53. He Will Be With You
Leader, Draw Near
Do you sense God calling you out, asking you to do something that is outside your comfort zone? What is your source of strength?
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52. Rest Interrupted
Leader, Draw Near
Interruptions can be opportunities to demonstrate compassion. Jesus’ compassion included serving the crowd a meal. How we respond when our plans get changed can add to or take away from our resilience.
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51. Where Now is the Lord?
Leader, Draw Near
When circumstances turn from desirable to undesirable or when the task ahead is greater than one’s resources, it is common to want to know our importance to God and whether He is with us in our labors.
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50. Discouragement—I Have Had Enough!
Leader, Draw Near
Discouragement can place us at opposite ends of God’s intention requiring Him to correct us, turn us around, and put us back on His course. Don’t allow threats or the appearance of being the only one interested in what God is working halt your forward momentum and progress.
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49. Character of a Leader—Holy?
Leader, Draw Near
Take a minute and evaluate the presence of the fruit of the Spirit in your life. Which fruit is most abundant in your life right now? After reflecting on the abundance, think on the fruit you sense needs to be growing in you.
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48. Daniel’s Wise Alternative
Leader, Draw Near
Discerning wisdom is not an overnight process. Spiritual wisdom accompanies the practice of spiritual disciplines, particularly when prayer and Bible study are hallmarks.
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47. The Right Heart
Leader, Draw Near
What is the condition of your heart? Being an effective leader is as much about having the right heart as following proven leadership practices.
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46. Transformation: Clean the Root and Reinsert It
Leader, Draw Near
How do we overcome the dueling natures, the struggle of the flesh to do evil and of the mind that knows to obey the commands of God? We clear away the debris and cultivate in our heart the mind of Christ.
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45. Did You Ask?
Leader, Draw Near
From whom do you seek advice and in whom do you place your trust when it seems you are not receiving discernable direction from God? Asking counsel of wise people is a Scriptural response, and so is asking God to keep you from presumption.
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44. Compassion
Leader, Draw Near
What might cause you to be stingy with empathy or sympathy? Are you tempted to make your compassion for others conditional? Let us strive to find the right blend of Christ-filled compassion and Spirit-guided correction.
info_outlineToday’s Scripture reading comes from Luke 22:28, quoting from the NASB:
“You are those who have stood by Me in My trials.”
How well are you sensing what God desires of you? A reading of Luke 22:27-32 might lead you to respond that constancy is what the Lord wants of you. It is normal to tire of struggles. God knows we will be tried, but in our trials He yearns for us to keep at it and not give up. Evil forces are always gunning to take down a good team. Regardless of how impervious one might think he is, the occasion to fall exists. Christ commended the disciples for standing with Him in his trials. What a critical teaching point. This perseverance in the face of challenge would be required of them individually and as a team.
The disciples had been with Jesus for three years, and little did they know they would be the leaders of the world’s Christianity movement. Not surprisingly, the responsibility to teach and train others most often falls to the one who has experienced the event. In our society a qualifying requirement of a leader is experience. Jesus flatly said to His disciples: You’ve been there, you have seen what I have been through, you have heard my explanations, and you saw me in my trials—you “have stood by Me.” In no uncertain terms, Jesus told the disciples they would be leaders who would sit in judgment in His kingdom.
This kind of leadership and authority would come at a cost. For Peter and for many of us that cost would be testing, even the possibility of failure. Our response to trials will either strengthen or arrest us. The elect must not turn back but continue to serve and edify others. Keep at it; don’t give up. Be counted among those who “stood by Me in my trials.”
// Points to Ponder
Over the next week, here are 3 points to ponder during your personal time of reflection or with a small group or mentor.
- First, will it be said that you “stood by” Him against the popular culture, in the midst of calls to compromise, and despite your natural intuition or desires?
- Second, how is your faith when the going gets tough? Know that the trial of your faith is to the praise, honor, and glory of Jesus Christ.
- Third, ask yourself: Am I still working at what I thought the Lord called me to or have I quietly moved on to other interests?
What does Jesus want from you? That your faith not fail, that you keep turning to Him, and finally, that you lead by encouraging and strengthening others who face similar circumstances. Be encouraged, Jesus stands by you.
// Monthly Evaluation
It’s time for a quick monthly evaluation. Point your browser to ocfusa.org/LDNpodcast or check out the show notes for a link to download the monthly reflection sheet. Use the reflection sheet to help gauge your habit of integrating faith and profession, and to help get you into the habit of keeping a written record of those times when the Holy Spirit speaks to you.
// About the Narrator
Lt Col Kate Toms is a C-17 Instructor Pilot currently assigned to doctoral study in philosophy. She and her husband enjoy hospitality, outdoor adventure, and delighting in the cute antics of their young children.
// Purchase a Copy
Call the OCF Home Office at 800-424-1984 to purchase a paperback copy of the book, or buy a Kindle version at Amazon.