One of the realities of life is that things do go wrong occasionally and we have to make wise adjustments. The first choice involved is deciding to move. The consequence of fear is that it tends to immobilize us; our response is to surrender and curl up in the fetal position and wait for a miracle. Believers who get caught in this trap often fall into a belief that God will miraculously rescue them from doing nothing. This version of surrender is usually disastrous. The Christian version of surrender is that we do lay down our life before the Lord as an offering; and then we pick it up again and build the Kingdom. “Surrender” is not God calling us to be passive. It’s not even waiting to be told what to do. It’s a decision to get out of your pew, be part of your mountain, and make a difference.
The reason my Father loves me is that I lay down my life — only to take it up again. 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
Left brain analysis – The second natural consequence of fear is that our brain kicks in a like a computer to analyze everything that can go wrong, to answer the question, “How bad can it get?” The answer is always “pretty bad.” I’ve heard that FEAR is “False Evidence Appearing Real.” I don’t really subscribe to that acronym because sometimes the light at the end of the tunnel really is an oncoming train. It’s better to step out of the way than to pretend that bad things can’t happen to me because I have a cute acronym or bible verse. Facing reality is the healthy aspect of analysis. In business it’s called due diligence. However, too much left brain analysis can leave us focused on only one side of the equation.
Leveraging the Kingdom – What left brain analysis cannot do is get us connected with our hearts and God’s heart. God really has written something great on our hearts that will release our passion, purpose, finances and fruitfulness. God is building His kingdom, and he’s written our part of that assignment on our hearts. You and I were created to enjoy and to be good at our particular assignment. In addition, when we hook up with what God is doing, via our hearts, we leverage the Kingdom in a way that makes our life work… everything else gets added. Now I’m part of something much bigger than myself and all my needs. I have faith and courage when I understand what God is doing, what my role is, and being faithful to just do it. I’m doing everything I can and God is doing everything He can. That’s always enough. That’s my source of authority in prayer… my ability to rule and reign with Him as a King.
But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own. Matt 6:33-34 NIV
The Lord will open the heavens, the storehouse of his bounty, to send rain on your land in season and to bless all the work of your hands. You will lend to many nations but will borrow from none. 13 The Lord will make you the head, not the tail. If you pay attention to the commands of the Lord your God that I give you this day and carefully follow them, you will always be at the top, never at the bottom. Deut 28:12-14 NIV
Notice the phrase, “do not worry about tomorrow” in this verse. We should be conscious of the day’s “trouble” and face it and solve it, but we need to put most of our energy on how we leverage the Kingdom, and become part of something bigger than ourselves that is adding value to others. Fear, worry and all that left brain analysis is largely an introverted activity that seldom leads to a proactive solution and doesn’t produce much fruit.
The real question – Do I have a plan to implement the deep desires of my heart and play a role in the Kingdom? Our hearts don’t really feel at home until we tap the authentic and unique purpose for our life. When we finally do connect the dots, we find passion, adventure, productivity, love, ministry and prosperity. The simple reason for all that blessing is a foundational business ingredient: we are adding value to the lives of others. When I put the Kingdom and other people first, “me” is well taken care of.
I was young and now I am old, yet I have never seen the righteous forsaken or their children begging bread. Ps 37:25 NIV
“I tell you the truth,” Jesus said to them, “no one who has left home or wife or brothers or parents or children for the sake of the kingdom of God will fail to receive many times as much in this age and, in the age to come, eternal life.” Luke 18:29-30 NIV
