Painting Your Preferred Future

We are making an agreement in writing; and on the sealed document are the names of our leaders, our Levites and our priests....The rest of the people...are joining with thier kismen, thier nobles...to keep and to observe all the commandments of GOD our Lord, and His ordinances and His statues (Nehemiah 9:38; 10:28-29).

What I am about to share is an axiom for life. Don't miss this lesson.

In the book of Nehemiah, the people gathered together and made a covenant to which all the nobles, elders, and leaders affixed their signatures. This covenant would establish their trajectory toward a God-oriented preferred future. This was done at a time when they had spent nearly a whole day before the Lord in praise, worship, and listening to His Word.

Then with clarity of mind, they set these covenant standards on paper and committed themselves to carrying them out. It was written down because they knew that when their emotions changed about how they were to live and conduct themselves, they could refer back and navigate by these standards. Even when they could not see, they would pilot their decisions by these markings.

Commitments to a preferred future do not come randomly. They are intentionally established at times when you are thinking clearly and are close to God. They are not made impetuously, nor when you are in a slump, discouraged, depressed, or in a physical setback. Neither are these course markers established when you are overly optimistic or in some idealistic mood.

In the clearest of times, when you are near to Christ and thinking with insight rather than ambiguity, imagine your ideal future. Write down that picture and how it can best be attained. You must write it down. Write down what your priority relationships will be that must remain healthy regardless of how you feel or what happens: your relationship with Christ and your relationship with spouse and family.

Answer these questions:

How do you want to be seen in ten years?
What do you want to be good at or known for?
What kind of personality do you want to have?
What do you want your family to look like?

The more clearly defined your target, the more apt you are to hit it!

Expecting Great Things,
Bryan

Dealing With Critics

In my devotional studies, I am going back through the book of Nehemiah. Where leadership and vision casting are concerned, you will not find a better biblical model than Nehemiah. As I was reading chapter two, I was impressed by this fact: whenever God gives you a vision, Satan will always send someone to attack it.

God gave Nehemiah a vision to rebuild the walls of Jerusalem and bring the people back to God. However, Satan sends Sanballat, Tobiah, and Geshem to bring opposition and ridicule to Nehemiah and the people. In v.19 of chapter two, Nehemiah says these men, "mocked and despised us..." Think about that for a moment and let it sink in. When God gives you a white hot vision to do something great for His kingdom be prepared. The Sanballats, Tobiahs, and Geshems are going to come out of the woodwork. They are going to try to discouraged you. They are going to mock you. They are even going to despise you. However, you must not let that prevent you from achieving the purpose God placed you here on this earth for.

I want you to notice Nehemiah's reply in v.20: "The God of heaven is the One who will grant us success." If you are obsessed with the critics, then you cannot be obsessed with Jesus! It is not up to us to silence the critics. God is the one who will grant us success when we completely and totally follow Him regardless of what others around us are saying. Don't listen to the critics, listen to God. Trust me, your life will be much better for it.

Expecting Great Things,
Bryan