David understood one of the essential qualities of a leader, as we see in 2 Samuel 23:3. Anyone who wants to lead well must fear the Lord. When we talk about fearing God, we are not talking about a wrong kind of fear. We are talking about the reverential fear that causes us to bow in His presence and even to prostrate ourselves before Him and say, “My God, there is none like You; Whom shall I fear? If You are for me, what can man do to me?’
The apostle Paul wrote something in Galatians 1:10, He said, “Now am I trying to win the favor of men, or of God? Do I seek to please men? If I were still seeking popularity with men, I should not be a bond servant of Christ (the Messiah).”
We know Satan firsthand uses rejection to prevent us from going forward with the call of God on our our lives. Have you ever been attacked with rejection? The devil uses this very effective tool to keep us from making progress.
How many of you have gone to the bank to get a loan for your business and were turned down? Wanted more money to expand? Wanted to hire a few more people? How many people were skeptical when you told them you were starting a business, or joining a partnership with someone, or told you all of the reasons why they failed in business and why you would too? It’s very difficult to go on when you are being rejected by someone you love and care about or others who have the power and ability to help but do not buy into your vision. I know what that feels like when you take the leap of faith and do what you believe you have been called to do. I shudder to think what I might have sacrificed had I bowed down to the pressure and the weight of rejection. Everywhere I went for help they told me no, or I didn’t qualify, but thank God I didn’t give up.
Have you ever been in a situation when the devil leveled an attack against you at the same time when God was trying to promote you into the next level of what he has for your life?
Anyone who is going to do the will of God must have more fear of God than of man. We all want acceptance and for others to support our dreams. It takes courage to live your dreams. And you have to be willing to lose everything to do it. What does that mean? The trials and storms of life will come. They must. Do you stay and fight for the dream and the desire that you believe God has placed on the inside of you, or do you turn in defeat because it’s just too hard?
Anyone who is going to do God’s will must remember what Jesus told His disciples: “A servant is not greater than his master…If they persecuted Me, they will also persecut you” (John 15:20). He was saying, “If they reject you, in effect they are rejecting Me.” I believe the Lord takes it personally when people reject you because you are trying to do the right thing. He knows how you feel about being rejected, because He felt the same thing. He is your Vindicator; your reward comes from Him, and you must reverentially fear and honor Him more than anything or anyone else.
As you have made the decision, for God I live, and for God I die, know that God is equally commited to the promise as well. Romans 8:31,32 “What then shall we say to [all] this? If God is for us, who [can be] against us? [Who can be our foe, if God is on our side?] [Ps. 118:6]
32 He who did not withhold or spare [even] His own Son but gave Him up for us all, will He not also with Him freely and graciously give us all [other] things?
God approved of you before anybody else ever got a chance to disapprove. Do not spend your time playing it safe in the illusion of a down economy (because millionaries are being made everyday, banks are still giving corporate execs million dollar bonuses) don’t buy into the hype! Safety is very comfortable, but it may keep you from God’s perfect plan for your life. If we want to continue to succeed in this environment, our focus must be customer focus coupled with outstanding customer service. Not because it will keep your customer and repeat business, but if you never see them again, the honor and privilege is in being in a position to serve.
Trust His Word and keep your heart willing and ready to obey. Be willing to try new things, especially if it is something you have never done before. You will find throughout your life that God regularly calls us out of our comfort zones and into new places of faith and growth in Him.
On the way to your destination, enjoy the journey.
Linda Dillard
Founder/CEO & Relationship Strategist for Power In Progress, LLC & Creator of the “CEO Method”
Add to PF Buzz
Times are hard but there are so many creditors who are willing to hand out consumer loans. I recently lost my job, and I am wondering whether it is OK, to take a loan to cater for my domestic needs.
Alfonso,
I would think to get further and further in debt would not be the best way to adjust to your temporary situation. My job was eliminated in January, 2009, I went from $6000 a month after taxes to $2300 a month. I had to make some tough decisions as to how I was going to make it until another opportunity presented itself. Pride does not live where you are when you are struggling. I received unemployment for a year which was just enough to keep food on the table, gas and insurance on the car, utilities, and few extras. I had to let credit cards go by the way side and begin to apply to every program that existed for someone in my situation. I had to reduce or eliminate my wants and just deal with my immediate needs. I did contact my creditors, mortgage company, etc. I went through programs to demonstrate my ability to pursue any and all options including applying for jobs that I would never have considered before. I also came to the realization that I couldn’t fight this battle on my own. I was scared, lonely, confused, and embarrassed although I had no control over the situation. But God is not a man that he should lie. I immersed myself in the word of God, I spoke his promises over my life, I lived Mark 11:23-25 and I never doubted. I cried alot, and even through the tears, I trusted God. I stopped being independent and trying to solve all my problems myself, and I became solely dependent on God. I mean that literally. The week my unemployment ran out, I got a job after a year of redoing my resume over and over again, doing impromptu intervews, just showing up at places that were hiring unannounced, I was hungry. 2 weeks after I got hired as a substitute teacher making $83/day, I got a phone call to come in for an interview for another long term substitute teaching position at a charter school (similar to private) and they offered me my regular teacher’s salary as a substitute.
I said all that to say, do what you know to do. I didn’t give up, I kept pressing even when it looked like every window and door was shut, but I kept trusting God based on his promises. My son and I never was hungry, we always had more food in our refridgerator and pantry than we could eat, people lived in our home in transition and never knew I was struggling, God provided out of that $300 a week, food, clothing, shelter, gas every day. I paid tithes on that $300 to continue to sow seed, and I gave whenever and wherever I could.
You only need faith the size of a mustard seed. God will do what he says he will do, you must be willing to be uncomfortable yet certain that God knows and cares for you and your situation. Live with an expectation of how miraculous your story will be and how it will give hope to someone else who feels like life has handed them the short end of the stick. It is all for his glory. I am a witness, people can’t touch what God has ordained. And if he allows them to take it, then with certainty, expect something greater.
Be encouraged, the best is yet to come.
Linda Dillard
Power In Progress, LLC
Transforming Relationships One Position At A Time