Be Silent Be Still
Maybe you’ve noticed I have not posted in nearly a week. I have been trying to slow down and listen. Sometimes we think we have something important to say but it is only important to us because we like to hear ourselves. I have slowed down to listen to God and to others. There are seasons that you find yourself running hard and fast but make no time to hear from others and most importantly from God. It’s not always about what your doing but it’s about who are you becoming. Here are a couple things that I feel at liberty to share that I am learning from others and God.
- We have to go back to the foot of the cross and the empty tomb to hear God speak sometimes.
- The weakest area in your personal life will be the weakest area in your public ministry.
- A situation that seems impossible with human resources is simply an opportunity for God.
- Don’t let your estimate of what can’t be done keep you from taking on a task that can be done through God.
- Following Jesus means more than just acknowledging Him as Savior. We must leave our past behind and commit our future to Him.
- Everyone loves progress not everyone loves sacrifice.
- People will only follow to the depth that you are personally willing to sacrifice.
- Our tendency is to pray for miracles. But in most situations, it is more appropriate to pray for opportunities.
What is God saying to you?
Goals Suck
Goals suck, but they are crucial to achieve success in life. They suck because you actually have to do something about it if you set a goal, at least I feel like I do. I continue to change my goals, redefine my goals and implement new goals as I grow and mature. What my goals were 5 years ago verses 1 year ago are completely different than they are even now. I’m amazed at what I felt was important enough to make a goal out of even a year ago. Here are just a few of my goals that I am working on:
- Coaching 3 guys who have enormous potential.
- Read 40 books this year, I have finished 22 so far so this may be a “redefine” goal.
- Practice the spiritual discipline of silence. Learn from everybody no matter their age.
- Continue to develop as leader, studying, preparing, reading and listening. Podcasts, blogs, sermons & interviews.
- Network, Network and Network some more. Best way to learn is from the mistakes of others.
I left off some personal goals and family goals but what are some of your goals? What motivates you? Are you preparing to become who God has made you to be? If so, what steps are you taking?
Just Shut Up
I had a chance to talk to a very smart person yesterday who always seems to have a great handle on life even if they stumble through the journey just like me. This person talked about the spiritual discipline of silence. When I first heard that I honestly thought, “oh yeah, I remember that.” In college I took the time to learn a lot of different spiritual disciplines. Not just the spiritual disciplines of: reading the Bible, prayer, tithing and serving but the spiritual disciplines of fasting, responsive reading and silence. There are so many of them and many of them are revealed to us based on where we are in our journey with Christ. I had forgotten about the spiritual discipline of silence.
It’s the idea to listen to others without getting attacking, defensive or having any type of personal agenda. This is a huge one in leadership, one that I know I need to get much better at.
What I appreciate about this person is even though they don’t have it figured out they still shared their journey. Never once was I told that I should practice this discipline, but their excitement was compelling to me. I appreciate this friend and the truth that they speak into my life.
Do you have people around you that challenge you with lifestyle and not just their words? Do you have people who care enough about you to share their journey with you so you can grow as a result of it?
