Tag: obedience

Be Careful therefore How You Listen

I was reflecting on these passages and what really stuck with me is how we as leaders, must continue to prepare and nurture our soil if we want to continue to grow with God.

Nothing stands still and we must show continuous engagement with actions to continue to grow with Christ.

Since we desire the unlimited wisdom supply that comes from above, there is a demand of meaningful engagement and willful change – on our behalf.

As leaders, we desire an unlimited harvest but do we invest daily the time, energy and attention to study, ponder and meditate on the seeds of the Word while sowing them into our soil: our minds, wills, emotions and spirit?

Quality time invested in shaping our faith visions brings tangible clarity and is time well spent.

Our visions are becoming so real that we already see and possess them in our minds and hearts?

This relationship requires engagement, communication, patience, tenderness, listening, hearing, empathy, and connection to grow and thrive.

So true this is in the spiritual realm that “For to him who has [spiritual knowledge] will more be given; and from him who does not have [spiritual knowledge], even what he thinks and guesses and supposes that he has will be taken away.”

There is a risk of deterioration and loss of ground.

Not for us as I decree that the blood of Jesus covers us, our households and our visions. In Jesus Name Amen

Be Blessed!

Be a Blessing!

“For there is nothing hidden that shall not be disclosed, nor anything secret that shall not be known and come out into the open.

Be careful therefore how you listen. For to him who has [spiritual knowledge] will more be given; and from him who does not have [spiritual knowledge], even what he thinks and guesses and supposes that he has will be taken away.”

Luke 8:17-18 AMPC

https://bible.com/bible/8/luk.8.18.AMPC

Yet Wisdom is Vindicated

I was reflecting on this scriptural truth in an effort to truly understand it and the related lessons: “Yet Wisdom is shown to be right by what its followers do.” V35 (CEV)

Throughout the Bible we are instructed to get godly wisdom and understanding and to hold on to them as they are more precious than rubies and pearls. By definition: “the reverential and worshipful fear of the Lord–that is Wisdom; and to depart from evil is understanding.”

The scripture states that “skillful and godly Wisdom is the principal thing. And with all you have gotten, get understanding (discernment, comprehension, and interpretation).”

When John the Baptist went about declaring the coming of Jesus, some chose to hear the Word, discern the truth in the Word, and acted on the Word to be baptized. Some did not.

As leaders, there are times when new concepts and ideas may surface that appear contrary to our training and our experiences; however, we need to exercise the discipline of discernment to search for and recognize the presence of a possible truth. Once identified, we must act on it by faith.

We must also understand that other leaders who may be more knowledgeable and experienced may not act – likely because they have not grown in wisdom to seek truth in the Word.

When it is all said and done, “ wisdom is vindicated (shown to be true and divine) by all her children [by their life, character, and deeds].”

Our actions make all the difference.

Be Blessed!

Be a Blessing!

“I tell you, among those born of women there is no one greater than John; but he that is inferior [to the other citizens] in the kingdom of God is greater [in incomparable privilege] than he.

And all the people who heard Him, even the tax collectors, acknowledged the justice of God [in calling them to repentance and in pronouncing future wrath on the impenitent], being baptized with the baptism of John.

But the Pharisees and the lawyers [of the Mosaic Law] annulled and rejected and brought to nothing God’s purpose concerning themselves, by [refusing and] not being baptized by him [John].

So to what shall I compare the men of this generation? And what are they like? They are like little children sitting in the marketplace, calling to one another and saying, We piped to you [playing wedding], and you did not dance; we sang dirges and wailed [playing funeral], and you did not weep.

For John the Baptist has come neither eating bread nor drinking wine, and you say, He has a demon. The Son of Man has come eating and drinking, and you say, Behold, a Man Who is a glutton and a wine drinker, a friend of tax collectors and notorious sinners.

Yet wisdom is vindicated (shown to be true and divine) by all her children [by their life, character, and deeds].”

Luke 7:28-35 AMPC

https://bible.com/bible/8/luk.7.28-35.AMPC

Barriers to Abundance

The difference between Good and Great lies in obedience

I was reflecting on this reading today and my heart was heavy in that as leaders, though we start the day with the intent of emulating Christ, we may often question by the end of the day whether that is even possible. It is not, in our own strength but with Christ- it is possible.

As I was reading in this chapter, I was encouraged by how God demonstrates his faithfulness to Israel but at the end of the day, the disobedience of the leaders caused the journey to be prolonged and the promise to be fulfilled by someone else.

As leaders and as followers of leaders, growth or opportunities to grow for tomorrow often come at the decisions of others based on their observation of our behaviors today.

Disobedience, lack of execution, lack of attention to detail, or lack of emotional discipline can be behaviors that may derail our future from being Great to a comfortable and rewarding life of just “Good”.

I believe as leaders we desire to be Great but often faint on the daily execution to believe, to exhibit the characters of and to just obey Christ. His word instructs, guides and yes- corrects, those who he love and are called. We need to and must press in to peel away the layers of our old nature that may be a barrier or a hindrance at achieving the “Great” level.

Renewing our mind and soul daily yields dividends along with the redemptive power of forgiveness. I encourage us a leaders to be vulnerable with Christ and he has and will be faithful to take our insufficiency and to make us whole (nothin missing and nothing broken).

Be blessed,

Be a Blessing!

“But they and our fathers dealt proudly, and hardened their necks, and hearkened not to thy commandments, and refused to obey, neither were mindful of thy wonders that thou didst among them; but hardened their necks, and in their rebellion appointed a captain to return to their bondage: but thou art a God ready to pardon, gracious and merciful, slow to anger, and of great kindness, and forsookest them not.”

Nehemiah 9:16-17 KJV

https://bible.com/bible/1/neh.9.16-17.KJV