Day #6 of 10 Days of Prayer
Day 6 of 10 Days of Prayer
Reaching For The Prize
Going to give you something a little different today. I read a brief article from Mark Cuban (Owner of the Dallas Mavericks NBA) recently and I quite enjoyed it. I share some of that article with you below and I have incorporated some of my own comments.
2015 — a great year!!!
Philippians 3:12-16
12 Not that I have already attained, or am already perfected; but I press on, that I may lay hold of that for which Christ Jesus has also laid hold of me. 13 Brethren, I do not count myself to have apprehended; but one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead, 14 I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.
15 Therefore let us, as many as are mature, have this mind; and if in anything you think otherwise, God will reveal even this to you. 16 Nevertheless, to the degree that we have already attained, let us walk by the same rule,[b] let us be of the same mind.
Advice From Mark Cuban
1. “Work like there is someone working 24 hours a day to take it away from you.”
Life is temporary. Work is temporary. One day, you will be incredibly successful at whatever you choose to do with your life. While that day may be difficult to imagine right now, start fighting for your future.
(My thoughts … someone is trying to take everything from you … He is called the devil. Don’t be ignorant of his schemes don’t let him steal from you … also Revelation 3:11 “Behold, I am coming quickly! Hold fast what you have, that no one may take your crown.” Don’t let anyone take your crown.)
2. “It’s not in the dreaming, it’s in the doing.”
Growing up, we are repeatedly told to dream big, to never stop dreaming and to believe in our dreams. However, we are not told enough that dreams are accomplished by taking action.
Dreams are merely thoughts; the doing is more powerful than the dreaming. The doing is what changes the world and impacts people in unforeseen ways.
(My thought … James 1:22 “But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves.” Don’t just believe the promise … release your faith and do the WORD!!!)
3. “Doesn’t matter if the glass is half-empty or half-full. All that matters is that you are the one pouring the water.”
No matter how troublesome life can become, you are in control of your emotions, decisions and outlooks on situations. Try not to dwell on how empty or full your life, or the lives of others, might be. Believing that you have control over how much water is poured into the glass of life is a powerful skill.
How you react to not getting the perfect internship, a friend’s betrayal or a loved one’s death can make the glass seem pretty empty; however, you get to decide how much water is poured.
(My thoughts … Deuteronomy 30:19 “I call heaven and earth as witnesses today against you, that I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing; therefore choose life, that both you and your descendants may live;” God has come that you might have life … You choose … what will it be? Choose life! You are the captain of the dream that God has poured into your heart.)
4. “Wherever I see people doing something the way it’s always been done, the way it’s ‘supposed’ to be done, following the same old trends, well, that’s just a big red flag to me to go look somewhere else.”
Life can get repetitive, consistent and complacent. Falling into a life or workplace of complacency is dangerous. Seek opportunities and take risks that are out of your comfort zone. Work for a company that is constantly changing, growing and evolving.
(My Thoughts Isaiah 43:18-19 “Do not remember the former things,
Nor consider the things of old. Behold, I will do a new thing, Now it shall spring forth; Shall you not know it? I will even make a road in the wilderness And rivers in the desert.” Many people can’t see the new things because they are stuck in a rut. Stuck in tradition. Stuck in the past. Stuck in the familiar. You will never realize God’s best if you don’t remain on the bleeding edge … that’s where God is … Not where He was!)
5. “Every no gets me closer to a yes.”
The word “no” leads many of us to see it as a failure. “No” comes in different forms: the test you just failed, the interview that didn’t lead to a job and the person who tells you “you can’t.” We look at that “no” often enough to never go near it again.
“No” does not mean defeat, however. It is an opportunity to get closer to the “yes” for which you are searching. Do not let the “nos” of life impact your goals.
“Nos” are part of your story, and if you keep working hard, they will lead to many “yeses,” which often turn out to be better than the opportunities for which the “nos” would have provided.
(My Thoughts … Hebrews 10:35-36 “Therefore do not cast away your confidence, which has great reward. For you have need of endurance, so that after you have done the will of God, you may receive the promise:”
Hebrews 6:12 “Then you will not become spiritually dull and indifferent. Instead, you will follow the example of those who are going to inherit God’s promises because of their faith and endurance.”
The devil says no to you every day. But God says yes. What do you say? Say yes. Be confident. I will never quit on the vision God has given me!
Be The Kingdom!!!
Prayer Directives:
Pray that we would see our dreams actualized in 2015 and confess strength to complete that work.
We pray for more workers for the harvest field.
Pray for our team going to Haiti (next month) and the work they will do when they are there.
Thank God for the work and vision He has given you.
Thank-you God that we continue to move forward knowing that you will guide our steps. We trust You even when You may give us a general picture Your path, we know as the details are concerned You lead us one step at a time. The life of faith involves following Your directions one step at a time.Your word tells us that in You were are strong; we draw from the wells of Your strength today.
We live life on purpose knowing that You are for us and that every obstacle we will overcome with your grace. We confess Your Lordship over all our plans and over Your people today. As we continue to life up Your name we believe and ask for more harvest workers to come in to our fellowship! Thank-you for the promise of growth in 2015!
We speak blessings over our missions team to Haiti, may their work and contributions be seasoned with grace, thank-you for open doors, clear paths, protection and the anointing on their trip. Let Your kingdom come and Your will be done in Haiti!
With all the voices and distractions in our world God I thank-you for Your clarion clear voice to each person, that every member of Impact Church continues faithfully in the vision that You have given to them. To those that are struggling we pray grace and peace – that they will enter into times of refreshing from You.
We lift up and bless our Pastors on their travels that they would have the word of the Lord for each and every person that is in their path.
Lord we thank you for dreams fulfilled in 2015! No more delay as we press forward in your plan. We believe for more souls to be saved than we have seen before, and for great victory!
Reminds me of an old song “once tere was a little old ram, thought he’d knock a hole in a dam….l we have our hope in a proven capable loving God who equipa us entirly for success as long as we persist to seek Him and Hiskingom. May we all persist with joy to pesue Him and trust Him and rest in Him that His will be done. Lord bless your children for your glory that tey fear not to rely entirly on you! Your wiLl be done!
Lord i absolutely love what you’re doing. I love the prophetic which is worldwide confirming what u are saying to us personally. I love that you are truly faithful and true to your Word. I love that this yr we really will come to know you more personally and SEE your mighty strong hand at work for us, in us and through us. You are a GREAT GOD and we so delight in knowing each and every heart’s desire, prayer, vision in you is Yes and Amen!!
4. “Wherever I see people doing something the way it’s always been done, the way it’s ‘supposed’ to be done, following the same old trends, well, that’s just a big red flag to me to go look somewhere else.”
Lead us in new ways of having church, teaching groups and doing ministry, help us to think outside the box and bring new fresh perspective into everything we do in ministry this year so that we can relate to more people coming into our church from our city and communities. Change is upon us, let’s embrace it and have new ground breaking experiences all through this year. (This also applies to our personal & professional lives).
Recently the actor Donna Douglas passed away at age 81. You might know her as Elie Mae Clampett on the Beverly Hillbillys. Well I noticed she wrote a scripture verse to some of her fans on her pictures with the scripture verse Prov 3:5,6. I thought I should share the expanded version as I think it is a good verse for this year. I pray that our church gains wisdom from the Lord Jesus in all that we do this year to His glory and to have favour with God and man. Lord guide us with your wisdom this year!
Proverbs 3 New International Version (NIV)
Wisdom Bestows Well-Being
3 My son, do not forget my teaching,
but keep my commands in your heart,
2 for they will prolong your life many years
and bring you peace and prosperity.
3 Let love and faithfulness never leave you;
bind them around your neck,
write them on the tablet of your heart.
4 Then you will win favor and a good name
in the sight of God and man.
5 Trust in the Lord with all your heart
and lean not on your own understanding;
6 in all your ways submit to him,
and he will make your paths straight.
Thank you that as we abide in You that working, doing, pouring, changing and persevering to see dreams actualized is possible! We will see this happen in 2015!!!!