December 26, 2010
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Mediocre Mindset Average is safe
- I'm fascinated by the things that hold us back from achieving our
full
potential. One of the most common failure scenarios is resting once you
get to
average. Many use sabotage to achieve mediocrity. The logic goes
something like
this, "If I try to achieve too much, I may lose what I have." The
mediocre mindset is the brother of poverty. Once we fill our own cup,
we stop
so that there really isn't enough to give to others. We may have said
these things in our hearts:
Mediocrity
is really the most common form of selfishness, where we say "no" to
the affluence and influence that would position us to go beyond our own
needs
and bless others. The excuses are just a rationalization of why we
should play
it safe and not put our own needs at risk. We’re not just afraid of
failure;
we’re even more afraid of success, because it implies change and
challenge.
Nothing threatens a comfort zone like promotion and more
responsibility. Going
around the same mountain again and again is the easy way to mediocre,
double-minded and unstable; not an attitude that will possess your land. I know your
deeds, that you are
neither cold nor hot. I wish you were either one or the other! 16 So,
because
you are lukewarm — neither hot nor cold — I am about to spit you out of
my
mouth. Rev 3:15-17 NIV Resurrection
life - Life really
begins when we learn to take manageable risks
for the Kingdom and get outside the circle of self. It's actually
allowing one
portion of our self-life to die so that our real identity in Christ can
come to
the surface. Taking care of "me" is best accomplished by taking care
of you from a Kingdom perspective. When I take care of God's business
by
seeking the Kingdom first, He takes care of mine.... not an easy
concept to
embrace! Jesus replied,
"The hour has
come for the Son of Man to be glorified. 24 I tell you the truth,
unless a
kernel of wheat falls to the ground and dies, it remains only a single
seed.
But if it dies, it produces many seeds. 25 The man who loves his life
will lose
it… John 12:23-25 NIV Whoever finds
his life will lose it,
and whoever loses his life for my sake will find it. Matt 10:39 NIV
Jesus did lay his
life down and so should we. He also picked
it back up again and so should we. Experiencing practical resurrections
in this
life implies initiative. “The reason my
Father loves me is
that I lay down my life — only to take it up again. 18 No one takes it
from me,
but I lay it down of my own accord. I have authority to lay it down and
authority to take it up again. This command I received from my Father."
John 10:17-18 NIV Extraordinary
- Real ministry that significantly impacts others costs two things -
affluence
and influence. We like to think that it's spiritual to operate behind
the
scenes and maintain a low profile behind a facade of false humility.
All we've
done is surrender the limelight to the devil. God is looking for some
Kings who
are willing to rise up and allow their names to be made great and to
carry
enough financial leverage to bless the nations. That's a covenant
commitment not
to maintain a low profile. Daniel set himself apart because he had
extraordinary wisdom and spirit. "This was
because an extraordinary
spirit,
knowledge and
insight, interpretation of dreams, explanation of enigmas and solving
of
difficult problems were found in this Daniel Dan 5:12 NASU "Now I have
heard about you
that a spirit of the gods is in you, and that illumination, insight and
extraordinary
wisdom
have been found in
you. Dan 5:14 NASU Then this
Daniel began distinguishing
himself
among the
commissioners and satraps because he possessed an extraordinary spirit,
and the
king planned to appoint him over the entire kingdom. Dan 6:3-4 NASU God wants to make
your name great! Are you willing to say,
"yes Lord," and then try to make it happen? Like Daniel, we are all
called to distinguish ourselves from average and ordinary and become
preeminent
at the top of the class, or profession or mountain. "I
will make you into a great nation and I will bless you; I
will make your name great, and you will be a blessing. I
will bless those who bless you, and whoever curses you I will curse; and
all peoples on earth will be blessed through you." Gen 12:2-3 NIV An amazing ride
- Once we decide to surrender our mediocrity, an amazing thing happens.
The
favor of God begins to feel like the wind is at our back and doors do
open when
we knock on them. It's scary. The vulnerability feels like a high-wire
act and
we do fall occasionally... right into the arms of a loving Father who
sets our
feet back on the high places. Don't miss out on the life of Christ;
it's all
about resurrections…. “Picking your life up again.” You can fail and
come back
- that's why we can afford to try. ·
Love only comes
to those willing to
risk getting hurt. You can protect your heart by being alone, but the
experience of loving and being loved is worth the risk. Martina McBride
captured this point in a song: Safe
in the Arms of Love. ·
Prosperity only
comes to those
willing to "wisely" put the nest egg to work and intentionally position
themselves to multiply. ·
Greatness only
comes to those
willing to put fear behind them and step up to the platform and make
their
dream come true. Faith is a
vulnerable place to live. Living to protect
yourself is a prison that is boring and misses the fullness of your
God-given
destiny. You have to choose life. Please say yes and let the doors
open. Hold
on tight to what you feel inside
and make that dream come true. We have to decide what we want and then
learn
how to ask for it, work for it, and receive it. This
day I call heaven and earth as witnesses against you that I have set
before you
life and death, blessings and curses. Now
choose life, so that you
and your children may live and that you may love
the Lord your God, listen to his voice, and hold fast to him. For the
Lord is
your life, and he will give you many years in the land he swore to give
to your
fathers, Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. Deut 30:19-20 NIV
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