Warning: People CONNECTED To You Are AFFECTED By You…For Good or Bad! What You Open The Door To, AFFECTS Everyone In The HOUSE, Good or Bad. We Get In The Worst Predicaments Because We Forget God Knows Best!

 

Only FOOLS Refuse God's WISDOM"

Joshua 9:14-15, "So the men [of Israel] took some of their provisions [and offered them in friendship], and [FOOLISHLY] did not ask for the counsel of the Lord. Joshua made peace with them and made a covenant (treaty) with them, to let them live; and the leaders of the congregation [of Israel] swore an oath to them." (AMP)

It was an amusing billboard, a cartoon drawing of a wide-eyed, bewildered-looking squirrel, holding a broken cable in his paws. The sign that came with it read, "Call before you dig, and gave a toll-free phone number. I have discovered that many utility workers have this problem and have it quite often. Squirrels start digging into the wires and cut right into the utility workers' power lines and cables. Lines which could very quickly be gas lines, phone lines, or cables. And in the process, the happy diggers make a big mess for the utility company and their customers. A confusion that could have easily been avoided had they asked about the dangers before they started digging. Now, squirrels may not know any better, but sadly neither do most people!

Therefore, it is a good idea to check with the people 'in the know' before you start plowing ahead! Our failure to check with the person who is really 'in the know' explains many of the costly mistakes that have caused some of the biggest messes in our lives and the lives of all those connected to us!

Warning: People CONNECTED to You are AFFECTED by You…For Good or Bad! What You Open the Door To, Affects Everyone in The House, Good or Bad.

Whatever you do, always consider the people who may be affected by your actions. Use the scenario "what if" what then." Always think about the consequences of your move. If what I am about to do will affect my family members, friends, church, business partners, as the list goes on. Think about who you are opening the door to. Am I opening the door to Christ in my home, or am I allowing the enemy to come in and cause chaos? Am I allowing drugs to come, extramarital affair, alcohol abuse, domestic violence, as the list continues?

Consider the example in Joshua 9:14-15. The Jews have been winning one victory after another over the Canaanites as they took possession of the Promised Land that God was giving them. Now, they are about to come upon Gibeon, one of the royal cities of Canaan. The Gibeonites have heard about the fall of the other cities the Jews have gone against. They know they are going down next unless they can trick God's people somehow into making a peace treaty with them, which seems unlikely because God's Orders are to remove every tribe from the land and not to coexist with them!

But the Gibeonites are shrewd. They sent a delegation to see Joshua, with donkeys loaded with cracked wineskins and worn-out sacks. They wore patched sandals and old clothes, and they carried dry and moldy bread with them. The whole scam was to make it LOOK LIKE they were from far away and that they had come on a long journey. Here's how Joshua and his men decided what to do with these Gibeonites. The Bible says, "The Israelites sampled their provisions (so they made sure the bread was dehydrated and moldy) BUT THEY DID NOT INQUIRE OF THE LORD. Then Joshua made a treaty of peace with them to let them live, and the leaders of the assembly ratified it by oath." (NIV)

Within days, the Jews learned that the Gibeonites were not from far away; in fact, they were from close by. But because they had been tricked into this treaty, they could not, by honor, remove them as God had initially commanded. As a result, the hands of the Jews were tied for years to come, and the treaty sparked a significant battle with other armies. How did this mess happen? Well, in a nutshell, they did not call before they dug, much like the squirrels! They decided based on what SEEMED right to them, but they made the fatal mistake so many of us have made so many times before –THEY DIDN'T CHECK WITH HEAVEN…THEY DIDN'T CHECK WITH GOD! And so, they blew it! And so do we!

Listen to the text in varying translation:

"The Israelites TRIED some of the food, BUT THEY DID NOT ASK THE LORD IF HE WANTED THEM TO MAKE A TREATY." (CEV).

"The men of Israel wanted to know if these men were telling the truth. So, they TASTED the bread – BUT THEY DID NOT ASK THE LORD WHAT THEY SHOULD DO." (ERV).

"The Israelites ACCEPTED some food from them BUT DID NOT CONSULT THE LORD ABOUT IT." (GNT).

"Joshua and the other leaders finally believed them. THEY DID NOT BOTHER TO ASK THE LORD BUT WENT AHEAD AND SIGNED A PEACE TREATY…" (TLB).

Now, this is where many of us mess up and get messy! Like the Israelites, we will try it; take some; taste it; sample it, exam it, believe it, and even eventually accept it but what we fail to do is ask God what to do about it and with it! The Israelites (like many of us) were cautious, and they checked out what was presented to them; however, the final decision was not theirs to make (and not ours either)!

"The Israelites took some of their supplies, BUT THEY DIDN'T ASK FOR ANY DECISION FROM THE LORD." (CEB)

And can we be honest? We Get in the Worst Predicaments Because We Forget God Knows Best!

The decision was the Lord's to make! They were to consult Him. And even with the findings, He allows us to be a part of, we can still consult the Lord! And it is not because they did not know any better, so they do not even have that as a justifiable excuse, and neither do we!

James 1:5, "If any of you lacks wisdom [TO GUIDE HIM THROUGH A DECISION OR CIRCUMSTANCE], he is to ask of [our benevolent] God, who gives to everyone generously and without rebuke or blame, and it will be given to Him." (AMP)

When God Himself is telling you to use His Wisdom, only a Fool will refuse!

God is there to Help, Not to Hinder us! But He is not rudely forcing Himself on us either! But He is laid out for us the safest way to travel if only we would adhere to it! Proverbs 3:5-6, "Trust in and rely confidently on the Lord with all your heart AND DO NOT RELY ON YOUR INSIGHT OR UNDERSTANDING. IN ALL YOUR WAYS, know and acknowledge and recognize Him, and HE will make your paths straight and smooth [REMOVING OBSTACLES THAT BLOCK YOUR WAY]." (AMP) Do you realize just how smooth this journey of ours could be if only we would humble ourselves enough to follow His lead? We would not even have to worry about the bumps in the road along the way because He promises to "…remove obstacles that block our way." But no, we insist on doing things our way! And what is the result of that decision?

Proverbs 16:25, "There's a way that looks harmless enough; look again – it leads straight to hell." (MSG) Indeed that is the destination you were hoping to reach.

And if you have not found your life's Purpose yet, TALK TO GOD! "EVERYTHING…FINDS ITS PURPOSE IN HIM" (Colossians 1:16 MSG). EVERYTHING finds its Purpose in Him, and it is fulfilled through Him! Listen: Before you spoke your first word or took your first step, GOD HAD A PLAN AND PURPOSE FOR YOUR LIFE! You say, "But I've failed so badly." Maybe, BUT YOU'D BE AMAZED AT WHAT GOD CAN DO WITH A BROKEN LIFE—WHEN YOU GIVE HIM ALL THE PIECES! As poorly put together as you think you are, your Purpose is found in God, and He will not allow you to lose it! Your mistakes, missteps, errors, and even deliberate sins, transgressions, and iniquities still cannot stop God from producing what He has placed in you! Repent, Turn, Change, and Be Fully Restored so You Can Finally Become All God Destined You to Be! And let no one make you think it is more complicated than that!

Think of all the divorces that could have been avoided had the individuals sought the Lord FIRST! When our children messed up, imagine how quickly they could have cleaned up if we FIRST helped them God's way instead of ours! The many soul ties that would never have tangled up your peace of mind if only you had sought the Lord's decision in the matter, FIRST! How many broken hearts would not have needed years to mend if only we sought the Lord FIRST? Many of us would not have to start over (for the 97th time, just this week) if only we had sought the Lord FIRST! So much unnecessary pain, so many unnecessary complications, and difficulties and conflicts, and all because we failed to seek God's direction FIRST!  And in this day and time of reading your horoscope; find your inner self; reach for a higher power; let them read your palm; check out the tarot cards; let the soothsayers soothe you; (You Need to Know to Seek God FIRST!)

Isaiah 8:19-22, "When people tell you, "Try out the fortunetellers. Consult the spiritualists. Why not tap into the spirit-world, get in touch with the dead?" Tell them, "NO, WE'RE GOING TO STUDY THE SCRIPTURES." People who try the other ways get nowhere – a dead end! Frustrated and hungry, they try one thing after another. When nothing works out, they get angry, cursing first this god and then that one, looking this way and that, up, down, and sideways – and seeing nothing, a blank wall, an empty hole. They end up in the dark with nothing." (MSG)

And why would anyone want to waste time on such Foolishness when you have direct access to the Wisdom of God? That is Who you seek FIRST! When you are wondering which direction and what to do, seek God FIRST! Jeremiah 33:3, "This is God's Message, the God who made the earth, made it livable and lasting, known everywhere as God: "Call to Me and I will answer you. I'll tell you marvelous and wondrous things that you could never figure out on your own." (MSG) With that as your best option, how could you choose anything different? You do not have to figure out life on your own (and thank God, because clearly, WE are not good at decision-making on our own)! And who cares, since we can call to our Father, and He will answer His children with marvelous things that we do not have to keep digging to find on our own!

Isaiah 65:24, "I will answer them before they even call to Me. While they are still talking to Me about their needs, I will go ahead and answer their prayers!" (TLB) Why try to figure out something God has already figured out? All you must do is ask Him for the answer!

Do not you see, we are much like the Israelites, as soon as something (or someone) APPEARS to be alright; APPEARS to check out; APPEARS to be on the up-and-up, we jump headlong into a mess with eyes wide open! What am I saying? Ask God Before You Decide. This could save your very life!

However, the truth is, we neglect to check with God for many reasons. We are in too big of a hurry, we are feeling pressured by other people, we compromise for the sake of convenience, or we plainly know how we want it to be, and we stubbornly blaze ahead with our own will. Sometimes, we may even be doing God's thing, but it is not God's time, or it is not God's way, which is why it is so vital that we "lean not on our understanding," which can only see part of the picture. When you consult with the Lord, you get direction from the only One who can see the whole picture. That is why counsel before decisions is so important! Proverbs 15:22, "Refuse good advice and watch your plans fail; take good counsel and watch them succeed." (MSG)

Listen, in 2 Chronicles 18:4. King Jehoshaphat gave King Ahab this advice before he went running off into battle: "…FIRST, seek the counsel of the Lord." (NIV) Here are a few additional translations:

"…Please inquire FIRST for the Word of the Lord." (AMP).

"…FIRST, let's see what the Lord has to say." (CEB).

"But FIRST, let's ask the Lord what to do." (CEV).

"But FIRST, let's ask the Lord for advice." (ERV).

"…BUT BEFORE YOU DO ANYTHING, ASK GOD FOR GUIDANCE." (MSG).

"…But FIRST we should ask if this is the Lord's Will." (NCV).

Are you starting to see the clear picture now? There's a plan in place; however, Jehoshaphat (the wise leader) says, FIRST, let's inquire of the Lord; let's see what the Word of the Lord is for today; let's see what He has to say; let's ask Him what we should do; let's ask for His advice; let's find out what He has to say about this particular matter; let's consult Him; let's see if this is even His Will; BEFORE WE DO ANYTHING… LET'S ASK GOD TO GUIDE US! Yet, even with all that admonishment, in the end, King Ahab did not, and because he did not, he died in that battle!

Do I dare ask how much money you would not have lost if you sought God FIRST? How much of your integrity, dignity, and character would still be intact if you sought the Lord FIRST? How many mistakes and missteps could you have avoided if only you asked if this or they were in His Will for your life? Maybe you would not have lost the job, the house, the car, the career, the ministry, or church, if only you would have asked God for His guidance before deciding to Go Your Way Only to Have Crashed Over the Cliff Where He Already Had Warning Signs in Place!

And LEADERS, this is dangerous for us as well; listen to the text again in closing: "JOSHUA AND THE OTHER LEADERS finally believed them. They did not bother to ask the Lord but went ahead and signed a peace treaty" (TLB).

Leadership Means We are Responsible for Everyone on Board, Whether We Sail Safely, or Sink Fatally. Therefore we (above all people) ought to use the Wisdom God has made available to us to lead people according to His Word, Way, and Will and NOT That of Our Own! Because in the end, these LEADERS decided (WITHOUT GOD) that affected the WHOLE CONGREGATION. And if we dare make the wrong decision, the Body of Christ is damaged. Because you cannot hurt your pinky, and the rest of your hand does not know what happened. And in the Body of Christ, whatever we do in the body, affects the whole body. So, let us start today by asking the Lord to lead and guide us in the way we should go, not in the way we want to go. Let us ask the Lord for His decision, His Word, His Will, His Way, and His Timing.

Why? Because we can avoid many problems and a lot of pain if only, we will instinctively check with God FIRST. Let us stop being like squirrels on power lines, digging in and causing disruption to everyone and everything. Let us decide today to stop making messy decisions!

I share this because we have entered another Year; we are in the middle of another New Year. We have much indeed to be grateful for. However, this is also the time and season when everyone wants to be something new, try something new, go somewhere new. And nothing is wrong with New, when it is the Lord's doing: Isaiah 43:18-21, "This is what God says…Forget about what's happened; don't keep going over old history. Be alert, be present. I'M ABOUT TO DO SOMETHING BRAND-NEW. It is bursting out! Don't you see it?" (MSG) If something is to be New, let Him do it instead of you attempting to experiment with it! Let God change it; alter it; move it; or send it not you trying to make things (you want but may not need) to happen!

This year, make one resolution only. SEEK GOD FIRST! Do not go grabbing shovels and seeking new land and start digging where God never intended you to. Wait! Seek His Counsel, whether it is for marriage; a relationship; a friendship; a job offers; a school choice; a career move; leaving or starting a church; or going to the store to make a purchase Wait on the Lords' Timing and Direction and You will Never Be Steered Off Course!

Think about it, haven't we already made the foolish mistake of making decisions without the Lord's consult and Wisdom? And as bad as those choices and consequences turned out to be, do you want a New Year, with the same Old You, making all the same old errors again? Of course not. So, this year, if it is the Last thing you do, SEEK THE LORD FIRST…Before You Start Digging and Deciding!

Matthew 6:30-33, "If God gives such attention to the appearance of wildflowers—most of which are never even seen—don't you think he'll attend to you, take pride in you, do his best for you? What I am trying to do here is to get you to relax, not to be so preoccupied with getting, so you can respond to God's giving. People who do not know God and how he works fuss over these things, but you know both God and how he works. Steep your life in God-reality, God-initiative, God-provisions. Do not worry about missing out. You'll find all your everyday human concerns will be met." (MSG)

Psalm 37:23-24, "The steps of a [good] man is directed and established by the Lord when He delights in his way [and He busies Himself with his every step]. Though he falls, he shall not be utterly cast down, for the Lord grasps his hand in support and upholds him." (AMPC)

REMEMBER: ONLY FOOLS REFUSE GOD'S WISDOM!

Psalm 14:1, "The [spiritually ignorant] fool has said in his heart, "There is no God."

Romans 1:22, "Claiming to be wise, they became fools," (AMP)

Proverbs 18:2, "A [closed-minded] fool does not delight in understanding, but only in revealing his personal opinions [unwittingly displaying his self-indulgence and his stupidity]." (AMP)

Proverbs 9:8, "Do not correct a scoffer [who foolishly ridicules and takes no responsibility for his error] or he will hate you; Correct a wise man [who learns from his error], and he will love you." (AMP)

Proverbs 26:4, "Do not answer [nor pretend to agree with the frivolous comments of] a [closed-minded] fool according to his folly; otherwise, you, even you, will be like him." (AMP)

Proverbs 29:11, "A [shortsighted] fool always loses his temper and displays his anger, but a wise man [uses self-control and] holds it back." (AMP)

Proverbs 13:20, "He who walks [as a companion] with wise men will be wise,

But the companions of [conceited, dull-witted] fools [are fools themselves and] will experience harm." (AMP)

But the tongue of the wise brings healing." (AMP)

Ecclesiastes 7:9, "Do not be eager in your heart to be angry, For anger dwells in the heart of fools." (AMP)

Ephesians 5:15-16, "Therefore see that you walk carefully [living life with honor, purpose, and courage; shunning those who tolerate and enable evil], not as the unwise, but as wise [sensible, intelligent, discerning people], making the very most of your time [on earth, recognizing and taking advantage of each opportunity and using it with wisdom and diligence], because the days are [filled with] evil." (AMP)

 

 Blessings

J.P. Olson

www.thewordwithjpolson.org

Think Twice Before Accepting A Friendship Ride! You Do Not Want To Travel With Anyone Who Will Be Detrimental To Your Destination Here On Earth Or Thereafter! Choose Your Path And Passengers Carefully.

 Narrow Is The Path: Choose Your Path And Passengers Carefully. 

There will always be MANY that will want to lead you down the WIDE road, but if you want to see Jesus in peace; follow the FEW who are focused on staying safe on the NARROW road!  Think twice before accepting a friendship ride! You do not want to travel with anyone who will be detrimental to your destination here on earth or thereafter!  

Matthew 7:14-15, “Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad and easy to travel is the path that leads the way to destruction and eternal loss, and there are many who enter through it. But small is the gate and narrow and difficult to travel is the path that leads the way to [everlasting] life, and there are few who find it.” (AMP)

Personally, I have never hitchhiked before, but I have seen many hitchhikers along the road, and I have certainly seen them in movies (especially scary ones). But the one thing that is almost always certain is, you will find them usually holding a sign. And often, the sign is usually crudely lettered and does not have the name or the license plate of the car they want to ride in. No, but what it normally does have on it is the name of a place they want to go. Believe it or not, but in most places, hitchhiking is a way of life. One woman shared her hitchhiking experience when she said she asked only one question before she got in a car. She did not care about the make of the car, the driver’s IQ, or where the driver was from. She had one question only, “Where are you headed? “

You see, hitchhikers have a simple basis for deciding who they will travel with and it is this: “Is this person going where I want to end up?” And that is exactly the question we all should have in mind when we are deciding who we are going to travel with.

This is why Proverbs 13:20 is a great admonishment to all of us. It is God’s counsel concerning the people we hang out with, people we spend time with, make friends with people we start business ventures with people we date, people we marry. And it says this: “He who walks with the wise grows wise, but a companion of fools suffers harm.” Check out a few other translations:

“He who walks [as a companion] with wise men will be wise, But the companions of [conceited, dull-witted] fools [are fools themselves and] will experience harm.” (AMP).

“Walk with wise people and become wise; befriend fools and get in trouble.” (CEB).

“Wise friends make you wise, but you hurt yourself by going around with fools.” (CEV).

“Whoever walks with wise people will be wise, but whoever associates with fools will suffer.” (GWT).

“Keep company with the wise and you will become wise. If you make friends with stupid people, you will be ruined.” (GNT).

“He who walks with wise men will be wise, but the one who walks with fools will be destroyed.” (NLV).

“Become wise by walking with the wise; hang out with fools and watch your life fall to pieces.” (MSG)

I do not know about you, but after reading all of that, I am ready to re-exam every friend attached to my life! And my simple response will be to keep the wise and kick to the curb the fools! Why? Because the wrong foolish friends, according to the Bible, will cause you to “experience harm; get into trouble; hurt yourself; suffer; be ruined; be destroyed and have your life fall to pieces”! Says the Scripture! Now you tell me, are foolish friends worth all of that? I think NOT!

Furthermore, you tend to become like the people you spend time with. Like a hitchhiker, you end up where the people you are traveling with end up. This is why God loves us so much that He reinforces this point in 1 Corinthians 15:33. He just simply says, “Do not be misled. “Bad company corrupts good character.” (NIV) Yet another Scripture we need to look at a bit closer:

“Do not let anyone fool you. Bad people can make those who want to live good become bad.” (NLV).

“Don’t be fooled by those who say such things. If you listen to them, you will start acting like them.” (TLB)

Once again, we are faced with the challenge of re-examining our friendships. Are we in good or bad company? Because bad friends will “destroy you; ruin your good habits and morals; and will encourage you to do and be just as bad.” Not to mention, if we hang with bad friends “we’ll start to act just like them”! Which brings about the question, that only you can ask and answer: With the friends I have in my life, would I be encouraged or embarrassed to reflect their thoughts, speech, actions, habits, and lifestyle? Do I have friends who I would want to emulate? Do I have friends that help me turn my good habits into bad ones, or cause my morals to come up MIA?

Listen, if you are going to make good decisions about who to travel with at your school, at your workplace, in your social life, in business, at church, or even who you will date and marry, you first need to decide what kind of person you want to become; what kind of goals you want to achieve. And I for one certainly hope you want to end up being a positive person, and not a negative one. After all, who needs any more of those? You probably want to end up being caring, not self-centered, encouraging, not tearing people down, living for what really matters instead of just some attractive, meaningless junk.

Decide what kind of person you want to be; what kind of attitudes you want to have. And then look for some people who have the same “destination sign” as you do. Now, when it comes to driving, the purpose of “destination signs” is “to direct travelers to their destinations by the best route.” And before you befriend anyone else, you need to hold up the destination sign of where it is you are going to others who want you to hop in and take a ride with them will know, you already know your destination and you will not be detoured! People need to know, in advance, where you are heading, and likewise, you need to know, in advance, where they are heading. And if you find that you are heading to pleasing God, then you do not ride with those heading to play with God. If you are heading to use your talent, you do not ride with those heading to hide their talent. If you are heading to be used by God, you do not ride with those who only want to use God. If you are heading to a monogamous relationship, you do not ride with those who already have a backseat full of passengers to play with. If you are heading to becoming debt-free, you do not ride with those who have no financial discipline. If you are heading to becoming physically fit, you do not ride with those who just left McDonald's, at Applebee’s now, and heading to Red Lobster next.

Are you getting this?

As soon as they pull up, they should already know where you are heading because you have already clearly displayed your destination sign, in advance! And before you hop into the ride, you need to likewise ask, “where you heading to?” And if you are heading to holiness, righteousness, godliness, peace, joy, love, happiness, and the like, then you know already you cannot ride with someone who is unholy, unrighteous, ungodly, chaotic, miserable, hateful, and sad!

Note: Why would two people ride in the same car going in two different directions?

2 Corinthians 6:14-18, “Don’t become partners with those who reject God. How can you make a partnership out of right and wrong? That is not partnership; that’s war. Are light best friends with dark? Does Christ go strolling with the Devil? Do trust and mistrust hold hands? Who would think of setting up pagan idols in God’s holy Temple? But that is exactly what we are, each of us a temple in whom God lives. God Himself put it this way: “I’ll live in them, move into them; I’ll be their God and they’ll be my people. So, leave the corruption and compromise; leave it for good,” says God. “Don’t link up with those who will pollute you. I want you all for Myself. I’ll be a Father to you; you’ll be sons and daughters to Me.” The Word of the Master, God.” (MSG)

I reiterate, why would two people ride in the same car going in two different directions?

Like it or not, you must take time to re-exam your friendships. Are you traveling with the right people? Are you heading in the same direction? Do you share the same vision, purpose, aim, and goals? Because if not, you could be heading in a direction God never set as your destination! Or building from blueprints that have nothing to do with who you are to become! And what is the danger of that?

1 Corinthians 3:9-15, “For we are God’s fellow workers [His servants working together]; you are God’s cultivated field [His garden, His vineyard], God’s building. According to the [remarkable] grace of God which was given to me [to prepare me for my task], like a skillful master builder I laid a foundation, and now another is building on it. But each one must be careful how he builds on it, for no one can lay a foundation other than the one which is [already] laid, which is Jesus Christ. But if anyone builds on the foundation with gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, straw, each one’s work will be clearly shown [for what it is]; for the day [of judgment] will disclose it, because it is to be revealed with fire, and the fire will test the quality and character and worth of each person’s work.  If any person’s work which he has built [on this foundation, that is, any outcome of his effort] remains [and survives this test], he will receive a reward.  But if any person’s work is burned up [by the test], he will suffer the loss [of his reward]; yet he himself will be saved, but only as [one who has barely escaped] through fire.” (AMP)

Do you really want to take the risk of bad friendships?! Remember, you are not just working here, but one day there will be an inspection of your work. Do you really want to find out that after a lifetime of building for God, you were using the wrong blueprints all along? Listen: Whether it is marriage, business, or church, you need to make sure that the people you are traveling with are driving you towards your destiny and not away from it. You need people in your life who are working on the same building and driving in the same direction!

Your selection of friends, associates, romantic prospects may well be one of the most important choices you will ever make because you will probably end up on the same road as they do. If you are with people who are spiritually careless or just do not care, you will probably end up there, too. If you are with people who just simply settle for mediocrity as a Christian, you will live that grey life like they do. But if you relate to some people who are going in the “make a difference” direction, the “live to help other people” direction, the “live for Jesus” direction, chances are that is where you are going to end up – going in the direction where your life can mean the most and matter the most and count for something lasting.

You can ask any hitchhiker; it really does matter who you decide to travel with. You do not decide who you are going to go with based on how cool they are, or how well-connected they are, or how exciting their lifestyle looks – or even how they treat you. You ask that all-important, deciding question about who you are going to spend your time around, “Where are you headed?”

You only travel with someone who is going to a destination that you are not ever going to regret!

Now, something else to keep in mind is this. You can hold your sign up with your intended destination on it and have someone pull over and offer you a ride. However, sometimes they will say, “I’m only going as far as….so I can get you at least close to where you’re going.” NOPE! Do not You Dare Settle for Satisfactory! Do not You Dare Settle for Less! Know where you are heading in God, and only travel with those heading to that same destination! Far too many people have already settled for getting close, only to find out that they will spend the rest of their lives just like that…they got close… Not where they are supposed to be, but close; almost there; near; just about; within reach and yet…that is all they get is close to where they were destined to end up!

Know where God is sending you and do not settle for traveling with people who will only get you close. In the end, no one wants to hear God say, “you almost made it in”! No, you want Heaven to be your home, you do not want to find out that you can live somewhere near Heaven as a neighbor! NO! I want to make it all the way IN! And that is how you must think about your talents, gifts, skills, ministry, calling, purpose, and life! I do not want to get within reach only to let it slip through my fingers! And that is precisely what happens when you travel with people who are not going in your direction!

Therefore, this is your challenge, Re-Exam Your Friendships!

Make sure they are not just attached but assigned!

Some people are only around you to get your attention, not give your assistance. Make sure you are not traveling with people that cause you to break out a map and compass because nothing about the journey looks anything like where God told you to go.

I’ll close with our opening text Matthew 7:14-15, “Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad and easy to travel is the path that leads the way to destruction and eternal loss, and there are many who enter through it.  But small is the gate and narrow and difficult to travel is the path that leads the way to [everlasting] life, and there are few who find it.” (AMP)

When traveling this Christian life, you have a choice between the wide and narrow gate. When you choose to travel with ‘wide’ friends, you choose to go down a road that is indeed broad and easy (and of course that is appealing to many), but that path is also the way to destruction and eternal loss, and MANY are on it! That is the danger of having a crowd of friends all going in the wrong direction, because you choose to travel with them, you end up at the same destination of destruction and eternal loss. And surely you have not lived this long to miss Heaven with such a short trip! Saints, you do not need a carload of people! You need ‘narrow’ friends with a ‘narrow’ mindset. They are the ones that keep you focused and on the right path because they know just how difficult traveling down the journey can be, especially with so many temptation signs trying to entice you to take a detour from destiny. But ‘narrow’ friends remind you of your everlasting life that you cannot afford to lose! And how many ‘narrow’ friends do you need? The bible reads, “…there are FEW who find it.” And that is all you need is a few ‘narrow’ focused friends who refuse to get distracted and thrown off track, so they keep you just as focused! They are the ones that remind you what God told you to do and where God told you to go. They do not go astray, and they do not let you go astray either. ‘Narrow’ friends keep you responsible and accountable. They are concerned about your salvation remaining intact. They are concerned that you are using the gifts God gave you the way God told you. They are concerned that you take no risks that cost you your life, calling, family, or purpose in God.

There will always be MANY that will want to lead you down the WIDE road, but if you want to see Jesus in peace; follow the FEW who are focused on staying safe on the NARROW road!

People of God, think twice before accepting a friendship ride! You do not want to travel with anyone who will be detrimental to your destination here on earth or thereafter!

“Keep your head and your heart going in the right direction, and you will not have to worry about your feet.” (Myles Munroe)

“If you don’t change the direction you are going, then you’re likely to end up where you’re heading.” (John C. Maxwell)

“It’s better to go slowly in the right direction than go speeding off in the wrong direction.” (Simon Sinek)

“Far too many people spend a lifetime headed in the wrong direction. They go not only from the cradle to the cubicle, but then to the casket, without uncovering their greatest talents and potential.” (Tom Roth)

“Rowing harder doesn’t help if the boat is headed in the wrong direction.” (Kenichi Ohmae)

“If you think down, you will go down. If you think up, you will go up. You’ll always travel in the direction of your thinking.” (T.D. Jakes)

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 Blessings

J.P. Olson

www.thewordwithjpolson.org

You Cannot Walk in the Promises of God on the Feet of Unsteady, Unstable, Wavering Faith! This Year Fresh Focus, Fresh Faith, Fresh Initiative! This Year Make a Move and Do So on Purpose and With Purpose! You Never Know Who You Will Inspire.

 

Proverbs 6:6-11, “You lazy fool, look at an ant. Watch it closely; let it teach you a thing or two. NOBODY HAS TO TELL IT WHAT TO DO. All summer it stores up food; at harvest it stockpiles provisions. SO HOW LONG ARE YOU GOING TO LAZE AROUND DOING NOTHING? How long before you get out of bed? A nap here, a nap there, a day off here, a day off there, sit back, take it easy—do you know what comes next? Just this: You can look forward to a dirt-poor life, poverty your permanent houseguest.” (MSG)

What can an ant teach me?” I hear you ask. You would be surprised.

Ants, fall into the successful category and can teach us how they succeed time and time again.

1. Ants are driven by purpose

By purpose, I mean having a clear long-term objective or goal which shapes everything you do. For example, one ant’s sole job description is to find food for the colony. This is his purpose, and all that he inputs this time and energy into, and so it compounds his chances of success.

2. Ant’s work as a team

Ants are team workers and work together to achieve something great. Likewise, for you to achieve something substantial in life, you must align yourself with others who can help propel you to another level.

3. Ants have time to rest and a time to work

Ants must work with the natural seasons. So, in summer they gather their food and in winter they hibernate to conserve energy because of the lack of food. You need to know when to stop.

Burnout is when you have come to the end of yourself and suddenly give up and withdraw from all kinds of work. You have simply had enough. For this not to happen you need to schedule periods of rest, especially after the completion of a major project.

4. Ants think big

Now ants can seem like one of the most insignificant insects on the planet because of their size. But the colonies they build and the contribution to their society are extremely significant and great.

What big dreams do you have for your future? Pursue those. No matter how small you think you are, you should always pursue something bigger than yourself.

5. Ants prepare ahead of time

Ants prepare their food in Summer because they know that there will be a time when there will be no food to find in wintertime. So, they are constantly preparing for a season that is yet to come upon them. It has a stark contrast with human behavior. When we should be studying, we are watching TV and when we should be working, we are on Facebook communicating with friends. Your priorities can sometimes be driven by what you feel like doing and not by what the most important thing to do is.

The only way you can maximize any given moment is by preparing for it. If you think ahead to that meeting, conference, or event and work backward, you will then be able to prepare adequately.

6. Ants carry workloads they can handle

Although they are small, ants can handle up to one hundred times their weight. They know their limitations. All too often we say ‘yes’ to things that we can’t do and take on responsibilities that we struggle to fulfill. All we need to do is know our boundaries and never venture beyond that point.

7. Ants serve one another

Living for just yourself is a lonely existence. Serving people goes that one step further and asks, ‘what can I do for you?’ You start to live beyond yourself and purposefully contribute positively to others.

When few ants in a colony are infected by a fungal disease, they spread the disease throughout the colony, by licking it off one another, with each ant receiving as much of the disease that their individual immune system can fight off effectively.

Far too many of us are sitting around wasting time waiting for someone to come along and tell us what to do next!

Whatever We Do—Or Neglect to Do For That Matter—Always Catches Up With Us Eventually! 1 Corinthians 3:9-15, “Or, to put it another way, you are God’s house. Using the gift God gave me as a good architect, I designed blueprints; Apollos is putting up the walls. Let each carpenter who comes on the job take care to build on the foundation! Remember, there is only one foundation, the one already laid: Jesus Christ. Take particular care in picking out your building materials. Eventually, there is going to be an inspection. If you use cheap or inferior materials, you will be found out. The inspection will be thorough and rigorous. You will not get by with a thing. If your work passes inspection, fine; if it does not, your part of the building will be torn out and started over. But you won’t be torn out; you’ll survive—but just barely.” (MSG)

I reiterate we are accountable for what we DO and for what we leave UNDONE! Saint’s, God’s Inspection of the Work You have Done, or Left Undone, is Coming and You WANT to Pass His Test! Therefore, No More Hesitation, Laziness, or Procrastination, Get Your Works in Order TODAY! Luke 9:62, “Jesus said, “No procrastination. No backward looks. You cannot put God’s kingdom off till tomorrow. Seize the day.” (MSG)

Those who procrastinate end up like the man in playwright James Albury’s verse: “He slept beneath the moon, he baked beneath the sun. He lived a life of going-to-do; and died with nothing done.” Do not let this be descriptive of your life and legacy!

Paul writes: “…God has given us different gifts for doing certain things well…” (Romans 12:6 NLT). 

Knowing your ability is one of the keys to understanding life’s assignment. However, you can only plan and prepare for so long, EVENTUALLY, YOU’VE GOT TO TAKE SOME ACTION, TAKE SOME INITIATIVE AND BECOME WHAT YOU’VE BEEN MADE TO BE!

Notice 2 things about taking the Initiative:

1…TAKING INITIATIVE CLOSES THE DOOR TO FEAR: Although none of us wants to admit it, we all have fears. The question is, are we going to control them or allow them to control us? Norman Vincent Peale said: “Action is a great restorer and builder of confidence. Inaction is not only the result but the cause of fear. Perhaps the action you take will be successful; perhaps different actions or adjustments will have to follow. But any action is better than no action at all.” To have any chance at getting what we desire, we need to work for it. Nothing is as discouraging or draining as hanging on to an Uncompleted Task. The longer we let things slide, the harder they become. And the hardest work is often the accumulation of many easy things that should have been done yesterday, last week, or last month! So how do you get rid of a difficult task? JUST DO IT! Stop talking about it and become it! Turn the blueprint into a building! It is time you Step out of Fear and Walk by Faith! Truth is, once you become engulfed in doing it instead of talking about it, you will find yourself too busy to focus on fear! But standing still and just looking at it will always give you the anxiety that it cannot be accomplished! So today, determine to send your resume in for that job. So, what you do not qualify, they may be looking for some new blood to train and shake up the office. After all, what is the worst that could happen, they tell you no!? Surely, that will not stop you from breathing and continuing with life. Listen: If you have got a pulse, you have got a purpose, so get to producing it! You do know that you do not have forever, right?! So, go back to school, learn to drive, apply for the job, go after the grant, start the business, move out of state, etc.…whatever you plan to do, know that you only have a limited time on earth to get it done, so start Today, since Yesterday is Gone, and Tomorrow is NEVER Guaranteed to Come!

2…TAKING THE INITIATIVE OPENS THE DOOR TO OPPORTUNITY: People who take the initiative and work hard may succeed or fail. But anyone who does not take initiative is Guaranteed to Fail! So, today ask God, “Is there a decision I should be making? Is there a problem I should be solving? Is there a project I should be starting? Is there a goal I should be setting or striving toward? Is there an opportunity I should be seizing?” Solomon writes, “If you wait for perfect conditions, you will never get anything done.” (Ecclesiastes 11:4 TLB). It is better to be 80% sure, and start than to wait until you are 100% sure, because by then the opportunity may have passed you by, never to return. So today, DETERMINE TO TAKE SOME INITIATIVE! Remember This: Doors Do not Stay Open Indefinitely! Think about it, when you come home, you enter the door and close it behind you! You do not leave the door open indefinitely! Likewise, supermarket doors close, business doors close, school doors close, office doors close, bank doors close, restaurant doors close, Macy’s, Nordstrom’s, Lord & Taylor, Payless, and even most Laundromats and 99 cent stores all close! No Door Stays Open Indefinitely! So, while you have the opportunity of an open door, Walk Through It Before It Closes…For Good! That position may not be available tomorrow; that grant and scholarship may not be offered next year; that mortgage and dealership flyer may not come in the mail again; the chance to travel may not happen again! Write that book on that topic before someone else does; record that song today; even go out on a limb and tell that person how you really feel about them, today! Are you getting this? Open doors of opportunity do not stay open indefinitely! So, find your courage, take heart, and go for it! Take Initiative Now!

The Bible says this: “…Steep yourself in God-reality, GOD-INITIATIVE, God-provisions. You will find all your everyday human concerns will be met. Do not be afraid of missing out. You are my dearest friends! The Father wants to give you the very kingdom itself.” (Luke 12:29-32 MSG). However, please understand that you can only pray, plan, and prepare for so long, EVENTUALLY, YOU HAVE TO STEP OUT IN FAITH AND ACT!

You Cannot Walk in the Promises of God on the Feet of Unsteady, Unstable, Wavering Faith!

God Showed Joseph Eleven Stars, Moon & The Sun Bowing Down Before Him, But Never Showed Him the Pit & The Prison. God Promised the Israelites The Land of Milk & Honey but Never Told Them About the Desert Experience. God Will Show You the End from The Beginning but Will Never Show You the Process to Your Destination. So, Whatever You Are dealing With, Stay Focused Your Destination Is Far More Important Than What You Are Going Through.

May you no longer miss the fruits of divine connections because of insecurities.

So TODAY, DETERMINE TO WALK BY CONFIDENT FAITH AND PUT YOUR FOOT ON IT! WHY? BECAUSE THE WORD OF GOD PROMISED: “That’s right. If you diligently keep all this commandment that I command you to obey—love God, your God, do what he tells you, stick close to him—God on his part will drive out all these nations that stand in your way. Yes, he will drive out nations much bigger and stronger than you. EVERY SQUARE INCH ON WHICH YOU PLACE YOUR FOOT WILL BE YOURS. Your borders will stretch from the wilderness to the mountains of Lebanon, from the Euphrates River to the Mediterranean Sea. No one will be able to stand in your way. Everywhere you go, God-sent fear and trembling will precede you, JUST AS HE PROMISED.” (Deuteronomy 11:22-25 MSG).

SO PUT YOUR FOOT ON IT AND KEEP WALKING BY FAITH! TAKE SOME INITIATIVE, FOR THE PROMISE IS ALREADY YOURS!

Another reason we never get started is that we focus on tomorrow INSTEAD OF TODAY! But the only time over which you have any control is the present. James writes: “Look here, you people who say, ‘tomorrow we are going to a certain town…We will do business there and make a profit.’ How do you know what will happen tomorrow? For your life is like the morning fog—it is here a little while, then it’s gone.” (James 4:13-14 NLT).

The idea of tomorrow can be very seductive, BUT THE PROMISE IT HOLDS IS OFTEN FALSE AND UNFLATTERING! SO, NO MORE PROCRASTINATION ABOUT TOMORROW, TODAY TAKE SOME INITIATIVE!

One of the last obstacles between Israel and the Promised Land was the River Jordan. But God had a plan. He told the priests carrying the Ark that when they stepped in the river, the waters would rollback.

There are 2 important lessons here for you:

1…NOTHING HAPPENS UNTIL YOU QUIT HOLDING BACK: You cannot wait for everything to be perfect! You cannot wait until all your fears subside! You must take the initiative now! Overcomers understand that Momentum is your friend! As soon as you start moving forward, certain things become clearer and easier. And when the momentum gets strong enough, many of the problems take care of themselves. Maybe you have heard the story of a tourist in a small town who asked an old man, “Can you tell me something this town is noted for?” After a moment’s hesitation he replied, “Well, you can start here and go anywhere in the world you want.” That is true of you too. Where you finish in life is not determined so much by where you start, AS BY WHETHER YOU START! If you are willing to get started, there is no telling just how far you will go! SO, STOP HOLDING BACK AND TAKE SOME INITIATIVE! You Can Start Right Here and Go Anywhere! The priests had to carry the Ark and step into the water! In other words, They Had to Move Forward to Attain the Promise! YOU HAVE TO DO LIKEWISE! SO, PICK YOURSELF UP AND GET TO STEPPING! YOUR PROMISE IS WAITING FOR YOU!

2…YOU MUST BE WILLING TO PERSEVERE: The Jordan River did not dry up the moment the priest stepped into it. God dried it up 26 MILES UPSTREAM, so they had to wait till all that water passed by (See Joshua 3:14-17). Why did God do it that way? Because He sees the big picture! God planned an opening wide enough for not just one or two, but for MORE THAN A MILLION PEOPLE TO CROSS! So, trust God, and take the initiative! Just by your obedience to God and trust in Him, you never know the opening your initiative has set for many others to walk through as well! Your Perseverance Is Not Just for You! So, take some initiative, and get to stepping, there is a multitude waiting on you to make a move!

 TODAY, DETERMINE TO TAKE SOME INITIATIVE AND GET MOVING!

The word ‘initiative’ is defined as: “the ability to act independently and with a fresh approach; the power or opportunity to act before others do; a new development or fresh approach to a problem; to do something without being prompted by others.” Sounds a lot like the ants do not you think. “You lazy fool, look at an ant. Watch it closely; let it teach you a thing or two. NOBODY HAS TO TELL IT WHAT TO DO…” (MSG) This year is the year where you start to walk by faith. This is the year where you start to focus on fulfilling your vision. It is not the year that you repeat past failed behaviors of waiting around to see what someone else is going to do first. No! This Year Make a Move and Do So on Purpose and With Purpose! You Never Know Who You Will Inspire by Your Initiative to Do the Same Thing!

Another key to hold onto is that initiative is developed by the independent act of approaching something in a fresh way. This means, while you are sitting here waiting for someone to tell you what they have always done, God is waiting for you to use your brain and think of what has not been done already! Take a Fresh Approach! We need no more clones in the church. Ask God to give you initiative that keeps its’ eyes on the future, not on the past; eyes to see what can be done, not on what has already been done. This Year Fresh Focus, Fresh Faith, Fresh Initiative!

Let us Go! Here are a few quotes I have shared in my reading for today.

 “Unless you try to do something beyond what you have already mastered, you will never grow.” (Ralph Waldo Emerson)

“A lot of people never use their initiative, because no one told them to.” (Banksy)

“Start where you are. Use what you have. Do what you can.” (Arthur Ashe)

“If opportunity doesn’t knock, build a door.” (Milton Bene)

“Prolonged idleness paralyzes initiative.” (Author Unknown)

“It doesn’t matter if a million people tell you what you can’t do, or if ten million tell you no. If you get one yes from God, that’s all you need.” (Tyler Perry)

You Cannot Walk in the Promises of God on the Feet of Unsteady, Unstable, Wavering Faith! This Year Fresh Focus, Fresh Faith, Fresh Initiative! This Year Make a Move and Do So on Purpose and With Purpose! You Never Know Who You Will Inspire by Your Initiative to Do the Same Thing!

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 Blessings

J.P. Olson

www.thewordwithjpolson.org