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!
Blessings
J.P. Olson
www.thewordwithjpolson.org
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