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 Malachi 3:3, quoting from the NASB:
“He will sit as a smelter and purifier of silver, and He will purify the sons of Levi and refine them like gold and silver, so that they may present to the LORD offerings in righteousness.”
Will I be an agent of restoration? Restoration has to do with being allowed to get back on the right path. It occurs when one has erred, paid the price and repented of the error. Restoration allows one to prove that true, permanent, positive change has occurred.
Often servant leaders have the opportunity to practice being an agent of restoration. What causes us to second-guess whether a person deserves a second try? Perhaps it has to do with not wanting to give counterparts the impression of weakness, of questionable judgment or of being a soft touch.
Should desire to keep up good impressions with peers and counterparts replace God’s restorative act? In the sight of the Lord, restoration might be a multiple part process. Psalm 23:3 says, “He restores my soul; He guides me in the paths of righteousness for His name sake.” God restores and renders fit for service the repentant one who confesses sin.
In Malachi 3, God announced the sending of a messenger who would purify the priests, making what was “not fit for service, fit for service.” The act of purification restores a person or thing to the original value.
Whether I accept the prerogative of being an agent of restoration or not, it will not nullify the cleansing power and restoration God grants through confession and repentance. Cleansing and restoration has everything to do with the integrity of who God is. As God completes His refining process, we must be mindful that if we want God to forgive us, we must be willing to forgive and help restore others.
// 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, would you say you are an agent of restoration in word or deed? Forgiveness is a noble act that helps facilitate restoration.
- Second, what role can our words play in the restorative process?
- Third, in real terms, think of the purifying cycle as spiritual breathing. When we confess our sins, we exhale. We inhale by receiving God’s forgiveness.
// About the Narrator
COL Laurence Mixon, USA, a 1986 graduate of the US Military Academy at West Point, retired in June 2016 after a 30-year career with the Army and transitioned to an Army Senior Executive assignment at Aberdeen Proving Ground, MD. He served on the OCF Council from 2011-2019 and has also been active as a local leader in OCF. He and his wife, Tracey, have 8 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.