100 Day Challenge (Day 3)

CHAPTER.three
Let Go of the Idea that Gentle,

Relaxed People Can't be Super-Achievers

Summary:

• Success is in spite of worry, not because of it.
• Inner peace allows you to focus on mobilizing your skill sets.

Wow, third chapter and I already am behind? I have a good excuse though. (It's a good one, promise.) Friday I spent catching up on Champion Life College work. Which, I have to say, was amazing. I spent my whole day in scripture while listening to worship music. Saturday I had to work - then, we had youth! Which, was amazing, as always.

On the upside, I had a couple of key opportunities to focus on this point: being Saturday night, and Sunday morning.

Inner peace requires trust.

In my production duties at church, I can be a little bit frazzled at times. Forgive me, I am working on it. For this reason, I was sort of glad I had chosen to procrastinate. It gave me the opportunity to take this point, and carry it over championYOUTH and Sunday morning services.

Isaiah 26:3 says "You will keep in perfect peace him whose mind is steadfast, because he trusts in You." God is promising us perfect peace and steadfastness if we only trust in Him. Even though trusting God can sometimes be a tough decision, I think the return is worth the effort for at least a try. Rest assured, perfect peace is possible.

Beyond trusting God, I realized that trusting your team and your leaders is essential to inner peace. If you do not trust your team, that is entirely on you. In the same way that belittling a spouse comes back on you as a spouse. Having a poorly constructed team comes back onto you as the one who constructed it. If it not working, it is your responsibility to fix it. Yeah, that is a lot of accountability.

Shake your mind-set!

Why not be a world-changer?

Sometimes we (or at least I) get afraid of taking up the mantle of leadership, and really embracing the accountability that comes with it. "Why?" I think, "why should it be my responsibility?" The thought that usually gets me back on track is "Why not?" Just because you are a volunteer doesn't mean you don't have the commission to shake things up. Where does your citizenship lie? Who are you serving? What Cause is your heart song?

Luke 12:48 says "From everyone who has been given much, much will be required."

In the past two years I have been changed in innumerable ways. He has touched my life and molded me into being a person I could only have dreamed of when I was at my lowest. He has graciously granted me degrees of changeability and teachability I could not ever have stood here without. Who am I to bury what I have been given in the sand?

Jesus tells the parable of talents:

Matthew 25:14-27 (The Message)

14-18"It's also like a man going off on an extended trip. He called his servants together and delegated responsibilities. To one he gave five thousand dollars, to another two thousand, to a third one thousand, depending on their abilities. Then he left. Right off, the first servant went to work and doubled his master's investment. The second did the same. But the man with the single thousand dug a hole and carefully buried his master's money.

19-21"After a long absence, the master of those three servants came back and settled up with them. The one given five thousand dollars showed him how he had doubled his investment. His master commended him: 'Good work! You did your job well. From now on be my partner.'

22-23"The servant with the two thousand showed how he also had doubled his master's investment. His master commended him: 'Good work! You did your job well. From now on be my partner.'

24-25"The servant given one thousand said, 'Master, I know you have high standards and hate careless ways, that you demand the best and make no allowances for error. I was afraid I might disappoint you, so I found a good hiding place and secured your money. Here it is, safe and sound down to the last cent.'

26-27"The master was furious. 'That's a terrible way to live! It's criminal to live cautiously like that! If you knew I was after the best, why did you do less than the least?

When we are given gifts by God, the worst thing we could do is not use them and hide them because we are afraid of the risk that comes with responsibility. If you know that you can do something for the kingdom, do it! It is not God's intention for us to spectate Heaven coming to earth. We are meant to be participants. The risk is not an issue. God equips those He calls (Eph 4:11-12). Through us, He will make this happen.

Wrap-up.

In writing this particular issue, I have discovered God will get you back on track, and make the blog make sense. He will even take what you think is a rabbit trail, and turn it back onto what the chapter was about... even long after you've forgotten what the chapter was actually about.