Move From Micromanaging

Move From Micromanaging

Exodus 18: ¹³ And so it was, on the next day, that Moses sat to judge the people; and the people stood before Moses from morning until evening. ¹⁴ So when Moses’ father-in-law saw all that he did for the people, he said, “What is this thing that you are doing for the people? Why do you alone sit, and all the people stand before you from morning until evening?”

 

¹⁵ And Moses said to his father-in-law, “Because the people come to me to inquire of God. ¹⁶ When they have a difficulty, they come to me, and I judge between one and another; and I make known the statutes of God and His laws.”

 

¹⁷ So Moses’ father-in-law said to him, “The thing that you do is not good. ¹⁸ Both you and these people who are with you will surely wear yourselves out. For this thing is too much for you; you are not able to perform it by yourself. ¹⁹ Listen now to my voice; I will give you counsel, and God will be with you: Stand before God for the people, so that you may bring the difficulties to God. ²⁰ And you shall teach them the statutes and the laws, and show them the way in which they must walk and the work they must do. ²¹ Moreover you shall select from all the people able men, such as fear God, men of truth, hating covetousness; and place such over them to be rulers of thousands, rulers of hundreds, rulers of fifties, and rulers of tens. ²² And let them judge the people at all times. Then it will be that every great matter they shall bring to you, but every small matter they themselves shall judge. So it will be easier for you, for they will bear the burden with you. ²³ If you do this thing, and God so commands you, then you will be able to endure, and all this people will also go to their place in peace.”

 

²⁴ So Moses heeded the voice of his father-in-law and did all that he had said. ²⁵ And Moses chose able men out of all Israel, and made them heads over the people: rulers of thousands, rulers of hundreds, rulers of fifties, and rulers of tens. ²⁶ So they judged the people at all times; the hard cases they brought to Moses, but they judged every small case themselves.

 

²⁷ Then Moses let his father-in-law depart, and he went his way to his own land.

 

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After hearing the complaints of the people. Moses fell into the trap of thinking he had to solve every problem for the people by himself. Jethro watched Moses and provided wise counsel.

 

My Observations:

• Moses may have felt alone, so he took it upon himself to speak to GOD about every matter concerning the millions of people he was leading.
• Jethro saw that Moses was trying to do everything alone and provided wise counsel to get some help.
• Moses listened to Jethro and appointed those who feared GOD, were truthful and who did not covet.

 

Feeling responsible for everyone’s wellbeing is a great quality of a leader, But, as Jethro pointed out, taking on too much responsibility for everyone is not a good thing. Moses was probably speaking to GOD in a one at a time fashion. He would hear one problem then race to GOD, then turn around and ask for another problem to solve.

 

Jethro knew Moses was getting bits and pieces of GOD’s law and he suggested that Moses teach others what GOD said to him. There was no formal law at this point. I believe the HOLY SPIRIT led Jethro to give Moses this wisdom.

 

Challenge

• Why does GOD remind Moses about the wisdom from Jethro?
• Are you trying to do everything yourself and are not asking for help?
• Is it time to ask GOD to bring you the help you need to fulfil HIS vision?

Letting Go

Letting Go

Jude 1: ¹⁴ It was Enoch, the seventh direct descendant from Adam, who long ago prophesied this about them: “The Lord will come with many thousands of his holy angels ¹⁵ to bring judgment on all, to condemn them all for the godless deeds they have performed and for all the terrible words that godless sinners have spoken against him!”

 

¹⁶ These people are always grumbling and blaming others; they follow their own evil desires; they brag about themselves and flatter others in order to get their own way.

 

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After the third interview, I wondered if I got the job. My handler said to me “A third round of interviews is strange, but they seem ready to extend an offer.” I got comfortable with those words and stopped interviewing. I was about to be hired for one of the largest companies in the world! About a week later they told me the position was put on hold. A week after that, the company announced they were laying off tens of thousands of people.

 

• I may have gotten my way but would not have wanted what I got.
• My way was going to end in disaster.
• I was mad that it was taking so long to get “my” way but I am glad I didn’t.

 

Jude focused on a prophecy that has not yet come to pass. He warns against grumbling, blaming others, following selfish evil desires, bragging and flattery to get their own way.

 

My Observations:

• GOD’s ways are not my ways until I can let go of getting “my” way.
• Trying to get “my” way may blind me to what GOD wants.
• Letting go of “my” way opens me up for GOD to provide “the WAY.”

 

JESUS is “The Way” according to HIM. HE needs no other explanation with HIS statement. All things that are made were made through HIM. GOD revealed HIM as HIS SON for whom HE is well pleased. GOD gives me ample time to brag about JESUS. But unfortunately I don’t use my time wisely.

 

Instead I grumble and complain about what I don’t have versus what I do. I then ask GOD “What’s YOUR problem?” or “Why aren’t you giving me ‘my’ way?” GOD uses HIS patience by not answering because HE is about to do something totally different. I may try to hold on, but I am glad that when I let go, GOD shows me that HE had ‘it’ in the first place.

 

Challenge

• Who is included in the writer’s warning?
• Have you ever gotten mad at GOD or GOD’s people because you were not getting “your” way?
• Will you add “surrender” to your life so you can let go of getting “your” way, replacing it with “The WAY” today?

Rest

Rest

2 Thessalonians 1: From Paul, Silas, and Timothy—

To the people of the church in Thessalonica, who belong to God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ:

² May God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ give you grace and peace.

 

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Thinking of the many problems life had thrown at me, I laid awake at night. Knowing I had to go to work made me more anxious as I saw the hours tick away. “Maybe if I do some work” was my thought to get whatever was bugging me off my mind. I found myself working almost twenty four hours a day.

 

• I could not rest.
• I could not stop thinking about the many problems I faced.
• I could not solve or resolve any of the problems, so rest seemed elusive.

 

Paul, Silas and Timothy begin another letter to the Thessalonians with a miniature prayer. They knew times were difficult. They wished for all who belong to GOD our Father and the LORD JESUS CHRIST to be given grace and peace.

 

My Observations

• Life can be difficult, BUT GOD wants me to have peace which only comes from HIM.
• My sins may cause me to lose sleep, BUT GOD wants me to know HIS grace is sufficient.
• Worry, rage, doubt and disillusion may appear all around me, BUT GOD wants me to accept HIS grace and peace.

 

Knowing I am forgiven and that my troubles are temporary gives me grace and peace. I mean, I can confess my sins directly to GOD the FATHER because I believe JESUS died and rose for my sins. JESUS volunteered to die as a human because HE created them in the first place. HIS resurrection gives me the ability to be forgiven.

 

The HOLY SPIRIT was given to me as my Comforter. HE lives inside me and pleads on my behalf due to the many sins I commit. HE convicts me once, then guides me to peace versus harassment over the sin I commit over and over. I am glad GOD the FATHER, GOD the SON and GOD the HOLY SPIRIT are one and agree to give me grace and peace.

 

Challenge

• Why do the writers start with this miniature prayer?
• Have you ever lost sleep because of life’s circumstances?
• Will you give all of your circumstances to GOD who is willing to forgive you and give you grace and peace today?

Next Level

Next Level

Colossians 3: ¹³ Be tolerant with one another and forgive one another whenever any of you has a complaint against someone else. You must forgive one another just as the Lord has forgiven you.

 

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As we sat at the picnic table, someone knocked over a drink into “my” food. I pouted because I was a child. “Forgive” were the words given to me. After some cooling down time, I was able to let it go. After that incident, other people spilled stuff and I easily forgave. One day a bully punched me in the chest so hard I almost passed out.

 

• I had been attacked so “How am I supposed to forgive?” was my question.
• I could not fight back, but I wanted something “bad” to happen to the bully.
• I remembered the words “forgive” and I had to do it, reluctantly.

 

Paul addresses differences of opinions. One person had a way of doing things and another had an opposing way to do the same thing. This raised complaints. He provided a way to resolve the differences. “Forgive one another.”

 

My Observations

• There seems to be another level of forgiveness GOD wants me to reach.
• As life goes on, I seem to face a variety of situations and people who need me to forgive.
• GOD forgave me and wants me to forgive others, even when my complaint is justified.

 

Someone said “Forgive and forget”, but it is the “forget part that trips me up. I mean, I do remember what happened so did I not forgive? Having a good memory does not seem to be the problem. Holding back GOD’s love from someone who hurt me is the problem. Why forgive in the first place?  Because the LORD has forgiven me.

 

HE wants him or her to be forgiven too. HE knows humans will have differences in approach, values and opinions. HE also knows this will cause quarrels. HIS message still needs to be spread to everyone. The only way to spread the message is to drop my “offenses”, “defenses”  and be ready to forgive those who are hard to forgive. I am glad GOD forgave me and teaches me to forgive, little by little.

 

Challenge

• What complaint does the writer speak about that does not warrant forgiveness?
• Have you ever been stuck on doing things a certain way and have a difference in opinion that you cannot let go of?
• Will you take purpose into your relationships and forgive those who may be difficult to forgive?

Unstuck

Unstuck

Colossians 1: ¹⁹ For it was by God's own decision that the Son has in himself the full nature of God. ²⁰ Through the Son, then, God decided to bring the whole universe back to himself. God made peace through his Son's blood on the cross and so brought back to himself all things, both on earth and in heaven.

 

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After years of dedication and hard work, I was told “the position is being eliminated.” Handing me an award for the best team added insult to injury. I could not concentrate during the final days. So much of my identity was tied up in work.

 

• I was stuck on “my” accomplishments.
• I was stuck on trying to make sense out of something that made no sense.
• I was stuck trying to see if I made mistakes, so I spent hours replaying words, actions and thoughts.

 

GOD the FATHER gives the ultimate example of moving forward, according to Paul’s letter. HE showed unmatched restraint by allowing the creation to senselessly murder and blame the creator. HE decided to reconcile versus destroy everyone and everything.

 

My Observations

• GOD provides me with a way to become unstuck when I get stuck in the past.
• GOD’s example of forgiveness is something I can obtain when I ask for it.
• GOD can help me to let go, especially when I relapse into pitying my circumstance.

 

“Forgive and forget” seems impossible when I am stuck. I mean, when I replay past hurts over and over and over again, I get stuck in a loop where there is no room for forgiveness. BUT GOD wants me out of the loop.

 

HE picks me up out of the hole of unforgiveness and moves me forward. HE gives me words of peace and reconciliation through the SON and enables me to serve those who threw poison darts at me. I am glad I can let go of seeing “punishment” and turn to GOD’s example of hoping everyone knows JESUS in a saving way.

 

Challenge

• What human intervention does the writer mention, if any?
• Have you ever been stuck in hurt or cannot see a way out of your situation?
• Will you follow GOD’s example and decide to move forward regardless of past or current circumstances?

Praise and Thanksgiving

Praise and Thanksgiving

Ephesians 5: ¹⁸ Do not get drunk with wine, which will only ruin you; instead, be filled with the Spirit. ¹⁹ Speak to one another with the words of psalms, hymns, and sacred songs; sing hymns and psalms to the Lord with praise in your hearts. ²⁰ In the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, always give thanks for everything to God the Father.

 

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Parking in a tight parking lot, I carefully got out of my new vehicle. A careless guy opened his door quickly, nicking the paint on my new van. The newness was ruined and from that moment on, all I could see was the small dent and the nicked paint.

 

• I was focused only on the problem.
• All I could see was something to complain about.
• I replayed the action of the guy over and over, each time I saw the nick.

 

Paul gives everyone some advice for every situation. “Always give thanks for everything” were his difficult words. He had been beaten, jailed, chased and almost killed by those who opposed believing in JESUS. He had a lot to complain about, but gave a solid alternative.

 

My Observations

• Praise to GOD should be used as a cure of the problem.
• Seeing GOD’s  provision in my life takes practice.
• Giving thanks to GOD reduces my complaints and provides me with joy and cheer.

 

Staying in a state of complaining, worry and anger seems to be what the adversary wants. I mean, if I always have something to grouse about, I remain blind to the extreme blessings GOD has given me. I focus on the little problem and sometimes make it bigger in my mind each time I play out the words he or she may have said.

 

GOD gives me an alternative, namely praise and thanksgiving. HE doesn’t want me mad, sad or bad. HE provides in the middle of the storm and when problems seem to be at their greatest. I am thankful for all HE has done and I praise GOD for HIS greatness. Great is thy faithfulness!

 

Challenge

• Why do you think the writer starts off the warning with “do not get drunk?”
• What problems have you focused on and played over in your mind over and over?
• Will you take a moment to praise GOD when your troubles pop up in your mind and give GOD thanks when you feel troubled today?