Category Archives: Personal Growth

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Pursue The Gifts You Have, Not The One’s You Want

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gifts

The following post is based on a lesson on using your gifts from Dave Anderson’s book How to Run Your Business by THE BOOK.

David And Goliath

Do you remember reading about David and Goliath? Do you remember how Saul tried to make David wear armor that would not fit him? I laugh when I try to picture David as a youth trying to walk around in Saul’s armor, potentially bumping into tent posts and stepping into the campfires scattered around. It may not have been as close to a scene out of the Carol Burnett show as I have it pictured, but I imagine there had to be some humor in it.

Finally, David threw off Saul’s armor and wore his own shepherd’s clothes. He left Saul’s weapons in the tent and chose to use the sling and the stones he already knew how to use. These fit him. While he had never fought in a war with other soldiers, he had certainly seen his battles protecting the flocks from predators. Instead of using someone else’s armor and weaponry in this new battle, he went with what was familiar to him.

What Can We Learn?

Apparently, he made the right choice. So what can we as leaders learn from this episode? How do we apply it to what we do on a daily basis?

The first place I think to look is back in the Bible. Let’s consider Romans 12:6-8. In this passage, Paul is telling the Romans that different people receive different gifts from God.

When we receive specific gifts, we should use those gifts according to our faith. If one is given the gift of teaching, then they are to teach. Another may be given the gift of encouragement; they should encourage. You have probably read this and understand it.

I believe this is directly related to the story about David and the armor. You see, Saul was trying to get David to wear armor that was not his. It was not fit for him. It was not comfortable to him. It simply would have been a burden to David. It would have hampered his effectiveness against Goliath.

Gifts From God

The same is true about gifts from God. If God has given me the gift of encouragement, but not the gift of leadership, should I try to lead? Just because I want to lead does not mean that is what I should do. In fact, if God has not gifted me in that area, I will only cause problems if I try to do it anyway. If I am not gifted to teach, but I insist on doing so, what kind of results will I get? I may like the idea of teaching, but if God has not gifted me for it, that is not where I will be most effective.

Look at 1 Corinthians 12 and see more discussion on this. In this passage, Paul takes it further and uses the human body and its parts to illustrate his point. Each part has its job to do. Each job is just as important to the health of the body as the next. All deserve honor. None of the parts should aspire to be another part. Instead, each part should embrace the role they have been given and do the best they can at being that part.

Lessons For Leaders

As leaders, we must do the same.

    1. Discover your gifting
    David quickly found that Saul’s armor would not work. You need to determine your gifting. There are tools to accomplish this, but you can also ask those who know you best. Pray for God to reveal it to you.
    2. Embrace that gifting
    David did not hesitate to reject Saul’s armor and revert back to his own tools. Once you know your gifts, embrace them! Know that the Creator of the universe chose you specially for those gifts! They are worthy of honor!
    3. Learn how to best apply that gifting
    David spent years learning accuracy with his sling and stones. Do not expect overnight results in your gifts. Developing these gifts take time. Through prayer, application, and learning from defeats (as well as successes), you will grow in these gifts.
    4. Go to battle!
    David went boldly into battle with his tools. Do not be afraid to fight the battles with your gifts. Do not forget you represent God and He has your back!

Now, go out there and use your own armor!

What are your gifts?

Are you embracing them and growing in your application of them?

What battles are you fighting?

Original date of post – November 9, 2011

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Where Is Your Happy Place?

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I got a text from my wife recently. The first line, “At my happy place!” let me know exactly where she was. I knew she had left town with one of our daughters and was going out to eat. When I got her text, I knew exactly which restaurant they (she) had chosen!

happy place

Her Happy Place

I knew this because this particular restaurant is the one she and I visit the most often when we are in that area. I knew if she was within a few miles, that was where she was going. The food is healthy, but very tasty. The atmosphere is clean, energetic, and bright. The service is great and the prices are good.

All of the right conditions exist in this restaurant. That is why it is her happy place!

Your Happy Place?

Do you have a happy place? Can you picture it right now? Describe this happy place and why it makes you feel so good. What are the conditions like there? Is it sunny, breezy, warm, but not hot? Are the sounds soothing?

Most of us know what we mean when we talk about a happy place. It might be an actual place (this restaurant) or it might be something in our mind. Regardless, it is a place where the worries of the world fade. Conditions which make us happy are at the forefront.

So, what happens when we return from our happy place? When normal comes roaring back into the picture, what happens to our disposition? Do we change? Does our countenance darken? Are we a little on edge? More than a little?

Does Joy Remain?

Let me ask this from a different perspective. Is your happiness (or better said, joy) attached to, or dependent upon, where you are or the circumstances you are in?

Unfortunately, I think too many of us would have to answer, “yes” to this question. Too often, we allow our joy to be dictated by circumstances rather than coming from within, from our relationship with God.

We stop looking at our reasons for being “here”. We begin to focus on the circumstances that are characteristic of “here”. If we are honest with ourselves, we will admit that there is a serious problem with this line of thinking.

Go Back To Your “Why”

So, how do we change it? How do we fight back against the disappearance of the joy in our happy place?

I think the key is to go back to our “Why”. We have to return, in our minds, to our reasons for being where we are. This is true even when “here” includes circumstances and conditions that we would prefer to avoid.

God Is In Control

That’s because we know that God is still in control. We know that He has a plan for us and that our current “here” is not our final destination. It is only a way station on a much bigger journey.

We must remind ourselves that He has us here and it is for good reason. Until He moves us on, we must find our joy in knowing He loves us and is taking care of us.

Joy Despite Circumstances

We must also make the most of every opportunity while we are “here”. There are people around us watching. They want to know if the faith we claim is any better than going without it. They need to see us full of joy, regardless of the circumstances.

This does not mean we are without grief or anger or frustration. It simply means that they can see something else in us that they do not have. The joy that fills us regardless of conditions around us – that is what they want.

Pray To Find It!

Do we have it?

If not, I encourage you to pray that God would show you how to find it again. He is faithful and will show you where you left it. Try Him. You won’t be disappointed!

Do you have joy in all circumstances – happy place or not?

What typically causes you to lose it most often?

When you lose this joy, how do you normally regain it?

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Two Trustworthy Tools For Decision Making

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In the business world, we are faced daily with decisions. Some decisions come with huge consequences. Others are so small that they will be forgotten within the week. In the big decisions, we want to make sure we apply wisdom and make the right choices. I have two questions, given to me by a friend, that you can ask to help you with these decisions.

decision

Touch Decisions

I was recently approached by another close friend. He is wrestling with a major decision that could impact his career, family life, and even his walk as a disciple of Christ. As he described his dilemma, I was reminded of the two questions I mentioned earlier. Immediately, I shared these questions with him and left him to answer them on his own.

Regardless of the decision you need to make, these two questions can help you make the right choice. They may not immediately clarify the right choice every time. You really need to pray through these questions when you face the really complex questions. However, over time, I believe the answers will become clear.

Decision-Making Tool #1

The first question is this:

    Will this choice draw me closer to God or further away from Him?

As you think and pray through the choice you are considering, ask yourself how it will impact your relationship with God. Will this particular choice draw you closer to Him? Will another choice draw you even closer?

If we look at a couple of verses from the Bible, it is clear that we are to be drawing closer to Him. In James 4:8, we are told: “draw near to God and He will draw near to you.” In Hebrews 10:22, it says, “let us draw near to God with a sincere heart…”

I won’t tell you that you always have to pick the choice that draws you the nearest to Him. However, if given a choice between one option that draws you closer and one that takes you further away…that answer should be clear to you!

Decision-Making Tool #2

The second question is this:

    Will this choice make me more dependent on God or less so?

We are independent creatures and we desire to be self-sufficient. This is especially true for business leaders and owners. It is in our DNA and we rarely fight it. This quality is a significant part of what makes us successful in business.

Unfortunately, when it comes to spiritual “success”, last is first and first is last. What works for us in the business world can work against us in our Christian walk. Our independence is exactly what God does NOT want from us in our relationship with Him.

We see this idea of God desiring our dependence on Him in many places in the Bible. Here are a couple of examples:

My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.
2 Corinthians 12:9

And my God will meet all your needs according to the riches of his glory in Christ Jesus.
Philippians 4:19

Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothes? Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them.Are you not much more valuable than they?
Matthew 6:25-26

As we are making decisions in life, we need to be mindful of whether we are seeking independence from God or dependence on Him. As I said before, this answer may not be perfectly obvious at first glance. If we will pray and sincerely seek His heart, God will show us the truth.

Give These A Try!

The next time you have a decision that carries significant consequences, try these two questions. Pray through them and ask for a clear mind and heart as to the answers. I believe the right choice will become evident to you!

What decision are you facing now that would benefit from these questions?

Can you recall a decision that would have been better made with these tools?

What other questions do you use in your decision making process?

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One Choice You Need To Make Every Day

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I don’t need to tell you that you will have to make choices every day that determine your effectiveness and success in whatever your endeavor. You already know this. What you might find interesting is how Paul framed a choice that he faced on a regular basis.

choice

Paul’s Choice

If you will read the first chapter of Philippians, you will see that Paul is on a mission to take the gospel to the Gentiles. He is determined in this mission, even to the point of finding himself in jail over it. Yet he continues to carry out his mission, despite the interruption!

In the letter he is writing to the church at Philippi, Paul mentions a choice in his mind that he continues to wrestle over. Take a look at how he frames this choice:

For me, living is Christ and dying is gain. Now if I live on in the flesh, this means fruitful work for me; and I don’t know which one I should choose. I am pressured by both. I have the desire to depart and be with Christ – which is far better — but to remain in the flesh is more necessary for you.
Philippians 1:21-24

Can You Identify?

When you first read this (and you are completely honest with yourself), you may not really identify with Paul’s struggle. I will say for myself that I understand Paul’s struggle. On occasion, I even feel the same way…to a degree. I wish I could say that I have the exact same struggle on a daily basis…I don’t.

Maybe one day, I will mature to the point where that is my actually struggle. For now, I will keep striving toward that day!

Two Pairs Of Words

Fortunately, I do not want to focus on Paul’s struggle in this post. Instead, I want to isolate two pairs of words that I truly believe we all wrestle with on a daily basis. Paul’s words should echo in your mind after reading this post or I have not done a very good job of communicating.

Go back to the above passage and notice how he describes his two choices with a pair of words for each…”far better” and “more necessary”. Stop and think about how powerful and insightful these words are when compared to each other.

Frequent Choice?

How many times a day do you face a decision between “far better” and “more necessary”? If you are anything like me, you face this decision a number of times before you even leave the house to go to work.

Before lunch, you have likely faced this same decision multiple times. The same is true after lunch. Once you are home again for the night, this decision shows up a few more times – at least.

Tough Choice!

Here’s the deal. You and I are constantly faced with the decision between doing what, at that moment, is far better or more necessary. This is the root question that determines whether you will be a responsible or irresponsible leader – at home, in business, with relationships, etc.

At home, the decision might be whether to kick back and relax after a hard day (far better) or perform acts of service for your spouse (more necessary). It could be deciding between the Moose Tracks ice cream (far better) or the apple (more necessary).

Business Choices

In the business world, this decision can take on many forms as well. Will you take the day off to play golf with your buddies or will you put in the extra time to make sure the project beats the deadline for a customer? Do you personally enjoy the rewards of all of your profit (or income) or do you use it to promote the Kingdom?

Sometimes with these decisions, it can even be difficult to discern which is which. Do you keep the low performing employee and give them another chance or do you go ahead and terminate their employment so they get started on a new, more productive path?

Strive For Paul’s Example

Folks, I think we are to strive to follow Paul’s example (1 Corinthians 11:1). We should be struggling between “living is Christ” and “dying is gain” like he did. At the same time, we know this is a high standard to reach.

Until we reach that level of maturity, we will still have the choice between “far better” and “more necessary”. My encouragement to you is that you start trying to see your day-to-day decisions in this light. Try to figure out which is “more necessary” and choose that one.

I believe the more we will do this, the closer we will get to Paul’s struggle between living and dying. That is where I want to be!

Do you see how critical this choice can be?

Do you see yourself more often doing what is “more necessary” or not?

How do you need to move closer to Paul’s example?

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Do You Require The Show?

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I had an interesting experience recently and it got me thinking about our culture today. Whether we are talking about church or business or even our schools, it seems more and more that members of the audience require “The Show” before they will engage. Have you seen this to be the case?

the show

Perfectly Clear Message?

I was in church recently and listened to one of the clearest and most detailed explanations of what it means to be a disciple of Jesus. This was one of those rare instances in my experience when the actual meaning of discipleship was being presented in a way that even a 4th grade student could fully understand.

I was so excited because I think this topic is not discussed frequently enough these days. As I looked around to check the engagement of the audience, I was shocked to see so many that looked like they had checked out! I could not believe it!

No Engagement?

Before I go any further, please know that I KNOW I cannot read everyone’s minds. I KNOW I am only making some assumptions here, but believe you will agree with me if you think about it.

The more I tried to figure out the reason for the many blank stares, the more I became convinced that the problem was the lack of “The Show”. What I mean is that this particular message did not use pictures, lasers or lights, smoke, or music. In this case, the pastor was simply teaching.

Is Something Wrong?

What’s wrong with that? Well, in my opinion, there is nothing at all wrong with that. But my opinion is not the one that mattered in this situation. It was the opinion of the audience members that seemed to say, “You are not entertaining me right now, therefore I am checking out on you.”

I attend a contemporary service at our church. I like it and enjoy the atmosphere. At the same time, I have watched over time how this kind of service continues to evolve.

This is not bad necessarily, but it seems it is becoming more and more difficult to “entertain” the church members in such a way as to hold their attention and teach them. This is the part that I believe is a problem.

Is “The Show” Required?

Am I wrong for thinking this? Maybe. Is this the only setting where this seems to be a problem? I don’t think so.

Take our kids for example. From the time kids are old enough to hold a cell phone or tablet, most are being entertained by something virtually every hour they are awake.

This pattern holds true in the classrooms today as teachers must get more and more creative with “The Show” in order to hold the attention of their students past a handful of minutes. Don’t believe me? Ask a teacher!

Training, Too?

I have seen the same dynamic when training in our business. Unless there is constant changing of the scenery or some sort of electronic gadgetry holding their attention, many employees begin to mentally check out.

Don’t believe this? Next time you are sitting in a training session, count how many are peeking at their cell phones!

So what is my point?

What About Us?

Rather than ranting about how our society is turning into a bunch of mindless entertainment-seekers, I actually want to bring the spotlight back to you and me.

Do WE require “The Show”?

Do we have to go to a conference or hear a dynamic speaker to be convinced that our lives should follow the pattern given to us in Scripture? Do we need flashing lights and loud music to get our attention before we will accept truth and apply it to our lives and businesses?

This Is A Problem

Folks, if we do, then I think we are in pretty bad shape. I am not an expert in human behavior, but I can recognize that this is a problem.

I do not believe that “The Show” is all bad. There is some good to it, in moderation. However, given our current path, it IS my opinion that “The Show” will eventually take over and there will be no more room for the truth.

Instead of requiring the show, I believe we should be willing and able to sit down with the Bible, learn truth from it, and apply that truth to the way we live our lives and run our businesses. Does it really need to be more complicated than this?

Reflection

Think back to the last time that you were able to learn from a simple transfer of information – minus the hooplah. Can you remember it? If so, congratulations. If this is common for you, then that is fantastic! Teach someone else how you do it!

On the other hand, if you cannot remember situations when you have learned without “The Show”, then I encourage you to begin trying to reverse this path. As I have said before, you can start small. But start.

Do you agree that “The Show” is becoming a problem?

Do you require “The Show” or can you learn without it?

Do you think “The Show” could eventually replace the truth?

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Entitlement – Whose Problem Is It?

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You give and give and give. You do your best to say, “Yes” to any reasonable request from them. Then one day, you have to say, “No.” That’s when things go south quickly. While it may sound like I am describing my experience as the parent of teenagers, I am actually talking about entitlement among employees and coworkers!

entitlement

Entitlement In The Workplace

Have you ever experienced this kind of situation before? Maybe your experience with entitlement is limited to one or two employees or coworkers over your career. Maybe it is something you learned how to correct long ago. It might be something you are dealing with right now.

Whatever the case, entitlement is an attitude or mindset that is prevalent in our culture these days. Most likely, you have had to deal with this disease at one time or another in your career. While I wish I could say our society has improved in this area, I actually think it has become more of a problem than ever before.

In fact, I have heard multiple conference speakers talk about how the new generation of young adults (Gen Y) coming up has this problem worse than any other generation in memory. I know we have seen our share of entitlement show itself in our business. I am betting you have as well.

Answer This Question

Now that I have you worked up and thinking about the specific employees or coworkers that you think have the most extreme cases of entitlement, I want you to answer one question…

When did YOU last get frustrated when something did not go your way?

Wait a minute! Weren’t we just talking about all of those other people who have the problem with entitlement? Weren’t we all agreeing how bad our society is and how tough it is to deal with entitlement in the workplace? How did the focus turn back to us?

Remove The Log

Well, I guess those are fair questions. My answer is that we must first eliminate entitlement in ourselves before we attempt to address it in others. If I recall, Jesus said something about removing the log in our own eye first (Matthew 7:5). I think that applies here as well, don’t you think?

In case you need a refresher, entitlement is defined as the belief that one is inherently deserving of privileges or special treatment. At first glance, you may not see this behavior in yourself. That’s understandable. However, I would like to linger here a moment and let you think on a deeper level.

Taken For Granted?

Think about the daily conveniences that you (might) take for granted. When you flip the light switch, the light should come on. When you go to shower, there should be hot water. At least, there should be water, right? Your “fast” food should be fast…and hot…and available. I could go on…

To be fair, I must admit that I just returned from a 5 day mission trip to Haiti.

On this trip, I witnessed the worst poverty I have ever seen. I was not only shocked at the depth of it. I was completely and totally overwhelmed at the breadth of it. I saw almost nothing but extreme poverty. If you have never experienced it, you will not truly grasp what I am saying. I thought I knew what poverty looked like, but I had significantly underestimated it.

Joy In Harsh Conditions

You want to know what else I saw? I got to spend four days with 34 orphans that lived in the toughest conditions but exhibited more joy and gratitude than those who live in the luxury of the US. I cannot adequately describe to you the distinct difference between their mindset and that of American children their age – even American adults of ANY age.

In fact, their attitudes would blow your mind.

As I said, I cannot possibly describe my experience in a way that completely communicates the experience. Instead of attempting it, I will simply move on to my main point for this post.

Self Assessment

We are all spoiled and, to some degree, guilty of entitlement ourselves. Forget the employees or coworkers that frustrate us with this behavior. There is more than enough opportunity for improvement right here in the mirror to last for a while. If this is not true for you, then I congratulate you. You are better than me.

However, if you have a sneaky feeling that you might be guilty of entitlement, then I encourage you to stop and take an inventory of your feelings. Pray about it and ask God to reveal the truth to you…slowly, so you can handle it. If He dumps it on you all at once, it can be difficult!

Where do you see entitlement in your own life?

Do you see the need to remove it?

What do you see as the antidote to entitlement?

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Is Your Life Like Your Closet?

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I recently had to clean out my closet at home. After ten years without doing it, the accumulation of stuff and clothes that no longer fit had finally gotten out of hand. I finally recognized the need and set aside the time to clean it. In the process, I was reminded of a truth about life that all Christians need to learn. If you cannot see the connection between a clothes closet and a life truth, then read on!

closet

Organizing My Closet

Obviously, I first had to go through everything in my closet and determine whether I would keep it, give it away, or trash it. I went through work clothes, play clothes, socks, shoes, etc. I think you get the idea.

Once I did that, I figured I would take the opportunity to reorganize the entire closet. I know, that may be a little OCD, but I liked the idea and ran with it. I went to WalMart and bought a couple of cheap cloth baskets for socks, tshirts, etc. I placed these in line on my shelves.

I moved my work clothes to one side and put my casual clothes to the other side. I made sure my work shoes were easily accessed while the others were off to the side. My ties (fewer now because I got rid of those with stains or those too wide!) were placed on the tie rack in the corner and my belts moved to the other corner.

Each Had Its Place

When I was done, I stepped back in pride. I had found a nice, neat area for each type of clothing and accessory. While my closet may not win any HGTV awards for creativity or design, I had achieved what I had set out to do. I had compartmentalized the area and each part had its place.

As I stood there, I remembered the life truth I mentioned at the beginning of this post. If given the opportunity, many Christians will do the exact same thing with their faith as I did with my socks. Stick with me and I think you will see what I mean.

Separate Life Compartments

Too often, we as Christians compartmentalize our lives. We have time for our family. We allocate time for our work. We may prioritize some time with friends and/or hobbies. We also make sure we give time to our faith. Each area of our lives has its own time allotment.

Some of these areas overlap at times (friends and faith, family and hobbies, etc.), but for the most part they are each kept within their own compartment. This is especially true of our faith.

Maybe we have friends at church, but it is unlikely we are regularly and intentionally meeting with them to grow in our faith together. We don’t talk much about our faith with some of our other friends or family because they might get offended.

Faith And Workplace Separate?

We don’t allow our faith to enter our workplace for the same reason. Or it might be that we feel our faith will limit our ability to do business profitably. Surely God would not want that, right? Work is for Monday through Friday, family on Saturday, and we give God our Sundays. That is the way it has always been.

Unfortunately, the way it has always been is wrong. God does not want our Sundays (only). He wants our Mondays through Saturdays as well. He wants our time with family and our time with friends.

God Wants Our ALL!

God wants to be a part of our hobbies and our social lives. He wants to live in our workplace and direct our business decisions. There is not a single part of our lives that God does not want. He wants it all. Want proof?

Let’s just ask Jesus. He should know the answer, right? Jesus, what is the most important truth for us to remember in life?

Love the Lord your God with ALL of your heart, with ALL of your mind, and with ALL of your soul. This is the first and greatest commandment (emphasis mine).
Matthew 22:37-38

God IS Our Closet

Folks, we may need to compartmentalize our closets, garages, or work desk. Separate areas for separate items can be helpful for an organized mind. However, this is not true for our lives when it comes to our faith and our relationship with God.

In life, our faith in and relationship with God IS our closet. It IS our life. Everything else can have its separate place WITHIN our faith, but nothing we have or do should be separate from this faith. Our relationship with God permeates every aspect of our lives.

There is no other way to live out the Greatest Commandment.

What About Your Business Life?

Take a look at your business or work life. Reflect on how God is a part of this area of your life. If He is, what can you do to allow Him to be more involved. If He has not yet been allowed into this part of your life, then pray about how you can turn it over to Him.

The ultimate goal is for Him to fully control this area (along with all other areas) of your life, with you as the passenger and Him as the driver. That is a tough position to reach, but the more you prepare for it, the easier it becomes.

Is your life compartmentalized like your closet?

If you changed it at one time, has it drifted back?

What action do you need to take next?

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Do Not Ask WWJD!

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Charles Sheldon’s book, In His Steps, introduced Christians to a powerful question more than 100 years ago. Since then, Christians have been asking “WWJD?” (What Would Jesus Do?) when faced with difficult choices or deciding what action to take. I am a huge fan of that book and it is on my recommended reading list. In fact, I believe every Christian should read it, but it is my recommendation that you NOT ask this question. Let me explain.

WWJD

Sports Hero?

In an effort to create a visual illustration of my thought process, I want you to think of your favorite sports figure. Picture in your mind a scene where they are exhibiting the height of their skills in a single move.

Maybe you are picturing a wide receiver in football making an unbelievably acrobatic, one-handed catch while diving for the end zone. Maybe it is a batter in baseball reaching for the outside curveball, getting just enough of it to send it over the infield and into the outfield before dropping to allow the game-winning run.

I could go on with examples, but I believe you get the picture. The idea here is that this athlete is doing something that you would love to imitate. If you could, you would put yourself into his or her position and do the same thing, right? Haven’t you dreamed about something similar at one time or another?

You Are Not Prepared

Here is the problem. You and I are not prepared for that situation. We have not put in the hours of practice, workouts, stretches, and training that this particular athlete has given. The move or play that you saw them make was the culmination of thousands of hours of preparation.

For you or me to be given the exact same opportunity and expect to be able to make the same play as our favorite athlete – that is somewhat crazy, don’t you think? While I am perfectly okay with a fantasy like this, I do think we need to recognize that it is just that…a fantasy.

Hours Of Work Required!

The only way you or I could truly be ready to execute the same play would be to prepare in the same way, right? We really would need to put in the hours of hard work, practice, and training if we wanted to be able to direct our bodies to respond the same way.

This idea is no different in business, right? It would be naive for us to expect to be able to have the insight or acumen necessary to identify and exploit a huge profit opportunity in the market without having the years of experience and learning in that particular industry.

Why Different When Imitating Jesus?

So why is it that we think we can simply ask the question, “WWJD – What would Jesus do?” and get the answer we need? Why do we think we can wait until the heat of the moment when faced with temptation, tough moral choices, or other decisions before we ask this question?

Put Jesus in the place of the athlete in the earlier illustration. Like them, He prepared for a lifetime. As a man, He spent his life seeking the will of His Father. He was constantly withdrawing to a quiet place to be alone with His Father and pray. He was totally and completely focused on living out His mission on earth, not allowing distractions.

More Than Asking WWJD!

In the same way, if we truly want to imitate Jesus, we must do more than simply ask what He would do in any given situation. Instead, we must be willing to dedicate the time, energy, and effort necessary to prepare as He prepared.

If we really want to run our businesses the way Jesus would run them if He were the boss, then we must focus our minds and hearts on learning all we can about Him and His actions. We cannot simply hope the answers will appear just because we ask the WWJD question.

Disciplined Discipleship!

We must commit the time in the mornings to read His Word. Studying the Bible and how it applies to each of us today is critical. We must memorize Scripture so that we can quote it in the face of temptation, just like He did.

We have to prioritize time alone in prayer with our Father the way Jesus did. If we are not constantly communicating with God in a way that allows us to become intimately familiar with His overall will for our lives, then we will have no clue what Jesus would do in a given situation.

Time With Sinners?

We also need to spend our time around sinners and those in need. While you may not immediately see how this can be helpful, I promise that it is. First of all, this is something Jesus did so that is really all you need to know. If you will just do it for a while, you will begin to see why it is necessary.

But since you are impatient, I will tell you that spending your time around these people will increase your sensitivity to the needs of the world around you. You will be better able to see that this life is not all about you, but is about God and communicating His love to everyone. Doing this will enable you to feel the compassion Jesus had for those around Him.

Answers From Preparation

When you combine all of the above over a period of time, you will find that the answer to your question (WWJD) will come more easily. The more you prepare like Jesus did, the more you may find you don’t even need to stop to ask the question – the answer will already be there.

What are your thoughts about asking WWJD?

How prepared do you feel you are to ask the question?

What should be your next step in preparation?

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Prayer: Voicemail Or Live Call?

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I have a confession to make. I am not good at prayer. I am not someone who is consistent with long, meaningful prayer time on a daily basis. Sure there are times when I pray more than others, but more often I struggle with doing it at all. While this may surprise you, I am betting many of you struggle the same way.

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What Is The Problem?

So what is the problem? Why is it so hard for us to pray? Why does it feel so dry at times, like it is one-sided rather than a conversation between friends or a father-child talk?

Since I am one that struggles with this, I will go ahead and tell you that I do not have all of the answers. I do not have a simple 3 step plan that will turn you into a prayer warrior. If that is what you were hoping for, then I am sorry to disappoint you.

What I will do is walk through my thoughts on the roots of the problem. Hopefully, something I say will help you move closer to a more meaningful prayer life. If so, I would love to hear your thoughts on this in the comment section.

Prayer Is A Privilege!

First and foremost, we have to realize that prayer is an incredible privilege. It is not meant to be a burden to us, but a remover of burdens. It is not to be an item on our daily “To Do” list that we simply check off. Instead, it is the unimaginable opportunity to speak directly with our Creator!

Prior to Jesus, only a select few (priests) were allowed to pray on behalf of the people. Now, after the curtain has been torn during the crucifixion, we are given the freedom to approach God as individuals. We are no longer forced to make our requests or give our praises through someone else as our mouthpiece.

We are His children with the right to approach Him directly! Until we see God as a Father that loves us more than we can imagine, we will struggle to pray. Until we recognize that He wants a personal relationship with us, we will see prayer as a burden.

Prayer Is Live!

Along that same line of thinking, we have to recognize that prayer is not like leaving a voicemail for God. We do not have to call and leave a message for Him. We are given the freedom and opportunity to call Him anytime…and we get Him live! He is listening to our every word, observing the feelings in our hearts, and speaking back to us.

Sure, I agree that it would often be a lot easier if He would simply speak audibly and give us the instructions on what we are to do. It would make life simpler if we heard His voice in a back-and-forth dialogue!

At the same time, we must remember that God’s goal is not our ease or comfort. His goal is to conform us to the likeness of Jesus. He is not interested in making everything easier for us. He is more interested in our growth.

Through His Word

Instead of speaking to us audibly, God has already given us His Word. If we would treat the Bible as His Word, spoken directly to us, to be learned, internalized, and followed as we live our lives, I am convinced we would find prayer to be less of a struggle.

I do not think it is a coincidence that I see my times of least effective prayer to be happening at the same time I am also struggling to spend focused time studying the Bible. I think there is a direct relationship between our confidence in prayer and the amount of time we spend reading God’s Word.

Practice Required!

Finally, I think we cannot ignore that sometimes we simply have to keep doing something for a while before we become “good” at it. Whether it is giving presentations, analyzing reports, or interviewing candidates, nothing is normally easy and comfortable the first few times we do it.

It takes commitment and dedication to the practice of prayer before we feel natural when doing it. We must realize there are going to be dry spells. There are going to be times when we feel our prayers are bouncing off the ceiling. We are going to experience days when it feels like we are leaving a message after the beep.

Despite this, we must continue to try. We need to spend more time in God’s Word and begin building our relationship with Him, one brick at a time. Over time, I think we will see our prayer muscles begin to develop and we will see more fruit from our efforts!

Do you approach prayer like voicemail?

Do you see the connection between effective prayer and being in His Word?

How much effort are you actually giving to extended time in prayer?

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Overcoming Career Challenges

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[The following is a guest post, written by Jasen Lawrence. Jasen is President of City Wide Maintenance of Washington. He shares about his experience in overcoming career challenges through his faith in God.]

Even the most talented, hardworking, and well-meaning people encounter career challenges. Whether it be a demotion, dismissal, or confrontation with a colleague or superior, it can be hard to overcome obstacles in the work place.

overcoming

Overcoming Challenges

Throughout the course of my career, which has included corporate sales and management positions, I have faced many of these obstacles head-on and developed strategies to navigate roadblocks.

Today, fortunately, my perseverance has paid off. I now own and operate City Wide Maintenance of Washington, a successful building maintenance management company that continues to grow steadily in the years since its launch.

I firmly believe the success of my business and the progression of my career would not have been possible if I hadn’t placed my reliance on God. It’s through God’s guidance that I learned to navigate many corporate and personal roadblocks.

Here are three defining moments that exemplify the important role God has played in shaping my career:

Learning to Walk in Humility

Fresh from college and eager to kick-start my career, I began applying for positions in sales and business management. The first position I secured proved to be one of the most trying jobs I have held throughout the course of my career.

Full of ambition, I dove head first into my new job with the hopes of climbing the ladder quickly and transitioning into a more managerial role. While I lacked professional experience, I knew I had the drive and determination to reach the next level.

The next thing I knew, five years had passed. While I achieved many awards and recognition for my work, I was never promoted to the managerial level I desired. As a result, I began to become discouraged.

One day, I built up the courage to approach my supervisor to ask his advice on what steps I needed to take to earn a managerial promotion. Calmly, he explained to me that I needed to reign in my ambition. Not only was I told my achievements were not good enough, but that I should not even apply for the managerial position.

Obviously, I took this news hard. After half a decade of hard work, and proving myself time and time again, I could not understand why I had been dealt this blow. Fortunately, my family – especially my wife – were by my side to love and support me.

Looking back, I understand God was testing me. God was showing me that if I am willing to walk humbly before him, I will then understand my need for him to work in and through my life. Humility is the quality I need to reach the next step in my career, and I remain humble by placing my confidence in God.

A Time for Faith, Not Fear

I remember the first time I was introduced to the Oddo family and the City Wide Maintenance franchise model. A friend had suggested I explore the opportunity because he thought it would be a good fit. For several years, I had been in search of an opportunity to own and operate my own business.

It did not take long for me to sign-on. I was immediately attracted to the building maintenance management company’s philosophy and mission statement, both of which focused on being of service to others and supporting the surrounding community.

But, nonetheless, it was a huge step – an investment that would dramatically change the course of my career. From the onset, I was nervous. I desperately wanted to have the opportunity to bear the fruits of my own labor. Owning my own business would provide this opportunity. However, it would also require I invest everything I had. It was a decision that weighed heavily on my mind.

It was with God’s help I managed to overcome my nerves. I placed my trust in God and walked through these feelings of doubt and hesitation. Today, I am grateful I took the leap of faith and plunged into entrepreneurial waters.

Hope, Patience, and Faith

In my new position as president/owner of City Wide Maintenance of Washington, I faced an entirely new set of challenges – including my own impatience.

After being an owner for approximately 14 months, our team was approached by a prospect that was struggling to choose whether to work with us or one of our competitors. To help with the vetting process, the company allowed us to manage one of their properties so they could assess our services.

Our team worked hard to earn the new business. Despite this, the prospect decided to hire one of our competitors.

Frustrated, I could not understand why we hadn’t been chosen. I was both disappointed and frustrated. Impatient, I hastily moved forward and came to terms with the prospect’s decision.

Several months later, I received a call from the same prospect who let us know the other company had not met its standards. They also shared their interest in hiring us to conduct maintenance on all of their properties.

This is another example of how God tests me. Whether I needed to be patient for five months, or five years, God blessed me with reminders that his plan for my life and career was already perfectly laid out for me. All I needed to do was place my reliance on God and everything would work out.

In summary, I am grateful for the challenges I have faced. Each obstacle I have overcome has brought me closer to God and helped instill the importance of faith in achieving success in my life and my career.

Jasen Lawrence currently lives in Renton, Wa. with his wife and two kids; also serving as an active member of his local church.

Jasen joined City Wide in 2011 as President after 5 years in sales roles experience. He believes the most successful client relationships derive from a complete understanding of their pain. According to Jasen, the most advantageous building maintenance solutions for clients will directly address their pain, saving the client time and frustration.

To learn more about Jasen and City Wide, please visit: City Wide Maintenance website