Category: Spiritual

For I Shall Yet Praise Him

A Leadership Insight from Vision Multiplier International https://visionmultiplierllc.com/

I was reflecting on this scripture this morning and my heart and mind was captured by this phrase- “for I shall yet praise Him”.  

As leaders, there are many moments along this leadership journey that we hit a “rough patch” or sometimes a season of sequential rough patches where we are caught off guard. 

Even then, the scripture declares that despite it all, we shall rejoice always in the Lord and shall yet praise Him. 

The Bible commands us to:

“Rejoice in the Lord always [delight, gladden yourselves in Him]; again I say, Rejoice! [Ps. 37:4.]”

‭‭Philippians‬ ‭4‬:‭4‬ ‭AMPC‬‬

“IT IS a good and delightful thing to give thanks to the Lord, to sing praises [with musical accompaniment] to Your name, O Most High, 

To show forth Your loving-kindness in the morning and Your faithfulness by night,”

‭‭Psalm‬ ‭92‬:‭1‬-‭2‬ ‭AMPC‬‬

For this, we shall yet praise him!

When doubt tries to come against us, we are reminded that by being on Gods side, we always have options and will prevail because we are never alone. He has our backs!

“Now thanks be unto God, which always causeth us to triumph in Christ, and maketh manifest the savour of his knowledge by us in every place.”

‭‭2 Corinthians‬ ‭2‬:‭14‬ ‭KJV‬‬

“…and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen.”

‭‭Matthew‬ ‭28‬:‭20‬ ‭KJV‬‬

For this, we shall yet praise him!

When we question our worth,  scripture reminds us of our value in Gods sight:

“The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God: and if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified together.”

‭‭Romans‬ ‭8‬:‭16‬-‭17‬ ‭KJV‬‬

““Are not five sparrows sold for two copper coins? And not one of them is forgotten before God. But the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Do not fear therefore; you are of more value than many sparrows.”

‭‭Luke‬ ‭12‬:‭6‬-‭7‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

“And the LORD shall make thee the head, and not the tail; and thou shalt be above only, and thou shalt not be beneath; if that thou hearken unto the commandments of the LORD thy God, which I command thee this day, to observe and to do them:”

‭‭Deuteronomy‬ ‭28‬:‭13‬ ‭KJV‬‬

For this, we shall yet praise him!

When our peace needs restoration, the joy of the Lord becomes our strength as we turn to and simply trust God:

 

“For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. 

Then you will call on me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. 

You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart. 

I will be found by you,” declares the Lord, “and will bring you back from captivity. 

I will gather you from all the nations and places where I have banished you,” declares the Lord, “and will bring you back to the place from which I carried you into exile.””

‭‭Jeremiah‬ ‭29‬:‭11‬-‭14‬ ‭NIV‬‬

For this, we shall yet praise him!

Lastly, when we don’t know what to do, scripture shows us the way forward:

“But I will sing of Your mighty strength and power; yes, I will sing aloud of Your mercy and loving-kindness in the morning; for You have been to me a defense (a fortress and a high tower) and a refuge in the day of my distress. 

Unto You, O my Strength, I will sing praises; for God is my Defense, my Fortress, and High Tower, the God Who shows me mercy and steadfast love.”

‭‭Psalm‬ ‭59‬:‭16‬-‭17‬ ‭AMPC‬‬

“Let the saints be joyful in the glory and beauty [which God confers upon them]; let them sing for joy upon their beds. 

Let the high praises of God be in their throats and a two-edged sword in their hands, [Heb. 4:12; Rev. 1:16.] 

To wreak vengeance upon the nations and chastisement upon the peoples, 

To bind their kings with chains, and their nobles with fetters of iron, 

To execute upon them the judgment written. He [the Lord] is the honor of all His saints. Praise the Lord! (Hallelujah!)”

‭‭Psalm‬ ‭149‬:‭5‬-‭9‬ ‭AMPC‬‬

“For the weapons of our warfare are not physical [weapons of flesh and blood], but they are mighty before God for the overthrow and destruction of strongholds,”

‭‭2 Corinthians‬ ‭10‬:‭4‬ ‭AMPC‬‬

Amen

For this, we shall yet praise him!

“Let every thing that hath breath Praise the LORD. Praise ye the LORD.”

‭‭Psalm‬ ‭150‬:‭6‬ ‭KJV‬‬

Be Blessed!

Be a Blessing!

“Vindicate me, O God, And plead my cause against an ungodly nation; 

Oh, deliver me from the deceitful and unjust man! 

For You are the God of my strength; Why do You cast me off? 

Why do I go mourning because of the oppression of the enemy? 

Oh, send out Your light and Your truth! 

Let them lead me; Let them bring me to Your holy hill And to Your tabernacle. 

Then I will go to the altar of God, To God my exceeding joy; 

And on the harp I will praise You, O God, my God. 

Why are you cast down, O my soul? And why are you disquieted within me? 

Hope in God; For I shall yet praise Him, 

The help of my countenance and my God.”

‭‭Psalms‬ ‭43‬:‭1‬-‭5‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

https://bible.com/bible/114/psa.43.1-5.NKJV

In The Beginning

A Leadership Insight from Vision Multiplier International https://visionmultiplierllc.com/

I was reflecting on this scripture this morning and the thought that, we the leaders who are pursuing the purposes of god, must ensure that we have a now word from God that will guide our focus for planning and execution this year. 

Scripture tells us: 

“For the word of the LORD is right; And all his works are done in truth. For he spake, and it was done; He commanded, and it stood fast.”

‭‭Psalm‬ ‭33‬:‭4‬, ‭9‬ ‭KJV‬‬

Our hearing from God refines our thinking and planning – reassuring our spirits that we are moving in the right direction and all heavenly forces are in motion to manifest our vision, plans and dreams. 

There are spiritual forces that will attempt to derail our progress; however, we are well able to overcome these threats through Christ. We must meditate on, study and act on the specific scripture (s) for this year until we prevail. 

“The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly. I am the good shepherd: the good shepherd giveth his life for the sheep.”

‭‭John‬ ‭10‬:‭10‬-‭11‬ ‭KJV‬‬

“These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.”

‭‭John‬ ‭16‬:‭33‬ ‭KJV‬‬

This faith process is guaranteed to produce results as we strive to be in the center of God’s will and to do only those things that please him. 

“When a man’s ways please the LORD, He maketh even his enemies to be at peace with him.”

‭‭Proverbs‬ ‭16‬:‭7‬ ‭KJV‬‬

We want to stay sensitive to the Holy spirit so we can hear the tactical daily adjustments we need to make for success. He knows the way!

Selah

After we develop our God infused plan for this year, we must move forward and execute by faith having the confidence that we will accomplish the mission and god will be glorified.

The scripture tells us that:

“NOW FAITH is the assurance (the confirmation, the title deed) of the things [we] hope for, being the proof of things [we] do not see and the conviction of their reality [faith perceiving as real fact what is not revealed to the senses]. 

For by [faith–trust and holy fervor born of faith] the men of old had divine testimony borne to them and obtained a good report. 

By faith we understand that the worlds [during the successive ages] were framed (fashioned, put in order, and equipped for their intended purpose) by the word of God, so that what we see was not made out of things which are visible.”

‭‭Hebrews‬ ‭11‬:‭1‬-‭3‬ ‭AMPC‬‬

Amen

Finally, it is my prayer that in the beginning of each day this year, we are anchored in the Word of god and we  are assured:

“It is of the LORD’s mercies that we are not consumed, Because his compassions fail not. 

They are new every morning: Great is thy faithfulness. 

The LORD is my portion, saith my soul; Therefore will I hope in him.”

‭‭Lamentations‬ ‭3‬:‭22‬-‭24‬ ‭KJV‬‬

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

Careful Planning

A Leadership Insight from Vision Multiplier International https://visionmultiplierllc.com/

I was reflecting on these scriptures this morning and again the thought of how vital it is that, we leaders, make time for strategic planning on a consistent basis to ensure we are efficient and effective in achieving desired results.

The bible reminds us that:

“Careful planning puts you ahead in the long run; hurry and scurry puts you further behind.”  Proverbs‬ ‭21‬:‭5‬ ‭MSG‬‬

There are many leaders who create five year strategic plans which align to their vision statement and there are others who prefer a three year model.  

No matter our model, each year, we must ensure that our “lens” is clear and our hearts are ready to receive direction from the Lord. 

It is a powerful reflection exercise to dissect our performance/ results from last year – often yielding valuable insights. Some reflective questions are:

  • What went well?
  • What did we learn (as oppose to what went wrong)?
  • What did we struggle with implementing/ achieving?
  • Why did we experience these outcome?
  • What are new skills, behaviors and relationships required to thrive this year?

We should celebrate our successes while understanding our challenges!

This process reveals more of ourselves and highlights the skills we need to acquire or refine for greater impact. 

Selah

Next, we must prepare our hearts and minds to envision our next year. 

If we dreamed without limits, what would we dare to dream? Let’s allow the scriptures to embolden our possibility thinking. 

“Delight thyself also in the LORD; And he shall give thee the desires of thine heart.”  ‭‭Psalm‬ ‭37‬:‭4‬ ‭KJV‬‬

“Therefore I say unto you, What things soever ye desire, when ye pray, believe that ye receive them, and ye shall have them.”

‭‭Mark‬ ‭11‬:‭24‬ ‭KJV‬‬

“And God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness: and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth.”

‭‭Genesis‬ ‭1‬:‭26‬ ‭KJV‬‬

What would success look like one year from now?

Anything is possible to him who believeth and is in line with the thoughts and purposes of God!

“And Jesus said, [You say to Me], If You can do anything? [Why,] all things can be (are possible) to him who believes!” ‭‭Mark‬ ‭9‬:‭23‬ ‭AMPC‬‬

“Better is a little with righteousness (uprightness in every area and relation and right standing with God) than great revenues with injustice. [Ps. 37:16; Prov. 15:16.] 

Amen

So, let us seek the Holy Spirit for direction, wisdom and strategies to achieve our prayerfully desired goals so that Jesus can test them, bless them and multiply them for His glory. 

The Bible tells us: 

“A man’s mind plans his way, but the Lord directs his steps and makes them sure. [Ps. 37:23; Prov. 20:24; Jer. 10:23.]” Proverbs‬ ‭16‬:‭8‬-‭9‬ ‭AMPC‬‬

“The steps of a [good] man are directed and established by the Lord when He delights in his way [and He busies Himself with his every step]. 

Though he falls, he shall not be utterly cast down, for the Lord grasps his hand in support and upholds him.”

‭‭Psalm‬ ‭37‬:‭23‬-‭24‬ ‭AMPC‬‬

Finally, as we pursue our dreams, document and execute our plans with [uncompromisingly] righteousness, we can boldly move forward and lead so that God’s kingdom is established and He gets all the glory!

Be Blessed!

Be a Blessing!

“Through skillful and godly Wisdom is a house (a life, a home, a family) built, and by understanding it is established [on a sound and good foundation], And by knowledge shall its chambers [of every area] be filled with all precious and pleasant riches.”

‭‭Proverbs‬ ‭24‬:‭3‬-‭4‬ ‭AMPC‬‬

“Wise people are builders — they build families, businesses, communities. And through intelligence and insight their enterprises are established and endure. Because of their skilled leadership, the hearts of people are filled with the treasures of wisdom and the pleasures of spiritual wealth.”

‭‭Proverbs‬ ‭24‬:‭3‬-‭4‬ ‭TPT‬‬

“It takes wisdom to build a house, and understanding to set it on a firm foundation; It takes knowledge to furnish its rooms with fine furniture and beautiful draperies.”

‭‭Proverbs‬ ‭24‬:‭3‬-‭4‬ ‭MSG

Perfect and Complete, Needing Nothing 

I was reflecting and meditating on this scripture this morning and was considering “what does it mean?” or “what could this mean?” in our lives today, as leaders. 

We exist in a world where things go wrong: things break and are in disrepair, important tasks are unfinished, relationships can get strained and important goals have yet to get started. 

In short, life can be a bit disorganized, challenging and disjointed draining us emotionally, physically and even spiritually. 

So, how can we still grasp hold of and move toward the promises of god?

“You will know that your home is safe. When you survey your possessions, nothing will be missing.”

‭‭Job‬ ‭5‬:‭24‬ ‭NLT‬‬

“…for when your endurance is fully developed, you will be perfect and complete, needing nothing.”

‭‭James‬ ‭1‬:‭4‬ ‭NLT‬‬

“….I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly.”

‭‭John‬ ‭10‬:‭10‬B KJV‬‬

Selah

Many of these items(burdens) we carry are usually due to lack of clarity on our desired outcome, resource constraints or the perception that the energy required to address the issue is too great. 

Sometimes we still incorrectly believe that “we” need to solve the issue “our” way vs simply letting go and yielding to God’s way. 

The good news is we still have the authority to decide: 

“Truly I tell you, whatever you forbid and declare to be improper and unlawful on earth must be what is already forbidden in heaven, and whatever you permit and declare proper and lawful on earth must be what is already permitted in heaven.”

‭‭Matthew‬ ‭18‬:‭18‬ ‭AMPC‬‬

By leveraging our authority in addition to the power of prayer, we can unleash heavenly forces to come to our aide. 

Wholeness is a decision away for us!

Whatever the challenge, let’s just leave it at the cross. 

This process will mean something different from each of us but I want to encourage each of us, today,  to spend time to identify that “issue”and then “name it”!

Since we can call the name that is above every name, Jesus, we can bring every issue into captivity and under our feet. 

Our decision to do so today shall bring the issue to closure and we can again walk in the abundant life. 

“The thief comes only in order to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have and enjoy life, and have it in abundance (to the full, till it overflows).”

‭‭John‬ ‭10‬:‭10‬ ‭AMPC‬‬

No longer will we be broken and not whole!

In Jesus Name

Be Blessed!

Be a Blessing!

“And God is able to make all grace [every favor and earthly blessing] come in abundance to you, so that you may always [under all circumstances, regardless of the need] have complete sufficiency in everything [being completely self-sufficient in Him], and have an abundance for every good work and act of charity.”

‭‭2 Corinthians‬ ‭9‬:‭8‬ ‭AMP‬‬

https://bible.com/bible/1588/2co.9.8.AMP

For the Lord is a Great God 

A Leadership Insight from Vision Multiplier International https://visionmultiplierllc.com/

I was reflecting on these scriptures this morning with a heavy heart for this has been a difficult season for many of us, as leaders. 

We are expected to be strong yet empathetic with those we lead while personally adjusting to the demands (challenges) of our lives. 

So, this morning, let us hit pause and just reflect on all that Christ has done for us in this season – gathering as many examples of His faithfulness as possible. 

When we just consider His love, grace, protection and provisions, we will begin to feel the joy of the Lord starting to rise on the inside. 

Here are a couple more scriptures we can leverage to find that joy:

“I will bless the LORD at all times: His praise shall continually be in my mouth.”  Psalm‬ ‭34‬:‭1‬ ‭KJV‬‬

“Enter His gates with a song of thanksgiving And His courts with praise. Be thankful to Him, bless and praise His name. For the Lord is good; His mercy and lovingkindness are everlasting, His faithfulness [endures] to all generations.”

‭‭Psalms‬ ‭100‬:‭4‬-‭5‬ ‭AMP‬‬

“Know ye that the LORD he is God: It is he that hath made us, and not we ourselves; We are his people, and the sheep of his pasture.”

‭‭Psalm‬ ‭100‬:‭3‬ ‭KJV‬‬

“And God saw every thing that he had made, and, behold, it was very good…”

‭‭Genesis‬ ‭1‬:‭31‬ ‭KJV‬‬

Amen

Oh come let us adore Him!

For He alone is worthy of all the praise, glory and adoration. 

Be Blessed!

Be a Blessing!

Merry Christmas!

“O come, let us sing joyfully to the Lord; Let us shout joyfully to the rock of our salvation. 

Let us come before His presence with a song of thanksgiving; Let us shout joyfully to Him with songs. 

For the Lord is a great God And a great King above all gods, 

In whose hand are the depths of the earth; 

The peaks of the mountains are His also. 

The sea is His, for He made it [by His command]; 

And His hands formed the dry land. [Gen 1:9] 

O come, let us worship and bow down, Let us kneel before the Lord our Maker [in reverent praise and prayer]. 

For He is our God And we are the people of His pasture and the sheep of His hand. Today, if you will hear His voice, [Heb 3:7-11] 

Do not harden your hearts and become spiritually dull as at Meribah [the place of strife], And as at Massah [the place of testing] in the wilderness, [Ex 17:1-7; Num 20:1-13; Deut 6:16] 

“When your fathers tested Me, They tried Me, even though they had seen My work [of miracles]. 

“For forty years I was grieved and disgusted with that generation, And I said, ‘They are a people who err in their heart, And they do not acknowledge or regard My ways.’ 

“Therefore I swore [an oath] in My wrath, ‘They absolutely shall not enter My rest [the land of promise].’ ” [Heb 4:3-11]”

‭‭

Psalms‬ ‭95‬:‭1‬-‭11‬ ‭AMP‬‬

https://bible.com/bible/1588/psa.95.1-11.AMP

As Was His Habit

A Leadership Insight from Vision Multiplier International https://visionmultiplierllc.com/

I was reflecting on this scripture this morning and the thought of how important it is that we, leaders, evaluate our progress on our habits – especially the success habit of prayer. 

Life presents many tests and we must learn how to thrive in them and this is possible as we grow our prayer skills. 

Some of us have mature prayer skills. These are our “prayer warriors”; however, there are many of us who are still striving to just get better- there is good news and hope. 

“Now Jesus was telling the disciples a parable to make the point that at all times they ought to pray and not give up and lose heart,”  Luke‬ ‭18‬:‭1‬ ‭AMP‬‬

Jesus lived what he taught: “And He came out and went, as was His habit, to the Mount of Olives; and the disciples followed Him.”  Luke‬ ‭22‬:‭39‬ ‭AMP‬‬ “And He withdrew from them about a stone’s throw, and knelt down and prayed,” ‭‭Luke‬ ‭22‬:‭41‬ ‭AMP‬‬

As leaders, the number of areas that need “prevention prayer” seem endless: ourselves and our families, health,  insights, strategies, direction, healing, strength, clarity of thought and a pure heart. 

Scripture shares the risks “prevention prayer” is trying to avoid: 

“But each one is tempted when he is dragged away, enticed and baited [to commit sin] by his own [worldly] desire (lust, passion). Then when the illicit desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and when sin has run its course, it gives birth to death.”

‭‭James‬ ‭1‬:‭14‬-‭15‬ ‭AMP‬‬

Selah

There are also times we need “warfare prayer”. Scripture uses Jesus’ example:

And being in agony [deeply distressed and anguished; almost to the point of death], He prayed more intently; and His sweat became like drops of blood, falling down on the ground. [Heb 5:7] 

Selah

Whatever the moment requires, it is my hearts desire that we, the leaders, will build up our faith through the habit of daily prayer. 

“It is because of the Lord’s lovingkindnesses that we are not consumed, Because His [tender] compassions never fail. [Mal 3:6] 

They are new every morning; Great and beyond measure is Your faithfulness. [Is 33:2] 

“The Lord is my portion and my inheritance,” says my soul; “Therefore I have hope in Him and wait expectantly for Him.” [Num 18:20]”

‭‭Lamentations‬ ‭3‬:‭22‬-‭24‬ ‭AMP‬‬

Amen. 

Be Blessed!

Be a Blessing!

“And He came out and went, as was His habit, to the Mount of Olives; and the disciples followed Him. 

When He arrived at the place [called Gethsemane], He said to them, “Pray continually that you may not fall into temptation.” [Matt 26:36-46; Mark 14:32-42] 

And He withdrew from them about a stone’s throw, and knelt down and prayed, 

saying, “Father, if You are willing, remove this cup [of divine wrath] from Me; yet not My will, but [always] Yours be done.” 

Now an angel appeared to Him from heaven, strengthening Him. 

And being in agony [deeply distressed and anguished; almost to the point of death], He prayed more intently; and His sweat became like drops of blood, falling down on the ground. [Heb 5:7] 

When He rose from prayer, He came to the disciples and found them sleeping from sorrow, 

and He said to them, “Why are you sleeping? Get up and pray that you may not fall into temptation.””

‭‭Luke‬ ‭22‬:‭39‬-‭46‬ ‭AMP‬‬

https://bible.com/bible/1588/luk.22.39-46.AMP

Do You Not Remember

A Leadership Insight from Vision Multiplier International https://visionmultiplierllc.com/

I was reflecting on this scripture this morning, the sign of the times and the importance, as leaders, to embrace change while holding true to our old landmarks. 

Despite our growing up in and maturing in Christ, we may find ourselves at times spiritually, emotionally, physically, and or financially “stuck”- just troubled. 

I just want to say: be encouraged because all things are still working out for our good!

Scripture tells us:

“Do you not remember that when I was still with you, I was telling you these things?”

‭‭2 Thessalonians‬ ‭2‬:‭5‬ ‭AMP‬‬

“Consider it nothing but joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you fall into various trials. 

Be assured that the testing of your faith [through experience] produces endurance [leading to spiritual maturity, and inner peace].”

‭‭James‬ ‭1‬:‭2‬-‭3‬ ‭AMP‬‬

We must hold on to our most holy faith:

“But you, beloved, build yourselves up on [the foundation of] your most holy faith [continually progress, rise like an edifice higher and higher], pray in the Holy Spirit, 

and keep yourselves in the love of God, waiting anxiously and looking forward to the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ [which will bring you] to eternal life. 

And have mercy on some, who are doubting; save others, snatching them out of the fire; and on some have mercy but with fear, loathing even the clothing spotted and polluted by their shameless immoral freedom. [Amos 4:11; Zech 3:2-4]”

‭‭Jude‬ ‭1‬:‭20‬-‭23‬ ‭AMP‬‬

Let us remember to search for the good way:

“…Stand by the roads and look; ask for the ancient paths, Where the good way is; then walk in it, And you will find rest for your souls. ….”

‭‭Jeremiah‬ ‭6‬:‭16‬ ‭AMP‬‬

In conclusion, let this be our prayer:

“Now to Him who is able to keep you from stumbling or falling into sin, and to present you unblemished [blameless and faultless] in the presence of His glory with triumphant joy and unspeakable delight, 

to the only God our Savior, through Jesus Christ our Lord, be glory, majesty, dominion, and power, before all time and now and forever. Amen.”

‭‭Jude‬ ‭1‬:‭24‬-‭25‬ ‭AMP‬‬

Be Blessed!

Be a Blessing!

“Now in regard to the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ and our gathering together to meet Him, we ask you, brothers and sisters, [Mark 13:27; 1 Thess 2:19; 4:15-17] 

not to be quickly unsettled or alarmed either by a [so-called prophetic revelation of a] spirit or a message or a letter [alleged to be] from us, to the effect that the day of the Lord has [already] come. 

Let no one in any way deceive or entrap you, for that day will not come unless the apostasy comes first [that is, the great rebellion, the abandonment of the faith by professed Christians], and the man of lawlessness is revealed, the son of destruction [the Antichrist, the one who is destined to be destroyed], [Dan 7:25; 8:25; 1 Tim 4:1] 

who opposes and exalts himself [so proudly and so insolently] above every so-called god or object of worship, so that he [actually enters and] takes his seat in the temple of God, publicly proclaiming that he himself is God. [Ezek 28:2; Dan 11:36, 37] 

Do you not remember that when I was still with you, I was telling you these things? 

And you know what restrains him now [from being revealed]; it is so that he will be revealed at his own [appointed] time. 

For the mystery of lawlessness [rebellion against divine authority and the coming reign of lawlessness] is already at work; [but it is restrained] only until He who now restrains it is taken out of the way.”

‭‭2 Thessalonians‬ ‭2‬:‭1‬-‭7‬ ‭AMP‬‬

https://bible.com/bible/1588/2th.2.1-7.AMP

The Potter’s Grace

A Leadership Insight from Vision Multiplier International https://visionmultiplierllc.com/

I was reflecting again this morning on this scripture and the reality that each of us as leaders are constantly under reconstruction as we strive to be Christ like. 

Yes, we have Christ on the inside of us guiding us through life but there is a fundamental requirement that we must provide the raw materials for Christ to mold us. 

We must choose to change so that we are perfected in accordance with the “Christ” standard and through Christ’s love. 

We  must encourage ourselves in the Lord, like David. 

Regardless of our circumstances, we are still His workmanship

“For we are His workmanship [His own master work, a work of art], created in Christ Jesus [reborn from above—spiritually transformed, renewed, ready to be used] for good works, which God prepared [for us] beforehand [taking paths which He set], so that we would walk in them [living the good life which He prearranged and made ready for us]. [Rom 1:20]”

‭‭Ephesians‬ ‭2‬:‭10‬ ‭AMP‬‬

I am grateful that Christ has already done the work and paid the price for our sins.

“After this, Jesus, knowing that all was now finished, said in fulfillment of the Scripture, “I am thirsty.” [Ps 69:21] A jar full of sour wine was placed there; so they put a sponge soaked in the sour wine on [a branch of] hyssop and held it to His mouth. [Matt 27:48, 50; Mark 15:36f; Luke 23:36] When Jesus had received the sour wine, He said, “It is finished!” And He bowed His head and [voluntarily] gave up His spirit.”

‭‭John‬ ‭19‬:‭28‬-‭30‬ ‭AMP‬‬

“He is not here, for He has risen, just as He said [He would]. Come! See the place where He was lying. 

Matthew‬ ‭28‬:‭6‬

Jesus came up and said to them, “All authority (all power of absolute rule) in heaven and on earth has been given to Me.”

‭‭Matthew‬ ‭28‬:‭ 18‬ ‭AMP‬‬

So let us be encouraged and run this race with purpose and gratitude knowing that whatever the challenge (s), we have already won!  

We have the victory solely because of Christ. 

“Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses [who by faith have testified to the truth of God’s absolute faithfulness], stripping off every unnecessary weight and the sin which so easily and cleverly entangles us, let us run with endurance and active persistence the race that is set before us, 

[looking away from all that will distract us and] focusing our eyes on Jesus, who is the Author and Perfecter of faith [the first incentive for our belief and the One who brings our faith to maturity], who for the joy [of accomplishing the goal] set before Him endured the cross, disregarding the shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God [revealing His deity, His authority, and the completion of His work]. [Ps 110:1] 

Just consider and meditate on Him who endured from sinners such bitter hostility against Himself [consider it all in comparison with your trials], so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.”

‭‭Hebrews‬ ‭12‬:‭1‬-‭3‬ ‭AMP‬‬

In closing, it is my prayer that we all can learn to rest in Him as His grace is more than sufficient:

“but He has said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you [My lovingkindness and My mercy are more than enough—always available—regardless of the situation]; for [My] power is being perfected [and is completed and shows itself most effectively] in [your] weakness.” 

Therefore, I will all the more gladly boast in my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ [may completely enfold me and] may dwell in me. 

So I am well pleased with weaknesses, with insults, with distresses, with persecutions, and with difficulties, for the sake of Christ; for when I am weak [in human strength], then I am strong [truly able, truly powerful, truly drawing from God’s strength].”

‭‭2 Corinthians‬ ‭12‬:‭9‬-‭10‬ ‭AMP‬‬

Be Blessed!

Be a Blessing!

“The word which came to Jeremiah from the Lord: 

“Arise and go down to the potter’s house, and there I will make you hear My words.” 

Then I went down to the potter’s house, and saw that he was working at the wheel. 

But the vessel that he was making from clay was spoiled by the potter’s hand; so he made it over, reworking it and making it into another pot that seemed good to him. 

Then the word of the Lord came to me: “O house of Israel, can I not do with you as this potter does?” says the Lord. 

“Look carefully, as the clay is in the potter’s hand, so are you in My hand, O house of Israel.”

‭‭Jeremiah‬ ‭18‬:‭1‬-‭6‬ ‭AMP‬‬

https://bible.com/bible/1588/jer.18.2-5.AMP

But I Have Prayed [especially] For You

A Leadership Insight from Vision Multiplier International https://visionmultiplierllc.com/

I was reflecting on these scriptures this morning and was amazed at how Jesus has so much love for and was pouring so much of himself out to his disciples.

Jesus knew that one disciple would betray him while others were in a debate about which can be greatest in His kingdom.

Despite all of this, Jesus still showed love in addressing Peter – one of His strongest and advent supporter. 

That is ultimate leadership in action. 

Jesus knew the heart of Peter and that Peter would deny knowing Him three times in the coming days. 

Yet in the Passion translation, Jesus says:

“Peter, my dear friend, listen to what I’m about to tell you. Satan has obtained permission to come and sift you all like wheat and test your faith. 

But I have prayed for you, Peter, that you would stay faithful to me no matter what comes.”

Peter’s faith was going to be tested similar to that of Job and so will ours. 

We see in the example of Job where his faith was tested to see if it was genuine and could be sustained when adversity comes. 

Scripture tells us:

“…Satan answered the Lord, “Does Job fear God for nothing? 

Have You not put a hedge [of protection] around him and his house and all that he has, on every side? 

You have blessed the work of his hands [and conferred prosperity and happiness upon him], and his possessions have increased in the land. 

But put forth Your hand now and touch (destroy) all that he has, and he will surely curse You to Your face.” 

Then the Lord said to Satan, “Behold, all that Job has is in your power, only do not put your hand on the man himself.” So Satan departed from the presence of the Lord.”

‭‭Job‬ ‭1‬:‭6‬-‭12‬ ‭AMP‬‬

Scripture also gives us a glimpse how God truly felt about Job:

“…For there is none like him on the earth, a blameless and upright man, one who fears God [with reverence] and abstains from and turns away from evil [because he honors God].””

‭‭Job‬ ‭1‬:‭8‬ ‭AMP‬‬

When we are being tested, we are reminded of the steps to take to prevail:

“Be sober [well balanced and self-disciplined], be alert and cautious at all times. That enemy of yours, the devil, prowls around like a roaring lion [fiercely hungry], seeking someone to devour.”

‭‭1 Peter‬ ‭5‬:‭8‬ ‭AMP‬‬

“But resist him, be firm in your faith [against his attack—rooted, established, immovable], knowing that the same experiences of suffering are being experienced by your brothers and sisters throughout the world. [You do not suffer alone.]”

‭‭1 Peter‬ ‭5‬:‭9‬ ‭AMP‬‬

In conclusion and should we fail the faith test, we can repent and turn our hearts back toward God:

Remember this: after you have turned back to me and have been restored, make it your life mission to strengthen the faith of your brothers.” 

“After you have suffered for a little while, the God of all grace [who imparts His blessing and favor], who called you to His own eternal glory in Christ, will Himself complete, confirm, strengthen, and establish you [making you what you ought to be]. 

To Him be dominion (power, authority, sovereignty) forever and ever. Amen.”

‭‭1 Peter‬ ‭5‬:‭10‬-‭11‬ ‭AMP‬‬

Be Blessed!

Be a Blessing!

““Simon, Simon (Peter), listen! Satan has demanded permission to sift [all of] you like grain; [Job 1:6-12; Amos 9:9] 

but I have prayed [especially] for you [Peter], that your faith [and confidence in Me] may not fail; and you, once you have turned back again [to Me], strengthen and support your brothers [in the faith].” 

And Peter said to Him, “Lord, I am ready to go with You both to prison and to death!” [Matt 26:33-35; Mark 14:29-31; John 13:37, 38] 

Jesus said, “I say to you, Peter, before the rooster crows today, you will [utterly] deny three times that you know Me.””

‭‭Luke‬ ‭22‬:‭31‬-‭34‬ ‭AMP‬‬

https://bible.com/bible/1588/luk.22.31-34.AMP

Create in me

I was reflecting on this scripture this morning and the thought that, as leaders, it is guaranteed that we will experience disappointment and hurt at some point along our journey. 

The hurt can be from missed expectations of those close to us or dismay as we actively observe the hearts and actions of man. 

When these times come, we need to petition the Lord to:

“Create in me a clean heart, O God, And renew a right and steadfast spirit within me.”

‭‭Psalms‬ ‭51‬:‭10‬ ‭AMP‬‬

It is not unusual – and even expected- that we leaders have a godly standard against which we measure our thoughts and actions as well as those of others. 

Unfortunately, we can become despondent to the point where anger or disappointment can literally grip our spirits and steal our peace and joy. 

I am grateful that the Word of the Lord offers a way out:

“He heals the brokenhearted And binds up their wounds [healing their pain and comforting their sorrow]. [Ps 34:18; Is 57:15; 61:1; Luke 4:18]”

‭‭Psalms‬ ‭147‬:‭3‬ ‭AMP‬‬

I am also grateful that the God we serve desires to actively engage with us and fight for us:

“For we do not have a High Priest who is unable to sympathize and understand our weaknesses and temptations, but One who has been tempted [knowing exactly how it feels to be human] in every respect as we are, yet without [committing any] sin. 

Therefore let us [with privilege] approach the throne of grace [that is, the throne of God’s gracious favor] with confidence and without fear, so that we may receive mercy [for our failures] and find [His amazing] grace to help in time of need [an appropriate blessing, coming just at the right moment].”

‭‭Hebrews‬ ‭4‬:‭15‬-‭16‬ ‭AMP‬‬

As we trust that God is working things out for our good, we have the burden and responsibility to walk in love. Scripture reminds us: 

“Hatred stirs up strife, But love covers and overwhelms all transgressions [forgiving and overlooking another’s faults].”

‭‭Proverbs‬ ‭10‬:‭12‬ ‭AMP‬‬

Lord, we surrender all to you!

In closing, this is my prayer:

“It is my own eager expectation and hope, that [looking toward the future] I will not disgrace myself nor be ashamed in anything, but that with courage and the utmost freedom of speech, even now as always, Christ will be magnified and exalted in my body, whether by life or by death.”

‭‭Philippians‬ ‭1‬:‭20‬ ‭AMP‬‬

Let us be open to Gods handy work as he wants to heal us: 

“He heals the brokenhearted And binds up their wounds [healing their pain and comforting their sorrow]. [Ps 34:18; Is 57:15; 61:1; Luke 4:18]”

‭‭Psalms‬ ‭147‬:‭3‬ ‭AMP‬‬

“Now thanks be to God for His indescribable gift [which is precious beyond words]!”

‭‭2 Corinthians‬ ‭9‬:‭15‬ ‭AMP‬‬

Amen!

Be Blessed!

Be a Blessing!

“Create in me a clean heart, O God, And renew a right and steadfast spirit within me. 

Do not cast me away from Your presence And do not take Your Holy Spirit from me. 

Restore to me the joy of Your salvation And sustain me with a willing spirit. 

Then I will teach transgressors Your ways, And sinners shall be converted and return to You.”

‭‭Psalms‬ ‭51‬:‭10‬-‭13‬ ‭AMP‬‬

https://bible.com/bible/1588/psa.51.10-13.AMP