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.
This Season Fresh Focus, Fresh Faith, Fresh Initiative! This Season 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!
“It’s Who You Are And The Way You Live That Count Before God. See, Sometimes We Give The Lord What Is Easy For Us To Give Him, But The King Deserves Our Best. People Of God, Whatever We Do—Or Neglect To Do For That Matter—Always Catches Up With Us Eventually!
I reiterate, we are accountable for what we DO and for what we leave UNDONE! Family, 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).
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 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 a 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 is 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 in 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 which is yet to come upon them. It has a stark contrast with human behavior. When you should be studying, you are watching TV and when you should be working, you 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 backwards, 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 fulfil. 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 a 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!
The story’s told of a man who was employed by a duke and duchess. One day he was called in to speak to his employer. “James, how long have you been with us?” said the Duchess. “About 30 years, Your Grace,” he replied. “As I recall you were employed to look after the dog,” she said. “Yes, Your Grace.” “James, that dog died 27 years ago,” said the Duchess. “Yes, Your Grace,” said James, “I was waiting for you to tell me what you would like for me to do next.”
As comical as it sounds, many of us are just like James! 10 years later and we are still waiting to be told what to do next. In ministry 15 years and still waiting to be told what to do next. What is the problem? A LACK OF INITIATIVE! Why do we fail to take the initiative? BECAUSE WE DON’T REALIZE THE HEAVY CONSEQUENCES OF OUR INACTION! Solomon writes in our text from: 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 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)
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 the 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!
If it is one thing that bothers me sometimes, is having asked someone to do something, and they do it, but do it, half-heartedly. The term “half-hearted” is defined as “without enthusiasm or determination; feeling or showing of little interest; to give lukewarm support to.” And what does God think about “lukewarm people “? Revelation 3:15-17, ‘I know your deeds, that you are neither cold (invigorating, refreshing) nor hot (healing, therapeutic); I wish that you were cold or hot. So, because you are lukewarm (SPIRITUALLY USELESS), and neither hot nor cold, I will vomit you out of My mouth [rejecting you with disgust]. Because you say, “I am rich, and have prospered and grown wealthy, and have need of nothing,” and you do not know that you are wretched and miserable and poor and blind and naked [without hope and in great need],”
So, do you still want to serve God halfheartedly and lukewarm?
Let us look at John 4:24 in a few translations:
“God is Spirit, and those who worship God MUST be led by the Spirit to worship him according to the truth.” (CEV) – The word “MUST” is defined as “to be obligated to; should; expressing insistence on something that should not be overlooked or missed.”
In essence, in our service, no matter what the form, when it is to God, it is a necessity to have it done wholeheartedly in the Spirit, something that should not be overlooked or missed because it is our basic requirement. God has always given us His absolute best, in fact He gave us His Heart (His Son, His Sons Blood, His Sons Life) so, how do we dare serve Him halfheartedly?
Therefore, we need to evaluate the work we are doing for the Lord. We need to pay attention that we are giving Him our all and our best because the day is coming when we will be tested and graded, and unlike school when you get a failing or passing grade, this grade affects you eternally. There is no make-up, it goes through the fire, and either it survives or burns, sounds a lot like our souls. Which is why this is so vital that we handle this appropriately, carefully, and cautiously.
“It’s Who You Are and The Way You Live That Count Before God. Your worship must engage your spirit in the pursuit of truth. That is the kind of people the Father is out looking for: those who are simply and honest about themselves before Him in their worship. God is sheer being itself—Spirit. Those who worship him must do it out of their very being, their spirits, their true selves, in adoration.” (John 4:23-24 MSG) Nothing about that sounds halfhearted!
There is an interesting story that is told about Queen Victoria. She loved being able to go out and be by herself, without being recognized, so she could mingle with ordinary people. And to keep from being noticed, the Queen would “dress down.” On one of her walks, it began to rain, so she knocked on the door of this cottage and asked to borrow an umbrella. Well, not recognizing the Queen, the elderly woman who answered the door lent her a beat-up umbrella, instead of her best umbrella. She did that because she was not sure she would ever see the umbrella again of course. Well Queen Victoria left thanking the woman and promising to return the umbrella. The next day a royal messenger returned the lady’s umbrella. And he said to the woman, “The Queen asked me to return your umbrella.” The elderly woman was heard to say, “Oh, if I had only known who it was, I would have given her my best. “
See, Sometimes We Give The Lord What Is Easy For Us To Give Him, But The King Deserves Our Best. Think about it: No one in their right mind would serve an earthly king dinner on paper plates, plastic silverware, bowls, cups, and discount store napkins! Why not? Because that is not what you serve as a king! And certainly, our KING is deserving of much better than any earthly king! Yet, we will not serve an earthly king on paper and plastic, but our KING we serve with watered down worship; procrastinated praise; and perfunctory prayers! We bypass bible study, and we are so busy checking messages on our phones that we pay little or no attention to the Message coming through the microphone in the sanctuary! We sing songs with no emotions, and dance for show. How does God get any honor out of any of that? But we are first to cry out “He’s Our King of Kings!” Well, if He truly is, then serve Him as a King should be served!
Blessings
J.P. Olson
www.journeyintotheword.com
Join Journey Into The Word each Sunday morning at 5:30 AM CST & 6:30 AM EST on The Now Network http://www.theNOWnetwork.org
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