get help.
Nehemiah 6:16 says "When all our enemies heard of it (the completion of the wall), and all the nations surrounding us saw it, they lost their confidence; for they recognized that this work had been accomplished with the help of our God."
The Bible makes it clear in several passages that through the power of the Holy Spirit and "with the help of our God" we can accomplish more than we could otherwise.
The building of the walls in Nehemiah was an act of God and it was recognizable to others. Think about your work - would others recognize God's hand in it?
In your daily life, do you operate within your own capacity or do you extend your potential by humbling yourself, yielding to him, and allowing him to do more, through you?
If you feel that God has called you to the life/work/task/business/ministry that you are in, why not expect him to be faithful to his promises in scripture and help you fulfill the mission he's commissioned you to? When you feel overwhelmed, let that be a signal to you to stop what you are doing and spend 30 seconds asking God if you should be doing that thing and if so, for the Spirit's help to accomplish it.
Through humility, surrender and dependence on the God, you'll receive the help you need to achieve much more than you ever could on your own strength.
A friend and I talked about this and drew this diagram to help demonstrate the difference of a life lived on God's capacity versus our own.
We depict here that as we become less/humble ourselves, he does more and increases our capacity to fulfill the call on our lives.
It's overly simplified, but the visual helps me remember that tireless hours of work don't even compare to minutes yielded to God Almighty, the Creator of all things.
(PS - Sorry I've been a total failure and haven't posted in 6 weeks...)
the multiplication expectation
What has God given you?
Time, talents, possessions, relationships, influence, passions... ?
Are you multiplying it or burying it?
Matthew 25:16
He who had received the five talents went at once and traded with them, and he made five talents more.
Matthew 25:18
But he who had received the one talent went and dug in the ground and hid his master's money.
Are you asking for more investment from God without being faithful with what He's already given you?
Matthew 25:20
... His master said to him, 'Well done, good and faithful servant. You have been faithful over a little; I will set you over much...
You've been trusted with gifts from God and they come with a responsibility. You've been blessed to be a blessing. Given some, so you can give more.
When you meet your heavenly Father and he asks you "What have you done with what I have given you?" how will you respond?
Are you investing what he's giving you, or are you believing lies from the enemy that you don't have anything to offer? Are you multiplying your talents or burying them with doubt, insecurity, or fear?
You have a responsibility to invest because he has an expectation of return...
But, he has given you everything you need to fulfill the expectation he has for your life.
His name is Jesus.
Philippians 4:13
I can do all things through him who strengthens me.
timing is everything
They say it can take years for a blogger to settle into their "voice" and I realize that I am certainly still searching for mine.
Last week I posted a motivational type post about leadership and breaking rules in my leaders are heretical post.
This Tuesday I posted a more spiritual, very different, poetic post titled Spirit rhythm.
And now, today's post includes a funny YouTube video.
timing is everything
Please bear with me as I attempt to find my "voice" here on kingdom commerce. And any feedback to help me know what resonates with you, is greatly appreciated. Now, back to the post at hand...
Timing is everything.
Results can vary dramatically due to timing.
If your manager has just finished a conversation with someone about simplifying, cutting costs, and focus, and you approach her about a new project that you've been dreaming up for months, you'll likely leave heartbroken.
An announcement of a new product, device, or technology will elicit a very different response the day before your competition releases their version, opposed to the day following their announcement.
A message spoken at church is received entirely differently by the man who just watched his wife walk out on him or by the woman who lost her job the day before.
Crossing a busy street can be two very different experiences only seconds apart from each other depending on which stoplights are red and which are green.
And finally, a flash mobber in-sync is a part of something fantastic, but even a few seconds too early and well... watch and see...
A well timed flash mob, word of encouragement, email, presentation, product, or conversation can be powerful. But unfortunately, poor timing can single handedly ruin an otherwise brilliant act. And as you can see from the video, the results can be humiliating.
So, what's the solution? As a Christian, it's discernment and staying in Spirit rhythm.
Through prayer we can be aligned with God's timing, who not only knows the future but has already been there. By waiting on the Lord and trusting his timing, we can elevate ourselves above our own personal circumstances and worldview and have a broader perspective.
Be aware of your tendencies and balance them. I have a tendency to want to get there first and always like to run out ahead of myself; my thoughts are focused on the future and dreaming about what could be.
Others have the opposite instinct - they keep their head down, set on the work at hand and neglect to plan or prepare for the future at all.
Neither is better than the other, both types of people must learn to wait on God's timing and then confidently step out in obedience and faith when the light turns from red to green.
Spirit rhythm
Spirit rhythm is God's cadence.
It's a beat we can choose to listen for; a pattern we can choose to follow.
It's a consistent, subtle, whispered, pulse... easy to ignore.
...
Spirit rhythm is Christ's song.
It's the voice that led him to a cross; a melody he chose to obey.
It was a painful, loving, dying, hymn. A song that tore the veil.
Spirit rhythm is the Holy Spirit's timing in our lives...
A never-ceasing, always listening, prayer; a surrendered dependance on Him.
It's an in-step, tuned-in, fruit-filled, life, led by the Spirit.
In daily decisions, in business, in leadership, in marriage, in everything - stop and listen for the rhythm.
It's God's good, pleasing, and perfect will for your life.
Galatians 5:25
If we live by the Spirit, let us also walk by the Spirit.
1 Thessalonians 5:16-19
16 Rejoice always,17 pray without ceasing,18 give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.19 Do not quench the Spirit.
Romans 12:1-2
1 Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God's mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship.2 Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.
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