Spiritual – Page 21 – Vision Multiplier International, LLC

Goodness and Mercy

For a couple of days, I have been reading on the goodness of God and his mercy.

The first passage just resonated with me because of the simplicity of the truth – “the earth is full of the goodness of the Lord”.

There are images of strife, conflict and moral decay that seems to be on every hand. These are symptoms of what man, who chooses not to recognize God as their shepherd and when left to their own devices, creates.

The truth is that the earth is STILL full of the goodness of the Lord.

Next I reflected on Psalm 23 where it starts out stating that the “Lord is my shepherd and I shall not want”and ends with the passage below-“only goodness, mercy and unfailing love will follow me all the days of my life…”

Amen

As leaders, we are closing out the first quarter of this year. We may not have yet achieved what we had planned.

Fret not, press forward toward your high calling and know that Gods goodness and mercy is not in short supply. Stay the course.

Be encouraged.

Be blessed.

Be a blessing.

“For the word of the Lord is right; and all his works are done in truth. He loveth righteousness and judgment: the earth is full of the goodness of the Lord.”

Psalm 33:4-5 KJV

https://bible.com/bible/1/psa.33.4-5.KJV

“Surely or only goodness, mercy, and unfailing love shall follow me all the days of my life, and through the length of my days the house of the Lord [and His presence] shall be my dwelling place.”

Psalm 23:6 AMPC

https://bible.com/bible/8/psa.23.6.AMPC

Be it unto me

The power of agreement.

I was reading this passage and was moved by a couple thoughts as…

There are some passages that are so simple yet are so profound that you can spend a lifetime learning about and growing into until the Word becomes you.

That is what I feel when I read the Word that says that with God nothing shall be impossible.

Nothing.

That is almost hard to comprehend as on a daily basis, we may hear it be told that you “can’t” do this or that “won’t” work or that “no one has ever done this before” or whatever phrase that can and is a limiting belief- and contrary to the truth!

For with God nothing shall be impossible.

I was also amazed at the simplicity of agreement that came from Mary with her saying “be it unto me according to your word”. Period

Be it unto me that:

⁃ I am the head and not the tail

⁃ I am healed of all manner of sickness and disease

⁃ My latter days shall be greater than the former

⁃ You delight in the prosperity of your saints

⁃ Your kingdom come and that thy will be done

⁃ You have assigned angels to me and one angel can put thousands to flight

⁃ That you would lead me and guide me into all truth

⁃ That you will order my steps in your word

⁃ I will be fruitful, multiply, have dominion and subdue

⁃ That I am blessed in the city, blessed in the field and that everything that I put my hand to will prosper

⁃ That if I lack wisdom that I just need to ask

⁃ That now there is no condemnation

⁃ That I shall have faith to decree a thing and it shall be established

⁃ That I am yours and beautifully and wonderfully made

⁃ I have all sufficiency in all things

Be encouraged.

Be blessed

Be a blessing!

“For with God nothing shall be impossible. And Mary said, Behold the handmaid of the Lord; be it unto me according to thy word. And the angel departed from her.”

Luke 1:37-38 KJV

https://bible.com/bible/1/luk.1.37-38.KJV

Be not Dismayed by Unbelief

The road to revelation even for the inner circle takes time.

When I was reading this passage, I was simply amazed at the reactions of those that were closest to Jesus but the more I pondered the situation it really provided a principle that is worth noting.

We see people who spent significant amounts of time with Jesus simply amazed and perplexed when the vision he talked about over the years truly materialized.

A few remembered, were excited, and tried to share the good news with the inner circle; but to my amazement, the inner circle did not believe what they heard.

This is not a new phenomenon but an example and reminder that as leaders, we often wonder whether our vision or message is resonating with the masses; however, in reality, it may not even be fully appreciated or internalized by those that are closest to us.

We can cast the vision, we can execute the vision, we can engage our inner circle, we can have them by our sides when we have critical meetings but at the end of the day, those closest to us will get a revelation at different times- if ever.

Wow.

Our jobs as leaders is to be consistent in performing the tasks and doing the necessary work while praying for those inside our inner circle that our vision moves from head knowledge to capturing their hearts. This is a process and a journey.

Stay committed to your divine vision.

Stay the course in executing your plan.

Communicate the vision and plan early and often.

Love the people where they are and realize that they are each walking down their personal revelation journey.

“And they remembered His words. And having returned from the tomb, they reported all these things [taken together] to the eleven apostles and to all the rest.

Now it was Mary Magdalene and Joanna and Mary the mother of James, and the other women with them, who reported these things to the apostles.

But these reports seemed to the men an idle tale (madness, feigned things, nonsense), and they did not believe the women.”

Luke 24:8-11 AMPC

https://bible.com/bible/8/luk.24.8-11.AMPC

Peace be unto you

This morning I just felt a need to search and read about peace and to share a word of encouragement.

Yes it is true that there are troubles that seem ever present and multitudinous but I am reminded that God is all knowing and that he was here from the beginning.

I am also reminded that all things are working together for our good because we love him and are called according to his purpose.

It is my prayer that we as leaders will not let our hearts be troubled in this season and that we will have the peace of God which passeth all understanding, and keeps are hearts and minds through Christ Jesus; so that we can help those to whom we are assigned to help them find their own place of peace in Christ.

Be strong in the Lord and the Power of his might.

Be encouraged.

Be blessed.

Be a blessing!

“IN THE beginning [before all time] was the Word (Christ), and the Word was with God, and the Word was God Himself. [Isa. 9:6.] He was present originally with God. All things were made and came into existence through Him; and without Him was not even one thing made that has come into being.”

John 1:1-3 AMPC

https://bible.com/bible/8/jhn.1.1-3.AMPC

“The Lord bless you and watch, guard, and keep you; The Lord make His face to shine upon and enlighten you and be gracious (kind, merciful, and giving favor) to you; The Lord lift up His [approving] countenance upon you and give you peace (tranquility of heart and life continually). And they shall put My name upon the Israelites, and I will bless them.”

Numbers 6:24-27 AMPC

https://bible.com/bible/8/num.6.25-27.AMPC

Even the strong need support

These are the times as leaders that we need to be open to receiving support so that our faith fails not.

When I read this passage this morning I was moved by the thought of the pain that was being experienced by Jesus.

I was amazed at how the strongest person to ever walk the earth just struggled with agony to the point he needed strength and support to achieve his devine purpose.

There are and will be times as leaders that we are placed in a devinely appointed assignment to fix.

The personal consequences will never be at the same level as those Jesus faced but rest assured- our outcomes will be consequential.

Our situation may seem impossible and one we have been battling to understand, to discern a plan and path forward, and to execute that plan against unheard of resistance.

We may even be weary in our faith and all we have left is the promise from God.

These are the times as leaders that we need to be open to receiving support so that our faith fails not.

Accepting help is not a sign of weakness but I believe that this example was provided as revelation and reassurance that even the strongest among us need help and support.

Be blessed!

Be encouraged!

“Saying, Father, if You are willing, remove this cup from Me; yet not My will, but [always] Yours be done. And there appeared to Him an angel from heaven, strengthening Him in spirit. And being in an agony [of mind], He prayed [all the] more earnestly and intently, and His sweat became like great clots of blood dropping down upon the ground.”

Luke 22:42-44 AMPC

https://bible.com/bible/8/luk.22.42-44.AMPC

The Seeds of Service

Leaders are responsible for managing the atmosphere and “managing out” any barriers to peace and unity.

As I was reading this morning, I was drawn to the passage concerning the hearts of the leader and how we can get distracted by titles and positioning to the point where strife is ever present.

This can be in a home, in a community, in a business, in a family to the point where gods glory can not prevail.

As leaders, when we see strife, we need to:

⁃ Recognize it.

⁃ Rebuke it.

⁃ Have the courage to humble ourselves and focus our efforts on sowing the seeds of service to others.

So simple but so true as we are responsible for managing the atmosphere and “managing out” any barriers to peace and unity.

Be blessed!

Be a blessing!

“Now an eager contention arose among them [as to] which of them was considered and reputed to be the greatest. But Jesus said to them, The kings of the Gentiles are deified by them and exercise Lordship [ruling as emperor-gods] over them; and those in authority over them are called benefactors and well-doers. But this is not to be so with you; on the contrary, let him who is the greatest among you become like the youngest, and him who is the chief and leader like one who serves.”

Luke 22:24-26 AMPC

https://bible.com/bible/8/luk.22.24-26.AMPC

The Reward for Results

There are many that will see your successes and realize that there is something about you.

I was reminded in reading this passage that not everyone has honorable intentions especially when we the leaders begin to produce results.

There are many that will see your successes and realize that there is something about you that is different: real and expansive in impact.

Some will support your devine purpose and others will resist for a variety of reasons – one being that your success and authentic leadership will reveal their insecurities or the shallowness of their intentions.

Some may feel threatened that all they have built is at risk because the light of glory has arrived.

When these moments come, we as leaders need to be prepared to act and to be prepared to respond by:

Praying for our enemies.

Praying for those who spitefully used us.

Praying for wisdom on how to combat the situation (the principality).

As we pray, we may not like the instructions (revelation from God) because it may be contrary our old way in which we would have addressed similar issues.

But

We need to understand that even this situation (yes this present situation) is working together for our good and is going to perfect us and our relationship with Christ.

Be encouraged.

Stay the course.

Be blessed.

“So the chief priests and Pharisees called a meeting of the council (the Sanhedrin) and said, What are we to do? For this Man performs many signs (evidences, miracles). If we let Him alone to go on like this, everyone will believe in Him and adhere to Him, and the Romans will come and suppress and destroy and take away our [holy] place and our nation [our temple and city and our civil organization].”

John 11:47-48 AMPC

https://bible.com/bible/8/jhn.11.47-48.AMPC

Uncommon results thru common people

Extraordinary miracles will be performed that all will see and cannot deny

When I was reading this passage, the thought that crossed my mind was how the people marveled at and were perplexed by how these common men could achieve uncommon results.

This is EXPONENTIAL IMPACT where the results (fruits) are so overwhelming, undeniable and far above what we (as leaders) could ever think or to ask.

Just imagine when, not if, this day comes for us as leaders, we will have to be prepared for moments like these to be able to give an account and to give glory and honor to Jesus because of his mighty works and for empowering and equipping us for our devine purpose.

It shall come to pass as I remember reading that if we harken diligently to the voice of the Lord our God and to observe and do his commandments, we will be set on high.

We will be blessed in the city and in the field and everything we do shall prosper.

Be encouraged today.

Be bold.

And to God be the glory for the things that he has done.

“Now when they saw the boldness and unfettered eloquence of Peter and John and perceived that they were unlearned and untrained in the schools [common men with no educational advantages], they marveled; and they recognized that they had been with Jesus. And since they saw the man who had been cured standing there beside them, they could not contradict the fact or say anything in opposition. But having ordered [the prisoners] to go aside out of the council [chamber], they conferred (debated) among themselves, Saying, What are we to do with these men? For that an extraordinary miracle has been performed by (through) them is plain to all the residents of Jerusalem, and we cannot deny it.”

Acts 4:13-16 AMPC

https://bible.com/bible/8/act.4.13-16.AMPC

Just a scent of living water

The work for us as leaders is to just stay next to and connected to the living water as that is our source of renewal.

When I read this passage a couple of thoughts came to my mind and I was just in awe:

The thought struck me that the regardless of the age of the tree it can be renewed with just the scent of the living water.

Oftentimes as leaders we are faced with a situation where there appears to be “no life – or solution”.

This can be in business, a family, a church, or a community.

But the passage talks about the power that comes from just the “scent of the living water” and how the situation can and will be changed.

I also remember reading in Psalms where we can be like a tree planted by the living water and whenever we do so, we shall bring forth fruit in our season and we will prosper.

The work for us as leaders is to just stay next to and connected to the living water as that is our source of renewal.

Be encouraged.

Be renewed.

Be blessed and know that we are created in advance to do good works for this time and this season.

We are the chosen generation.

We are the royal priesthood.

We are the solution to the ailments of this world because we dare to believe and pursue our God given purpose!

“Though its roots grow old in the earth and its stock dies in the ground, Yet through the scent [and breathing] of water [the stump of the tree] will bud and bring forth boughs like a young plant.”

Job 14:8-9 AMPC

https://bible.com/bible/8/job.14.8-9.AMPC

What will thou that I shall do unto thee?

Clarity in “the ask” yields immediate results/ outcomes.

I was awe struck by this passage and the actions taken by the blind man.

The Assessment:

1. He had a need.

2. He pursued the One who could solve his need.

3. He was not moved by others opinions.

4. Transformation was a priority- an urgent imperative.

5. So he RESISTED RESISTANCE. HE REFUSED TO BE DENIED!

What about us?

We, the leaders can have this same mindset.

We sometimes lose the power of the moment because our lack of clarity of “The Ask” combined with faith.

Our most intimate and personal desires are but “An Ask” away.

We just need “to ask” with clarity, conviction AND resolve!

So simple, so powerful and so awesome.

Lets take the step by faith and just watch the manifestations.

He reigns forever!

“Then Jesus stood still and ordered that he be led to Him; and when he came near, Jesus asked him, What do you want Me to do for you? He said, Lord, let me receive my sight! And Jesus said to him, Receive your sight! Your faith (your trust and confidence that spring from your faith in God) has healed you.”

Luke 18:40-42 AMPC

https://bible.com/bible/8/luk.18.40-42.AMPC