Change may represent the best of
times; change may represent the worst of times. Motive, purpose and
communication influenced and defined within spiritual context determine the
positive or negative nature of change. God superintends in and through chronological,
cultural, economic, geographical, historical, and political context. One may
view and consider each of the latter contextual attributes on a global,
national, regional, state, community, organizational and individual basis.
Earthly change occurs by and
through the thoughts, words and actions of individuals in response to, or
rejection of, the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit governs change and guidance
through the prayer, internal promptings, and internalizing His Word by those
strategically positioned in the previously listed attributes as well as those
with whom we associate on a personal and professional level.[1]
Profitable change originates only
from the Holy Spirit (Mt 7:21[i], 12:25[ii];
Mk 3:25[iii]).
He indwells the heart of every believer (2 Co 1:22[iv]),
and prompts and guides all people, including non-believers, to achieve His will
(Exodus 2-13). As one who serves God in serving His people our responsibilities
mandate pointing others to Jesus Christ and the Holy Spirit. He guides our
heart, mind and soul with His thoughts. God’s thoughts written on our hearts
and minds result in our image and character more closely resembling His image.
Everyone should rejoice in this change!
Christians, walking in the Spirit
(Ro 8:5[v]), earnestly
yearn for God’s guidance in their every thought, word and action. Considering
that each new thought, word or action changes our mind, body or soul to some
extent, life consists of constant change. Mature Christians continually submit
all to God the Father, the Lord Jesus Christ and the Holy Spirit. Effective
change mandates establishing, and continually affirming, God’s love and glory
as the foundation of change (Mt 7:24-25[vi]).
As demonstrated, this paper
establishes and acknowledges God’s sovereignty, provision and guidance as the
bedrock of all change. However, we will focus primarily on strategies and
implementation of change. The eternal triune God represents the only constant
in creation’s entirety; He remains unaffected by the effects of time (Heb 13:8[vii])
that He created.
Considering Change
Frequently, speakers, leaders and
those in authority presumptuously state, “People resist change.” Those
walking in the Spirit resist only change that contradicts the Holy Spirit, because
this creates internal turmoil instead of internal peace. The mature
spirit-filled Christian receives internal peace that represents congruency with
the Holy Spirit. However, wisdom mandates knowing that one’s degree of
spiritual maturity affects the ability to recognize and accept this congruency.
Consequently, we must remain lovingly patient in working with those striving,
yet failing to grasp our level of comprehension. Others may comprehend the Spirit’s
agreement or disagreement more rapidly than we do. Spiritual maturity[2]
welcomes others perhaps ahead[viii]
of us.
Charles Gibbs adamantly states, “I
have no ego. My only reputation exists in the Lord.” This enables illuminating
insight and empowerment when strategizing and implementing change. Those
walking in flesh, only welcome change that pleases the flesh, such as the
physical, financial and emotional realm. People typically resist change that
they fail to understand or from a source whom they fail to trust.
Summarily, the acceptance and rate
of change highly correlates with congruency with the Holy Spirit, communication,
trust and each of the components embedded in these necessities.
Vision
Vision is the nitroglycerin of
motivation. Vision—or dream—instigates, inspires and empowers change. While
some may argue that vision and dreams differ, this discussion defines and uses
them interchangeably. Change may represent a different direction, a different
rate of action, a different type of action or all of these factors.
Dexter and Birdie Yager built the
world’s largest Amway distributorship by focusing on the “DREAM!!!” for
themselves and inspiring others to find and pursue their own God-given dreams. Dexter
persistently described, invited and challenged the dream both in conversation
and on stage speaking to tens of thousands of people.
During his two to four keynote addresses in the early hours of the morning, Dexter would hold the microphone close to his mouth with his hands cupped around it, “You gotta have a Big DREAM!!!! The Dream, the Dream, the Dream, it starts with the DREAM!!!” Dexter Yager counseled leader servants such as Ronald Reagan, Dave Thomas, Jerry Boggus[ix] and numerous others in his organization…..
During his two to four keynote addresses in the early hours of the morning, Dexter would hold the microphone close to his mouth with his hands cupped around it, “You gotta have a Big DREAM!!!! The Dream, the Dream, the Dream, it starts with the DREAM!!!” Dexter Yager counseled leader servants such as Ronald Reagan, Dave Thomas, Jerry Boggus[ix] and numerous others in his organization…..
Desire and urgency of change
directly—perhaps exponentially—correlate with one’s dream or vision. Vision
drives us to prepare and perform when battling complete exhaustion. Dreams and
visions, when fully developed, involve all five senses and evoke all
appropriate emotions. An effective dream or vision causes loss of breath,
laughter, tears of joy and rolling waves of every other emotion that one
experiences when attaining the dream or vision.
If one fails to experience some of
these change causing emotions, either the vision/dreams needs further
development or the person and the vision are incongruent. Only a properly
founded vision or dream congruent with a person’s God given desires will ignite
the internal fire of desire of pursuing the Holy Spirit inspired change. Discussions
and evaluations should occur of any changes in the vision or the positioning of
the person.
When the leader servant helps
anyone find and develop their vision to include all five emotions—seeing,
tasting, feeling, smelling and hearing as if living the event or the achieved
the organizational structure—the person will strongly desire to make the
necessary changes. For example, Coach Claussen scheduled a twenty-mile run for
me on New Year’s Day 1995. A portion of my ministry vision included placing among
the top ten Americans at the Boston Marathon.
The eighteen inches of snow packed streets and roads and sub-zero temperatures with wind-chill at minus twenty-five degrees initially caused me to consider changing my run from 20 to 15 miles due to the inclement weather. I then focused on my vision’s integration with my ministry. Instead of running the original twenty-miles, I ran twenty-five miles in absolute miserable conditions. While the complacent pontificate about “going the extra mile,” a Holy Spirit inspired vision causes one to go the extra FIVE miles[3]. Vision instigates significant change.
The eighteen inches of snow packed streets and roads and sub-zero temperatures with wind-chill at minus twenty-five degrees initially caused me to consider changing my run from 20 to 15 miles due to the inclement weather. I then focused on my vision’s integration with my ministry. Instead of running the original twenty-miles, I ran twenty-five miles in absolute miserable conditions. While the complacent pontificate about “going the extra mile,” a Holy Spirit inspired vision causes one to go the extra FIVE miles[3]. Vision instigates significant change.
Trust
Trust accompanies the Spirit,
especially with those also walking in the Spirit. We cannot cause someone to
trust us. However God does at times give us favor with others, and we can speak
with truth and transparency. Additionally, we should engage in all other
characteristics of those who earn authentic trust.
Trust quickens the acceptance of change, which impact effectiveness in every organization. Trust originates from honesty and knowing that “I am looking out for your best interests” to the best of my ability within the context of my responsibility. In other words, our trust originates from loving our fellow man as much as we love ourselves.
Trust quickens the acceptance of change, which impact effectiveness in every organization. Trust originates from honesty and knowing that “I am looking out for your best interests” to the best of my ability within the context of my responsibility. In other words, our trust originates from loving our fellow man as much as we love ourselves.
Encouragement
“Encouragement is a divine
instrument of change.” Charles Gibbs uttered this succinct and accurate message
during one of our weekly mentoring phone this past year. I completely agree.
In my “Life and Soul Agronomist”
presentation, I equate encouragement with water for crops. It is impossible for
crops to experience positive change without water. So man needs encouragement
for positive change. Water brings mobile nutrients to the roots, and softens
the soil to allow roots to grow to immobile nutrients.
Encouragement provides
nutrients of the mind, and soul such ideas and appreciation, among many others.
Moreover, just like specific plants demand specific amounts and types of
nutrients, each individual requires specific types and amounts of
encouragement. Water carries nutrients through the plant to each specific
location within the plant. We intentionally and specifically place our
encouragement.
Water provides turgor pressure enabling the plant to stand up,
and the leaves to have the proper angle for maximum light absorption. Through
turgor pressure and nutrient and molecular movement, water is instrumental in
photosynthesis. Encouragement enables others, amidst the change and growth in
life, to stand tall, absorb the light of Christ in serving others and glorifying
our Lord.
See Christ, Believe Christ, Achieve with Christ!
Rick E. Meyer See, Believe, Achieve Inc.
www.rickEmeyer.com
Featured Christian Speaker in Dallas on Gig Salad
[1] Rick E.
Meyer, The Holy Spirit’s Guidance in Max International, Dallas
Theological Seminary, Applied Research Project. 2013. 3,4.
[3] http://rickemeyer.blogspot.com/2010/12/vision-go-extra-five-miles.html
[i] Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord,
Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father
who is in heaven will enter.
[ii] And knowing their thoughts Jesus said
to them, “Any kingdom divided against itself is laid waste; and any city or
house divided against itself will not stand.
[iii] If a house is divided against itself,
that house will not be able to stand.
[v] For those who are according to the
flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who are according
to the Spirit, the things of the Spirit.
[vi] “Therefore everyone
who hears these words of Mine and acts on them, may be compared to a wise man
who built his house on the rock. “And the rain fell, and the floods came, and
the winds blew and slammed against that house; and yet it did not fall, for it
had been founded on the rock.”
[vii] Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.
[viii] This
may represent greater spiritual maturity. It may represent greater experience
and perspectives in the specific context. “Ahead” in this context does not
insinuate a secularly “higher” position.
[ix] Jerry
Boggus is one of those I interviewed (staying two nights in his home near
Augusta, GA) for my Applied Research Project: The Holy Spirit’s Guidance in
Max International.
