Renew Your Strength to Get the Promise

Apostle Steven W. Banks, delivered a message last Sunday that was deeper and more introspective than I could appreciate at the time. The message related to God’s desire and ability to renew our strength and, as the Apostle mentioned upfront, it wasn’t going to be what we wanted to hear. Like most messages on waiting, we give it a tepid response and then wonder why it doesn’t manifest a major change in their lives. But I know that anticipation leads to manifestation, and I know that Apostle Banks has always delivered timely words into my life so I opened up my level of anticipation and took in the word on Sunday. I still didn’t get the message so I then listened to it again on Destiny Cast and again in the car. Each time I listened to it I heard God say “ I will renew your strength” and I would silently and respectfully reply “Don’t bother, just give me what I asked for now.”

By Thursday morning, I hit a breakthrough after dropping the kids off at school. (Yes, I just mentioned that part because I wanted you to know that I’m a good dad that takes his kids to school.) After dropping the kids off (Yep, there it is again) I headed to my government job with the good benefits, stable salary and byzantine list of rules and regulations. I thought about a certain high level purchasing document that I’m putting together. In short, I have to put together a 10 page paper, advertise and receive proposals from firms, create a review committee to review those proposals, rank and score them, conduct interviews and negotiate with the best firm. I must do all this in order to award a contract for a few hundred thousand dollars that, by policy, will expire before 5 years.

In my history with this process, the winning firm is ecstatic in the first year of the contract and then frustrated and upset in the fifth year when it’s all over. They ask if I can renew the contract and I tell them that the policy won’t allow me to renew the contract beyond five years. If they want the contract, they must start the process all over again. This is much like my current life. I was ecstatic over the word that God was speaking over my life five years ago. I was full of faith and hopeful. However, in the past several months, my faith has waned and my frustration level has peaked. The worst part, however, is that I feel like I’m hitting a five year wall where I have to start the process over again (pray, sow, believe, hear a word from God, act on it then wait).

So, while listening to Apostle Banks’ message again, and thinking about my job’s purchasing process I, once again, hear God say “ I will renew your strength”. But this time I get a completely different appreciation of the statement. I realize that God is not saying He will give me strength to hold on for a few more years. God is saying what I can’t say to those firms at the end of their 5 year contract. God is acknowledging that I struggled and strained and pleaded and hoped and exercised perfect faith five years ago. He’s saying that He knows that my frustration and anger has risen lately and I’m not where I used to be. AND He is saying that He’s going to renew the promise and the blessings He has in store for me based on my strong faith of five years ago.

So instead of coming to the end of a period, I am being given a new five year window of blessings BASED ON the perfect faith I exhibited when I was fresh and hopeful. God is saying not to worry about the recent issues I’ve had. God is saying to me, “I will renew your strength” and to that I can now reply, “Thank you Lord. Thank you for the strength to carry on.”

Philip Page, Jr.

Read This While You’re at Work

This message is best read on a work computer at about 8:15am. The message is more timely after you have made it to your job – on time, I presume. The message is more powerful after you’ve gotten your coffee and fixed it with the perfect blend of real cream and artificial sweetener. The message is more relevant after you’ve stopped to chat with your coworkers – your girls, your boys and the “always friendly” receptionist – going over the television shows from the previous night. Once you’ve done all of that, please read the rest of this message.

There are approximately 14 million people who are out of work. Yep, 14 million (with an “m”) people whose only job is to look for a job. Now don’t feel guilty. It’s not your fault and you didn’t cause the problem. I’m sure if you had a job to give then you would give it. Unfortunately, most of us are not in position to give anyone a job. We’re scraping by and it’s not our fault that the other 14 million people can’t do the same. It’s not our fault, but it is our problem. It’s definitely my problem. As much as I would like to isolate myself from the statistics of my country I am unable to do so. Mainly because I passed some gang members on the way to work, I avoided eye contact with a few homeless people at a stop sign and I hurried past a well-dressed, and overly polite, unemployed lady as I went past the receptionist’s desk on the way to my office. The statistics are all around me and it’s time to do something.

This is probably the appropriate time to tell you what prompted my line of thinking. Before leaving for work, I watched five minutes of the morning news. It was just enough to tell me that too many of the nation’s elected leaders don’t support President Obama and they are content to wait him out. To get the real sense of what is going on, listen to these words as you say them out loud “many of our elected leaders are hoping that a new president will be in office in January of 2013 while 14 million people suffer without work”. The only thing worse than that is the fact that I can only vote once and elections don’t come around as often as the morning news. But I digress when the real opportunity is to stop talking about THEM and focus on what I can do.

Today, I can do at least three things to help the nation’s unemployed. Each has a global, national and local impact and I ask that you join me in the cause.

1) Buy something today. Don’t let fear stop you from getting the things you need. Fear, and only fear, stops the economy. Your faith in a brighter future, can get the economy moving. And by buying something you need, something important – maybe a book, some organic food, school supplies for someone else’s kid – you’ll be making the economy move in the right direction.

2) Vote for something today. Yes, I know elections only come every two or four years but you can contact your elected officials any day of the week. Click on this (link) to find your representative and tell them to do something now. I’m not telling you what to say, just say something and say it now.

3) Pray for someone today. In this nation, one nation under God, prayer is sent to Heaven on a regular basis. Most of those prayers deal with things we want for ourselves. I’m asking you to pray for someone else. Pray for President Obama, pray for the people you pass on the street and pray for your friends that are looking for work. Just pray.

Ok, if you have read this and your boss still hasn’t stopped by your office to make sure you’re working then you’re ahead of the game. Put down your coffee and do one more thing – thank God that you have a job. Thank Him that you have the opportunity to be a benefit to someone else and get paid in the process. Thank God for the opportunity and the ability to work. Now get busy.

Philip H. Page, Jr.

Much Love for Lebron

While the world laughs at the loss of Lebron James and the Miami Heat, let me be among those who wish support and encouragement to my man Lebron. Yes, this loss to Dallas was ugly and I can’t really explain how it happened. Then again, I don’t have to. There has been an endless stream of people quick to explain why Lebron lost, why his decisions were wrong and why his life is over. No doubt the people speaking the loudest are those who have never won anything, never excelled at anything and are content to live a lackluster life while criticizing others. Well, list me among those who think that a life full of challenges is a life worth living. List me with those who consider it better to have loved and lost than never to have loved at all. And list me with those who have much love for Lebron.

Now keep in mind that I am not a fan. I don’t own a Miami Heat jersey and I don’t know the particulars of Lebron’s journey from high school to the NBA. I guess I don’t really love Lebron as much as I love the lessons I gain from observing his young career. Before reaching the age of 30, Lebron has taught the world three powerful lessons: potential isn’t promise, promise requires practice and practice must be perfect.

Potential isn’t Promise

What overshadows Lebron’s great accomplishments on and off the court is his greater potential. People tend to judge him, and compare him to what they believe to be his potential. But potential is not a promise. We all have the potential to be something much greater than we are. Only God can judge us on that potential for only He knows what we were given at birth and what we are required to do before death. To the rest of us who watch from the cheap seats or view on a flat screen consider how terrible it would be if we were judged by that potential rather than on our own actions. And remember potential is the possibility of a better future, not the promise that it will happen.

Promise requires Practice

Many of us operate our life on the promise of something. Maybe our parents promised us an inheritance or our boss promised us a promotion. Maybe we believe God gave us a specific promise in life. I previously operated my life on a promise that was never fulfilled until I learned the missing element of practice.

When Lebron entered the league, there seemed to be a promise from the basketball gods that he would retire with three to six championship rings. That was the promise, the possibility that he could be the best ever. As we all now see, with the difficulty of getting the first ring, the promise is only the motivation to work. It is the work, the practice, that turns the promise into reality.

Practice must be Perfect

While practice is important, it’s only the perfect practice that allows you to reach your potential. Everyone rehearses before a performance, everyone prepares before an event and even the great Lebron James attends regular practice leading up to a game. Perfect practice requires that you invest enough time and effort to reach the level of mastery in your craft. This perfect practice gets you beyond mere success to reaching your full potential. Or, in the case of Lebron James, it gets you from being a great success on the court to becoming a multiple ring NBA champion that replaces Michael Jordan as the best ever.

So, as the world laughs, I want to say thank you to Lebron James. Thanks for trying, thanks for succedding and thanks for continuing to get better. Your life is a constant reminder that my potential isn’t promised, my promise requires practice and my practice must be perfect. To Lebron – I wish you peace in the offseason and success when the next season begins. In the meantime, let’s both work on minimizing the voices of others and maximizing the great potential that God has given us.

Philip H. Page, Jr.

God Knows His Name

When my grandmother was alive I used to enjoy spending time at her house.  This was before her skills declined and before she moved into the assisted-living facility.  The grandmother I remember had outlived two husbands, owned several homes and was full of life.  She spent her days selling  health products door to door and her evenings entertaining her family.  It was during those evening times that I was able to sneak a few minutes with her.  Even with my two sisters and countless cousins present, my grandmother always had one on one time with me. 

I called her Granny.  I’m not sure why or when I started calling her that.  I just know that if I called my Granny then she would always be there.  Funny thing, though, Granny wasn’t her only name.  When we spent time at her house I heard her called many names.  Momma, mom, Big Momma, Cleo.  And these were just the names used in her home.  If we were in church she was Sister Cleo or Mother Starke.  If we were on a sales call she was Girl or Sugar. 

My Granny had many names and she answered to them all.  Whenever one of her names was used in love, she would respond with an open heart, a kind word and an eager spirit.  Watching this as a child allowed me to realize that the name isn’t as important as the spirit in which it is used.  It was the spirit, the attitude of the heart, that caused us to get what we needed.  Quality time, a kiss on the cheek, a tight hug.  If you knew my Granny and you called on her, she would give you all she had and whatever you needed.

Now that I am a man I tend to conjure up childhood memories when faced with adult situations.  Like when a coworker referred to God as Jah.  Hearing it for the first time, in a thick Jamaican accent, I immediately thought of Bob Marley and images of music and marijuana came into my head.  I became offended and it showed on my face.  Now I like Reggae music as much as the next guy but I couldn’t get over the fact that someone was calling my God while using a name that I associated with drug use and raucous behavior. 

Fortunately for me, my coworker spent the time to let me know who Jah was to him.  He wasn’t trying to convince me of anything but, over time, he taught me a lot about Jah.  Turns out, his description of Jah was identical to my description of God.  We had both come to know Him as our Peace, our Savior and the Lord of our lives.   We called Him different names but, whenever we needed Him and called Him in love, He came running.  Just like my Granny, He has different names but He answers to them all.

The experience with my Jamaican friend has opened my eyes to a deeper understanding of God.  While I’ll always know Him as God, I’m not offended when others call Him by a different name.  While I learned about God through Jesus, the Christ, I acknowledge that others may have come to know Him in a different way.  Such an acknowledgement used to challenge my faith and threaten the doctrine which has framed my life since the first day of Sunday School.  But now, this acknowledgement only reminds me of the infinite greatness of a God who is not limited to one language or restricted to American soil. 

I can’t say enough that God is always going to be God to me.  I am always going to be a Christian and I am always going to praise the name of Jesus.  I must add, however, that my God’s family is large and it includes people who live in other countries, have different experiences, speak other languages and operate in other worlds.  

As a sign of respect for my God, I refuse any description of Him that limits His reach or His appeal.  As a sign of love for my God, I stretch my arms out wide and I embrace all of His sons and daughters.  Please know that I’m no longer concerned with what you call Him.  Just call Him and know that He will respond in love and give you whatever you need. 

By Philip H. Page, Jr.
Author of Getting Up AGAIN – Surviving Unemployment and Pursuing Destiny

The Rewards of the Overcomer

Sometime over the past several months I forgot that this year, 2010, was the Year of the Overcomer.  It was proclaimed to be the Year of the Overcomer at the very beginning of the year and in a very conspicuous way.  I was there when it happened.  My pastor heard from God on this matter and spoke accordingly.  I celebrated what was said and prepared for a year that would begin in struggle and end in success.  But sometime, soon after the new year began, I forgot about overcoming and settled for maintaining.

I maintained so long that I didn’t remember the command to overcome until today as I left a prayer service at my church.  Someone used the term “Overcomer” in a decidedly confident way that brought it all back to me.  I instantly remembered that this was my year to overcome.  I also remembered that this was my year to embark on something that risked a long and enduring battle.  At that point I remembered why I chose to forget that this was the Year of the Overcomer.

As fulfilling as it may be to overcome, much of the desire to overcome is lost in the knowledge that overcoming requires the endurance of unpleasant circumstances .  I had decided early in the year that the battle wasn’t worth it.  Subconsciously, I determined that it was better to maintain than to overcome.  I accepted that it was better to settle for a little than give up a lot no matter what the reward.

You may think I should be ashamed of this subliminal surrender but I forgive myself for it.  That was months ago and I’ve grown up a lot since then.  I realize, through the pain of complacency, that getting a little is painful when you know that you gave up a lot.  So I’m late but I’m ready to embrace the Year of the Overcomer.  For those of you who join me in being late to the party, know that there are benefits to being an Overcomer .  Actually, there are three life-changing rewards that are laid out in the second chapter of Revelations and each one belongs to you no matter when you show up.

1) Tree of life – In Revelation 2:7 God says, to the Overcomer He will give the right to eat from the tree of life.  Elsewhere in Revelation God explains that this tree is in the place of paradise.  Then in Rev. 22:2 He says that the tree of life bears twelve crops of fruit and yields fruit in every month.  To put it plainly, the first reward of the Overcomer is that you will have access to an enduring supply from God and enjoy His fruit in every season of your life.

2) Crown of Life – In Rev. 2:11 God says that He will give the Overcomer the ability to overcome death.  For us that means that whatever trials and tribulations exist for our lives, we will not endure the painful and life draining effects.  Although we have to endure, the second reward of the Overcomer is the ability to endure battle without showing scars; to receive the promise without any continuous evidence of the pain.

3) Hidden Manna – In Rev 2:17 God says He will give us the “hidden” manna.  You probably remember that, in the wilderness, the Israelites were sustained by manna that fell from the sky.  In this move of God, the manna fell from the sky and was given to the just and the unjust, those who righteously praised God’s goodness and those who complained that He wasn’t doing enough.

For us, the Overcomers, God is saying that He has hidden some of His goodness and does not intend to give it to everyone.  Each believer will receive the promises of God but some of us will receive an extra helping of His blessings.  The third reward of the Overcomer is that we will receive the promise plus a bonus that we won’t have to sweat to receive.

Although I stated that there were three rewards, there is actually a fourth reward.  It is somewhat of an overall blessing that encompasses the others.  More importantly, it shows how God dotes on those He loves and always gives more than enough.  This fourth reward, as described in Rev. 2:25, says that God will give the Overcomer the authority to rule the nations.  This blessing is setup for those who endure until the end and shows themselves to be worthy of the call.  To those who overcome God gives the rights and the responsibility to rule in His stead.  For all of the time that He is removed from the earth, the Overcomer stands in His seat and rules with His power.  What an awesome and indescribable gift.

So as I think on the three rewards of the Overcomer, and even the fourth overarching reward, I have decided to overcome.  I don’t deny that it is a self-serving decision but it is one that I am compelled to make aside from the benefits.  As I reflect on what has happened in the current year, I cannot sit by and accept the mediocre when my eyes have been opened to the supernatural.  The only question left is Will you join me?  There’s room to rule, dominate and enjoy the rewards that God has promised in the second chapter of Revelations.  Don’t worry about being late.  Just make the decision to overcome.

By Philip H. Page, Jr.
Author of Getting Up AGAIN – Surviving Unemployment and Pursuing Destiny

Waiting on the Lord – Waiting Like A Waiter

Waiting is probably the thing I least like to do. I think it is because you’re not really doing anything. Waiting is the absence of doing. It is the antithesis of action. It is the enemy of efficiency. It contradicts everything I’ve been taught since birth and I simply hate to do it.

I realize that we have to wait at times but this doesn’t mean that I’ll do it quietly. If I’m in a traffic jam, I’ll turn up my music and praise the Lord. If I’m on hold, I’ll put the telephone on speaker and stay busy until the person I’m waiting for returns. If I’m waiting in line, I’ll ponder some deep philosophical question until I reach the front. I’ll do anything I can possibly think of to avoid waiting quietly and helplessly while some circumstance steals my time.

Of course, there are still situations when I feel like God forces me to wait. It’s as if He sticks me in a situation for a preordained time where my attempts at productivity are futile. When I run into these situations, I try to accept that this is God’s plan for me. Even though I don’t understand it, I try to convince myself that waiting is good. I meditate on scriptures like Isaiah 41:30 “But they that wait upon the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint.”

Even as I meditated on scriptures, I never understood why I had to wait. I just accepted that it was one of life’s unavoidable necessities that I would ask God about when I got to heaven. Then the Lord revealed to me that the reason I hated to wait was because I never correctly understood what waiting meant. I always took Webster’s first definition to heart, “to wait in expectation”. The full meaning didn’t become clear until I read the third definition, “to serve as a waiter”.

Anyone who has ever been to a five-star restaurant knows that waiters don’t stand around doing nothing. Their job, and tips, depends on constant action. Even when they’re not moving, they’re anticipating their next move based on the request of their customers. I witnessed this first hand when I visited Ruth’s Chris Steakhouse in Houston, TX. Aside from having a very attentive and knowledgeable waiter, we had a secondary waiter that stood in the corner of the dining room. He held water in one hand and tea in the other and his eyes constantly scanned the glasses in the room. When my water went below an imaginary line on the glass, he darted across to fill it up then went back to his post and started scanning the room again. He did this all night and was the most active example of waiting that I have ever seen.

After seeing an example of ‘active waiting’, I finally realize that waiting is not a sign of complacency or inefficiency. Isaiah 41:30 is really telling us that ‘waiting on the Lord’ is the act of renewing your strength in anticipation of a future event. When God makes us wait, it simply means He is still preparing us for the next stage of our life. Psalm 27:14 says “Wait on the LORD: be of good courage, and he shall strengthen thine heart: wait, I say, on the LORD.”

So, if we are in a place of waiting, we should do three things. First, we should thank God for His mercy in not allowing us to arrive unprepared. Second, we should seek His direction in preparing us for what lies ahead. And finally, we should keep our eyes on Him in order to anticipate His next action. In other words, wait like a waiter!

By Philip H. Page, Jr.
Author of Getting Up AGAIN – Surviving Unemployment and Pursuing Destiny

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Waiting on the Lord -The Test of Life

As I write this article about waiting, it’s important for me to describe my current situation. It’s December of 2002 and my Christmas joy is restrained by the fact that I am unemployed. This is the second time in two years and it’s really getting old. I have submitted about 100 applications for jobs in the past two months, but to no avail. To make matters worse, my wife and I have just looked at our monthly budget and, unless God intervenes in a supernatural way, we’re going to be short by about $177. And that figure is after we’ve cut out all discretionary spending (including Christmas gifts) and slashed our grocery budget.

At this point, the last thing I want to hear from God is a message about waiting so I turn to 1 Samuel to read about an early victory for Saul and the Israelites. (There’s nothing like the wayward Israelites to make a modern day Christian feel justified in any situation.) After reading a few chapters, an obscure passage about Saul’s preparation for battle caught my eye.

Some Hebrews even crossed the Jordan to the land of Gad and Gilead. Saul remained at Gilgal, and all the troops with him were quaking with fear. He waited seven days, the time set by Samuel; but Samuel did not come to Gilgal, and Saul’s men began to scatter. So he said, “Bring me the burnt offering and the fellowship offerings.” And Saul offered up the burnt offering. Just as he finished making the offering, Samuel arrived, and Saul went out to greet him. “What have you done?” asked Samuel. Saul replied, “When I saw that the men were scattering, and that you did not come at the set time, and that the Philistines were assembling at Micmash, I thought, ‘Now the Philistines will come down against me at Gilgal, and I have not sought the LORD’s favor.’ So I felt compelled to offer the burnt offering.” “You acted foolishly,” Samuel said. “You have not kept the command the LORD your God gave you; if you had, he would have established your kingdom over Israel for all time. But now your kingdom will not endure; the LORD has sought out a man after his own heart and appointed him leader of his people, because you have not kept the LORD’s command.”

1 Samuel 13:7 – 13.

As with all scripture, there are many points that can be brought out. But the thing that most captivated me was the severe punishment Saul received for just being in a hurry. After all, this was a battle against those pesky Philistines and Samuel was late. After meditating on this scripture, however, it became clear to me that Saul’s sin exposed more than just a lack of patience. Saul’s affront to God was that his faith was not in God but rather in the ‘act’ of sacrificing. To put it another way, Saul wanted God to be like Aladdin’s genie in the lamp rather than the all-knowing, all-loving Creator of mankind.

The more I think about it, the more I realize that this ‘test of waiting’ is very common today. God often puts us in a situation where we have to wait in order to reveal our faith level. I see this very clearly in my own life as I apply for multiple jobs on a daily basis. As unemployment progressed, I spent more time on job applications and less on my morning devotions. The frustration of a rejection letter (or, even worse, no letter at all) caused me to lose hope. Out of desperation, I rushed the process by sending more letters, which caused more rejection and ultimately more desperation.

My sin, like Saul’s, is that my faith was in the process of applying for jobs rather than in the Creator of all things. It’s as if I believed that the text of my resume and the eloquence of my cover letter would get me a job. All the while, God was reminding me of Hebrews 11:3, “Through faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God, so that things which are seen were not made of things which do appear”. In other words, my next job or promotion will be a direct result of my faith in God. Period. So the only way to rush the process is to increase my level of faith through the reading of His word.

Finally, it’s important to remember Samuel’s rebuke of Saul in order to realize the gravity of the offense. Verse 13 says “But now your kingdom will not endure; the LORD has sought out a man after his own heart and appointed him leader of his people, because you have not kept the LORD’s command.” Of course, this does not predict doom for any of us who have fallen in this sin. Thanks to the forgiveness found in the New Testament, we simply need to acknowledge our sin (repent) and turn away. God is faithful and just to forgive us. And the next time you get tired of the test of waiting, remember that weeping will endure for a night, but joy comes in the morning. The only way to know when morning comes is to keep your eye on the Son.

By Philip H. Page, Jr.
Author of Getting Up AGAIN – Surviving Unemployment and Pursuing Destiny

Technorati Tags: philip Page,getting up again,layoff,unemployment,pursuing destiny,waiting on the Lord,samuel,saul

Waiting on the Lord – The Secret of Contentment

One of the secrets that I’ve longed to understand is the secret of contentment. My desire has long been to share John’s boast to the Philippians and “be content in whatever state I’m in.” Whether I’m in a big house or a small apartment, I want to be content. Whether I own my own business or I’m bagging groceries for the minimum wage, I want to be content. In any and all things I want to know the peace that comes from being content.

Well, in the same passage of Philippians where Paul expresses his state of contentment, he also reveals the secret. As Paul rejoices that “I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty.” He then says “I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation…I can do everything through him who gives me strength.” I’ve read that passage literally hundreds of times but I’ve always considered the final statement to be a declaration, not the answer to my problem. According to Paul, the secret of contentment is in knowing that you can do absolutely everything through Christ who gives you strength.

While it’s very easy to proclaim “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.” the hard part is coming into the knowledge that you can do everything. It was by enduring personal bankruptcy and losing all my possessions that I first became aware of what I could do through Christ who strengthens me. Then it was by being unemployed for several months that I further understood that I could do all things through Christ.

Although the knowledge came to me by experience, it is God’s plan (and my sincere prayer) that all who read this would come to know this by faith. It took me several painful experiences to wake up and realize that I can endure anything through faith and belief in Christ. I simply needed to stop looking to man’s methods and look to God’s Word for faith.

In Daniel 2:27-28a it says “…‘No wise man, enchanter, magician or diviner can explain to the king the mystery he has asked about, but there is a God in heaven who reveals mysteries.” The wise man, enchanters and magicians were King Nebuchadnezzar’s methods for understanding mysteries. But this scripture is clearly telling us that all mysteries are revealed to us by God. Put more clearly, all mysteries are revealed by the faith that comes from reading God’s word.

In Matthew 13:11 Jesus tells the disciples “…it is given unto you to know the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven…”. Whether you need the secret to contentment or some other issue, it is in Christ that all secrets are revealed. While it appears that God is hiding things from us, it is in these mysteries that He reveals all that we need. And He does it in His time so that we learn all we need at the time we most need it.

By Philip H. Page, Jr.
Author of Getting Up AGAIN – Surviving Unemployment and Pursuing Destiny

Technorati Tags: getting up again,philip page,surviving unemployment,pursuing destiny,waiting on the Lord,contentment,Daniel,matthew,content

Urgency – The Final Step To Getting What You Want

I’m still reflecting on the power of a message I recently heard, Just Ask by Bishop Steven W. Banks.  In the message, there were two key points that really jumped out at me.  One was pretty obvious and the other was much more subtle.  Both, however, were very powerful and helped me unlock the secret to getting what you want.

First, the obvious point in the message was  that in order to get what you want you have to ask.  It may seem pretty basic but it still baffles me that many of us go through life, enduring trying circumstances and battling tough issues, without stopping to ask God for help in the time of need.  He has told us in His Word, and reminded us through His Angels, yet we still don’t ask Him for what we need.  God wants you to ask so, Just Ask!

The second point in the message related to the method of asking.  This is important because, even when we take the time to ask God for what we need, many of us ask incorrectly and only receive frustration as a reward.  The solution to this problem was made clear to me when I was directed to a popular Bible story in the eleventh chapter of the book of Luke.

I think most of us know the parable in Luke 11.  A man has an unexpected visitor in the middle of the night and risks humiliation and embarrassment because he doesn’t have sufficient food to serve.  The man goes to his friend’s house for help and is surprised to find that his friend is reluctant to assist.  The man persists and persists and, due to his importunity he is successful at convincing his friend to give him the food he needs to be able to serve his visitor.

Although I’ve read that parable many times, the word “importunity” always stands out.  I used to think that importunity was the act of being bold but, after hearing Bishop Banks’ message I realize that the real definition of importunity is to be “urgent” or “annoyingly persistent”.  This slightly different translation gave me an entirely different perspective and unlocked the the power of urgency. 

Think about it.  When the man in Luke 11 went to his friend for help, he knew the same three things that we know when we ask God for help.  He knew his friend wanted to help him, he knew that his friend had the resources to help him, and he knew that he had to ask his friend for what he wanted.  But after acting on these three things, the man still could not get what he wanted from his friend. 

The lesson of Luke 11 caused the man to take a final step,  the man had to make his request urgent.  He did this by making it clear to his friend that it wasn’t good enough to receive help in the morning.  In other words, he had to disregard time and urge that the request be granted now.   Then he had to keep on requesting until he got what he needed.  In the end, he got all that he wanted without losing his friendship.

So what was it that allowed the man to be urgent without being permanently cast off or seriously offending his friend?  First, the man had a valid need.    The man’s request wasn’t for himself or for his reputation, his request was for the needs of his visitor.  This doesn’t mean that you can’t have a personal need, it just means that it must be a valid need, one that benefits others in some way.

The second thing that allowed the man to be urgent was that he had a clear request.  He was clear of the end result and when it needed to happen.  He didn’t address the other issues that existed (the disruption to the family) and he didn’t dictate to his friend the way he wanted to be helped (what type of food and how much).  He just continued to press his friend until he obtained the help he needed.

The end result for the man in the parable is that he got what he wanted.  The end result for you can be the exact same thing.  Just ask, keep on asking and practice urgency, the final step in getting what you want.    

By Philip H. Page, Jr.
Author of Getting Up AGAIN – Surviving Unemployment and Pursuing Destiny

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Five Steps to the Promised Land

I love the heart of Moses.  He was the ultimate father figure, desiring that no one, despite how much they had wronged God, was left behind.  By contrast, I also love the fire of Joshua.  He wasn’t the patient father that Moses was but I love Joshua’s passion and desire to bring his people into the promised land.  Whatever your preferred style, both Moses and Joshua were great leaders and both did great things in their time.  The only point of debate is which style is right for the modern times we live in?   

First of all, I think both Moses and Joshua are relevant to modern time.  Yet, at the end of the calendar year, where people are beginning to evaluate their performance and assess their situations, I believe that we need to embrace the spirit and leadership style of Joshua.  While I know Moses can get you out of trouble, it’s not trouble that we’re concerned about.  Most of us are just desperate to break through and Joshua’s our man.   

For those who want to embrace the spirit and style of Joshua, his method is pretty clear.  In fact, it’s well laid out in the book of Joshua and I think that it is a perfect roadmap if you are ready for change and refuse to wander around in your current situation any longer.  I call it, “Five Steps to the Promised Land”.   

“Moses my servant is dead; now therefore arise, go over this Jordan, thou, and all this people, unto the land which I do give to them, even to the children of Israel.”

Joshua 1:1

Step 1 – “Moses my servant is dead”
The ways of Moses were right and perfect for the time in which they were used.  God Himself says that Moses was His servant and that He loved him.  Yet, He also starts the reign of Joshua by saying that Moses is dead.  This is a hard thing for us to grasp but, for most of us, the old way needs to die.  It was successful in the past and it served a great purpose.  But now it needs to die and, like Joshua, we can’t afford to wait and whine and moan about it.  Step one is to declare that the old job, old relationship, old house, old whatever has run its course.  It ran its course well but, as of now, it is DEAD.

Step 2 – “now therefore arise…” 
After God validates Moses’ tenure as leader of the Israelites, he gives Joshua the command to rise up without even taking a breath to start a new sentence.  This should tell us that there can be no delay in our transition from the old to the new.  Step two is to stop whining and complaining.  Just get up, arise, and heed the call to a new plan and direction for your life.

Step 3 – “go over this Jordan…”  
There are many instructions along the path that we’re following.  If we think about it, the right way is usually straightforward but it also appears dull and boring.   Other ways seem like enticing shortcuts but the absolute best path for our life is the one right in front of you.  If you get busy on that path then you will reach success in the best, quickest possible way. 

Remember, the Israelites’ mistaken journey of 40 years can easily happen to you.  How many times have you taken shortcut after shortcut until you’ve spent more than twice the time that the straight path would have taken?  The best strategy now is to go over THIS Jordan; go back to school, practice your craft, take the exam, get the certification.  Step three is to stop looking for the secret path to success and do that one basic, boring thing that you’ve been avoiding for so long.

Step 4 – “thou and all this people…” 
I firmly believe that the plans and purposes that God has for us are not just for us.  We must accept this truth before we will see any real change in our lives.  We all have visions of changing the world and making things happen beyond our immediate realm of control.  This is noble and honorable but only when our goal has an impact beyond our group of Facebook friends and Twitter followers.   Whatever your vision, step four is to expand it until it is large enough to impact that nation.  Maybe even the world.

Step 5 – “unto the land which I do give to them even to the children of Israel”
It’s always been funny to me that God doesn’t really ‘give’ the Israelites the promised land.  He actually gives them “the power to obtain” the promised land.  I used to think they got cheated in this deal until I realized that the power they received was regenerative.  God could have given them Jericho but He wanted them to have the power to take Jericho, Ai and all of Canaan.  With regenerative power, they and all their children could take any land that rose up against them.

For those of us who are fighting a battle right now, step five is to stop praying to get out of the battle and spend our time learning why we’re in the battle in the first place.  Once we understand the reason for the battle then we won’t have to fight it ever again.  This final step gives you “the power to obtain” victory over and over again in your life.

Yes, Moses is dead and now is the time to get up again.  Don’t wait for the new year, now is the time to embrace the spirit of Joshua and bring fulfillment to your life.  Now is the time to do all the things that you know to do to ensure that you receive all you’ve been dreaming about.  Now is the year of fulfillment and you still have time to complete five steps to get to your promised land.  Follow them today and, when the new year comes, you will be entering into YOUR promised land. 

By Philip H. Page, Jr.
Author of Getting Up AGAIN – Surviving Unemployment and Pursuing Destiny

Technorati Tags: new year,fulfillment,success,Joshua,Moses,promised land,Joshua 1:1