:21 NIV
Change, improvement, growth, success, and victory don’t happen because they’re admirable concepts or desirable options. No, they happen because you’re totally committed and willing to pay the price. When King Hezekiah came to the throne, Israel was in bad shape. The doors of God’s house were shut, the Law of the Lord was not being observed, and the people were worshiping the same gods as the heathen nations around them. If you’re “a turnaround expert,” you would benefit from studying Hezekiah’s life and his strategy. The Bible says, “In everything that he undertook…he sought his God and worked wholeheartedly” (v. 21 NIV). The cost of commitment involves these:
(1) A change in lifestyle. Hezekiah broke the family mold, refusing to live the way his father before him had lived.
(2) Loneliness. Hezekiah was the first to turn to God. In order to do it, he had to stand alone.
(3) Criticism. People don’t take kindly to change, and Hezekiah faced a barrage of harsh questions from the older generation.
(4) Hard work and money. He was willing to give up time, energy, and money to reach his goal.
(5) Daily discipline. Changing a culture and the mindsets of the people who are part of it can be difficult. Every day Hezekiah taught and instilled God’s principles into the minds of the people.
(6) Constant pressure. The people who went along with the changes Hezekiah was making expected to see results, and they weren’t necessarily patient. But Hezekiah “sought his God… worked wholeheartedly. And so he prospered.”
The principles Hezekiah used will work for you too, so today begin to apply them.
Soul food: 1 Sam 20:30-23:29; John 2:1-11; Ps 131; Prov 23:1-3
2023-10-09
Psalm 125:1 NIV
People are naturally attracted to leaders who convey poise and self-assurance; they won’t follow one who lacks self-confidence. An excellent illustration of this is an incident that took place in Russia during an attempted coup. Army tanks encircled the government building that held President Boris Yeltsin and his prodemocracy supporters. As the army moved into position, Yeltsin strode from the building, climbed up on a tank, stared the commander in the eye, and thanked him for turning to the side of democracy. Later the commander admitted that although he hadn’t intended to go over to Yeltsin’s side, the Russian leader appeared so confident, the soldiers decided to join him.
Great achievers exhibit confidence regardless of circumstances. But true confidence doesn’t come from having the approval of people around you. The Bible says, “The Lord will be your confidence” (Proverbs 3:26 NKJV); it’s about knowing He has called you and equipped you to do the job. Paul wrote, “We feel certain before God… It is God who makes us able to do all that we do” (2 Corinthians 3:4-5 NCV).
Even though others may not believe in you, knowing God believes in you enables you to believe in yourself. David wrote, “Many are saying of me, ‘God will not deliver him.’ But you are a shield around me… the One who lifts my head high” (Psalm 3:2-3 NIV). A confident leader can say to those who follow him or her, “I have confidence in the God who called me. I have confidence in you. I believe that together we can accomplish what God wants done.”
Soul food: 1 Sam 18:1-20:29; John 1:43-51; Ps 29; Prov 22:26-29
2023-10-08
1 Kings 19:21 NKJV
To get the job done right, you must surround yourself with the right people. That’s why good leaders are continually on the lookout for good people. But the person you get isn’t always determined by what you want but by who you are. In most instances, you attract people who possess many of the same qualities you do. Not only was Elisha like Elijah, he wanted a double portion of the Spirit that was upon Elijah. Who you are, is who you will attract.
It’s possible to go out and recruit people unlike yourself, but it’s crucial to recognize that those who are different from you may not naturally be attracted to you. Furthermore, if you’re not entirely happy with the kind of people you attract, it may be time to improve yourself. You need to be aware of these five tendencies in yourself, and when you see them, deal with them:
(1) Pride. Nobody wants to follow someone who thinks they’re better than everyone else.
(2) Insecurity. If you’re uncomfortable with who you are, other people will be too.
(3) Moodiness. If people never know quite what to expect from you, they stop expecting anything.
(4) Perfectionism. People respect the desire for excellence, but they don’t like unrealistic expectations.
(5) Cynicism. Others don’t want their parade rained on by someone who sees a black cloud around every silver lining.
These five hang-ups are so damaging that if you’re wise, you will surround yourself with people who are willing to point them out and help you become a more effective leader.
Soul food: Gen 24:1-51; 2 Cor 6:14-7:1
2023-10-07
Colossians 3:12 NLT
John Gray wrote the best-selling book Men Are from Mars, Women Are from Venus. His underlying thesis is this: In order to get along with someone, you have to try and see life from their perspective. And that’s not easy. Paul writes: “Clothe yourselves with tenderhearted mercy, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience. Make allowance for each other’s faults, and forgive anyone who offends you. Remember, the Lord forgave you, so you must forgive others. Above all, clothe yourselves with love, which binds us all together in perfect harmony. And let the peace that comes from Christ rule in your hearts” (vv. 12-15 NLT).
Those who need others to think and act exactly the way they do are often masking insecurities. They have a deep-seated need to have their views and actions confirmed in the behavior and thoughts of others. But that’s not how life works. Disagreements happen in any relationship where more than one person is involved. We are all unique, and we are not likely to agree on everything.
But the way we approach our disagreements can determine whether our relationship makes it to the finish line. Fighting fair, opening yourself to the ideas of others and to new ways of doing things, is how you grow. And who knows, in the end you may even “agree to disagree.” The important thing is to respect the other person’s ideas and seek to create an environment where the two of you can feel free to express your feelings and be who you really are without fear of being judged.
Soul food: 1 Sam 16-17; John 1:29-42; Ps 92; Prov 22:24-25
2023-10-06
Romans 12:10 NIV
Ralph Waldo Emerson said, “There is no limit to what can be accomplished if it doesn’t matter who gets the credit.” Most people know about Isaac Newton’s famed encounter with a falling apple; how he introduced the law of universal gravitation and revolutionized astronomical studies. But few people know that had it not been for a man called Edmond Halley, the world may never have heard of Newton.
Halley was the one who urged Newton to think through his original theories, corrected his mathematical mistakes, and formulated geometrical figures to support his discoveries. It was Halley who persuaded a hesitant Newton to write his great work The Mathematical Principles of Natural Philosophy. And it was Halley who edited and supervised its publication and financed its printing, even though Newton was wealthier and could better have afforded the cost.
Historians have called Halley’s affiliation with Newton one of the most selfless cases in science. Newton began almost immediately to reap the rewards of prominence, but Halley received little credit. He did use the principles Newton established to forecast the orbit and return of a comet that would later bear his name. But since Halley’s Comet returns only every seventy-six years, relatively few people still hear his name.
However, Halley didn’t care who got the credit as long as the cause of science was advanced. He personified what it means to live by this scriptural principle: “Be devoted to one another in love. Honour one another above yourselves.” Anytime God gives you an opportunity to put others first and yourself second, grab it and run with it.
Soul food: 1 Sam 14-15; John 1:14-28; Ps 63; Prov 22:17-23
2023-10-05
Psalm 27:4 NKJV
You may have to downscale materially to upscale spiritually. If owning things, maintaining them, and worrying about losing them is robbing you of the things that matter most like peace, joy, and fulfillment, consider simplifying your life. Downscale on the things that don’t matter, so you can upscale on the things that do.
During her successful career as an opera singer, Jenny Lind, known as the “Swedish Nightingale,” became one of the wealthiest artists of all time. Yet she gave up her career at a time when she was singing her best. And she never returned to it. People speculated about the reason and wondered how she could give up applause, fame, and money. But Jenny seemed satisfied to live in privacy in a home by the ocean.
One day a friend found her sitting on the sand with her Bible on her knees, looking out at a glorious sunset. As they conversed, the friend asked, “Madame Goldschmidt [Lind’s married name], how is it that you came to abandon the stage at the height of your success?” She answered quietly, “When every day made me think less of this (laying a finger on her Bible), and nothing at all of that (pointing to the sunset), what else could I do?”
King David owned all the stuff we dream about, yet he wrote: “One thing I have desired of the Lord, that will I seek: that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life, to behold the beauty of the Lord, and to inquire in His temple” (v. 4 NKJV). Now, there is a man with right priorities!
Soul food: 1 Sam 11-13; John 1:1-13; Ps 51; Prov 22:12-16
