How a W.A.S.P. Can Save Your Vision...
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May 8, 2009"But he that received the seed in stony places, the same is he that hears the word, and immediately with joy receives it; Yet has he not root in himself, but endures for a while: for when tribulation or persecution arises because of the word, immediately he is offended." (Mat 13:20 - 21) "And these are they likewise who are sown on stony ground; who, when they have heard the word, immediately receive it with gladness; And have no root in themselves, and so endure but for a time: afterward, when affliction or persecution arises for the word's sake, immediately they are offended." (Mark 4:16 - 17) "Those on the rock are they, who, when they hear, receive the word with joy; and these have no root, who for awhile believe, and in time of temptation fall away." (Luke 8:13) Read this carefully. It affects us all. We all want to hear the good Word of God. We all want to discover His vision for our lives and walk in that, and when that is shown us, we usually receive it with great joy. But when pressures (tribulations) or persecutions come because of the word, the vision, the hope, the instruction, etc that God has given you (and it will come) what is your response? Do you lose heart? Do you let the vision, the dream, the word God gave you slip away? Are you faced with that right now? I know many of you are. It is an hour of testing and testing comes before deployment. Here is why many of you have let go... "You have no root in yourself". This is not a statement of condemnation but rather a shining of light to a cause that is quite rectifiable. When the Word comes, the reason it develops no root is not because of any lack or deficiency in the quality of the Word. It is because you have not allowed the Word to penetrate deeply into your heart. Your heart is the soil and you must allow that Word to work deeply within you. If you fail to do that, there will be no root and you will fall away from the Word God gave you. Here's how you can do that... Use the W.A.S.P. principle... Write it out: I often write out a Scripture verse in long hand and carry it with me. I want to remember it and writing it out and reviewing it often helps me do that. Apply it: This is where so many fail... They enjoy hearing the word but prefer not to obey it or apply it to their life. This takes effort but results in transformation (Rom 12:2) When it says, "Thou shall not steal" for example, do you ever ask the Lord to show you how that might apply to you? Do you steal time, paperclips or photocopies from your employer? Do you rob God? Do you allow the theft of your time? Do you withhold affection as retribution? What about "Bind mercy and truth around your neck"? Do you ever stop and think what it looks like for you to bind mercy around your neck? Do you ever ask the Lord to show you how you can be merciful in business without becoming a doormat? Speak it: We steer our course with the words of our mouth. (James 3) We tend also to believe what comes out of our mouth and it is self reinforcing to speak the Word. Ponder it: Meditating on the Word need not be some mystical practice done in a monastery. Direct your mind to the Word and ask the Holy Spirit to teach you, even while you drive your car, prepare a meal or enjoy an outdoor walk. This has turned out a little longer than usual. I hope you found it helpful. I will see those of you who are interested in our rainforest business coaching opportunity next Thursday, May 14th at 2:00 pm EST. Details will be following.
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Comments (12) - Post a Comment
thank you! good words. i too write it down and make it plain. i then confess them while at stoplights. i have seen much fruit from this practice. isaiah 50:7-9 is a current rich one!
lloyd beery at 6:04am EDT - May 8, 2009
Thanks! This is a good slap on the forehead \"could've had a V8\" article! It put me back on the track again.
Jim at 8:32am EDT - May 8, 2009
Nifty tool! Thanks Michael!
Lorisa at 9:05am EDT - May 8, 2009
Thank you Michael! You know how needed and timely this is and always will be. Thank you for helping me remember the \"core\" as well as applying it to each and every day. Praise God for the trials and for the teaching, they come with much blessing.
Have you had your \"V8\" today?? :-)
Bonnie at 9:27am EDT - May 8, 2009
The simple reading of the Word can become information that only passes though our minds, just as water passes through a pipe. If we are not careful, the words of the Bible can become just another gallon of words in the ever-increasing current through our thoughts. As soon as they pass by, pushed on by the pressure of the flow in the pipe, we remember little (if anything) of what we have just read. Without absorption of the Word, there is no power and no changed lives.
Spend time meditating on some verse, phrase, or word from your Bible reading. Meditation is the means of absorption. Ask questions about it. Pray about it. Take your pen and scribble and doodle about it. Look for at least one way you can apply it or live it. Linger over it. Soak your soul slowly in the water of the Word, and you'll find power, a change life and a prompting for more absorption. – Adapted from George Muller.
Gary Geppelt at 10:19am EDT - May 8, 2009
Great post, Michael! The verse says that after they have heard the Word, then satan brings his things along and that \"immediately they are offended.\" John Bevere has a book called \"The Bait of Satan,\" which deals with not being offended. I have had to read this more than once to overcome being offended. If I'm offended by someone, then I am not walking in love towards them and then my faith is not working by love. So I have to watch extra carefully not to allow myself to be offended by someone, usually someone close to me. That is how satan usually comes to steal the Word from me.
Tom Shaw at 10:50am EDT - May 8, 2009
Great!
And the Word became flesh! It is always good- like out of your belly shall flow rivers of living waters. Give me the living waters to wash me, fill me, and renew me to the very depths of my soul.
For every word and deed I will be accountable for. For out of it flows the issues of life. God never intended for us to know bad, only good. Thank God He died for all of our sins. That His blood cleanses us and washes us. America must pray and seek God. Jesus never had a place to lay his head. But, he always had a place to pray. Pray that God's mercy will be on us and not His judgment. If my people who are called by my name will humble themselves and PRAY!!
Thank you for your prayers, your word, your name and your humbleness for our families, nation and world!
Williette Herring at 10:53am EDT - May 8, 2009
Michael - This is cool and so is your latest book.
I have been sharing your content with literally thousands of people for the last several weeks through various online tactics. I hope it has been beneficial to you.
You have great stuff - and thanks for suddenly picking up the blogging pace. This intentional act is well received by your growing audience in our network - and me! Love it.
Thanks for your creativity, vision and business acumen.
Blessings to you, your family & upon your endeavors,
Rick
Rick Hubbell at 12:59pm EDT - May 8, 2009
Rick;
Thanks for the encouragement to write more blogs and for sharing in one way or another with so many others. Perhaps you would like to become an affiliate with us? We will soon be announcing our online coaching program which you can read about here... www.RainforestInstitute.com - Once you get there, read whatever interests you, but then check out the demo. It is an online, high quality, digital video coaching format with testing and reporting. Let me know your thoughts.
Blessings, Michael
Michael Pink at 2:25pm EDT - May 8, 2009
Michael,
Your program and approach are exceptional - truly. I've seen many coaching/educational systems meet Christian stuff (or vice versa) - and most embarrass me as a believer. Yours is better and very well thought out.
I did in fact sign up to be an affiliate and will promote your program both 'officially' & 'unofficially'.
There are a few small items I might suggest but that I wouldn't put in blog comments. I think we may have a mutual friend or two, which also I won't list here.
You are definitely going for this in a big way and are a thought leader in the department. I hope your new program finds significant traction.
Blessings,
Rick
Rick Hubbell at 3:59pm EDT - May 8, 2009
Michael - Here is the post we made of your \"guest blog\" at Ti-MC. We don't generally post things late in the day Friday, but thought we'd promote your stuff. http://ti-mc.com/blog/
Rick
Rick Hubbell at 5:09pm EDT - May 8, 2009
Here's another tool to get you inside God's Word and vice versa: The Love4God Self-Survey for Believers at the home page of www.GetGodsGrace.com . Please try it, read the instructions, take it, and tell me what you think.
(I want to create an interdenominational association of churches that use this self-survey process. We want to save the member local churches money through group buying and shared services, empower them through networking and education, and speak to state legislature with one voice speaking in God's wisdom. Please pray for us and contact us if you have questions. We are seeking prominent visionary church leaders and funding.)
Let me know what you think of the Love4God Self-Survey for Believers after you take it!
Joe Dunn at 5:01pm EDT - May 9, 2009