subscribe, view past issues  and  Get the Book How to Make a Decision Releasing Kings does a great job of helping people connect with an anointing to be spiritual, entrepreneurial, and missions-minded. Many of us are in a process of translating the “release” into concrete actions in the marketplace. Here’s how one person put the question in a recent email. I've just recently finished (consuming) Releasing Kings and now, am blessed by your newsletters. Both, continue to draw me in, speak to my soul and "stir the juices"… My question is painted with a broad stroke. When you're certain, God has "poised" you for release and you've won the battle over doubt, discouragement and every (catastrophic) fiery dart and you're able to stand in the knowledge and confidence of what He has promised (Hos. 2:14-23) -- how do you "take the initiative" to step out (even when you so want to) to be a King, when that "step" is not made clear, through you or by the Lord?  Hearing God – Many are tweaking the way they hear from God. Let’s try to distinguish the two approaches. 1.      The classic, traditional approach is centered on a belief that “sovereignty” means that God knows and controls the future. Under this view our only job is to find the singular “will of God” and do it. Initiative is viewed as a swamp of presumptuous shipwrecks fraught with temptations that play on our carnality. We only move when the Spirit leads. 2.      The Kingly approach is premised on the fact that God has reserved a portion of the future for us to rule and reign with him. “God’s sovereignty” is understood to mean that He can do anything he wants to intervene at anytime He wants to. However, He chooses to let much of history unfold through the activity of Kings. Thus our initiative plays a huge role in co-laboring with Christ. Since we’re created in His image we consider the desires of our hearts as holy ground; deserving attention, discernment, and action. The promised land is a place where our heart’s desires, our gifts, our vocation, and our ministry all align with God’s plan for our lives. A plan that we play some role in defining via our “relationship” with Jesus. From a practical standpoint all Christians face weighty decisions without absolutely clear guidance on what to do. The classic approach (1) actually causes well-meaning believers to invent hunches and impressions and act on them as though they came from the Holy Spirit. They are theologically unable to accept that their heart’s desires and initiative may be the means through which God expects them to make decisions. The other reality is our history. We can all point to initiatives we entertained that failed utterly and were obviously not the “path of the righteous.” Mentoring – There is a common missing ingredient that will facilitate our transition from (1) to (2). It’s wisdom; the practical guidance of someone with experience. I believe God is unfolding a fathering ingredient for marketplace ministries that fits this apostolic age. Instead of (or in addition to) closeting ourselves in prayer and fasting waiting for that perfectly clear guidance, let’s define a direction based on the desire of our heart and find a believer that has the background to help us make it happen. Really successful Kings love to share their secrets with people that share their heart’s desires. Have a Father and Be one - Said another way, we see Christian friends in this transition from waiting on God to deploying their hearts desire. Let’s help them. Some are in their 20’s and 30’s and others are boomers nearing retirement. Instead of watching them flounder through all the blind alleys, help them define a path (or better yet, several paths) through the forest that they can implement with a little guidance. Help them connect the dots between their own heart’s desire, gifts, ministry, and vocation. Make people development a part of your own marketplace ministry. Networking - I am continually amazed at the level of networking between Kings already operating in their anointing. It’s one of the biggest things Kings do that others don’t. Their breakthroughs come in the form of divine appointments with other people. One friend (John Laney) is particularly fun to watch. Every time he hears about someone on a related track he picks up the phone and introduces himself… trolling for divine appointments. He treats every new acquaintance as though he or she may be an angel sent by the Lord to help him or join him in building the Kingdom. He expects divine contacts and facilitates them. His mentor operates at funding levels one or two orders of magnitude above John’s. But, there is no doubt in my mind that John will surpass the level of blessing on his mentors because of his initiative, faith, favor, and business plan. Why does he have such blessed mentoring? Initiative – he picked up the phone, had the lunch, and walked through the open door. More specifically, he found a way to help his mentor, built a relationship, gained the experience, and “earned” the favor.   Life is an adventure. People are a blessing. God is amazing. We're winning.   Love, John & Harold     (are dancing - Join us)   Conference in Charlotte, NC You're invited to a conference called a Gathering of Kings on September 23. A local businessmen (Tim Flachman) got excited about the book and newsletters and has teamed up with other Marketplace Ministers to make it happen. Tim is a great example of what God is doing in young, visionary entrepreneurs with a heart for ministry. Make plans to be there and receive the impartation. You can see Tim's interview at http://releasing-kings.com/Tim-Flachman.html and register for the conference at http://www.agatheringofkings.com.     ____________________________________________________________________ You can get your copy of Releasing Kings for Ministry in the Marketplace at 1-800-308-5837 (or) www.releasing-kings.com