transformation

Our Coach Has Designed a Personal, Winning Training Program For You

Dr. Mike Journey in Christ , , , , , , , , , ,

Olympics 1As we write this, a documentary of the Olympics is taking place. The thought occurred that many of the athletes practice for this moment since the completion of the previous Olympics. Their steady diet of exercise, eating, and rehearsing their movements has been with them every day since they made up their minds to compete. Their daily routine to prepare for the games has been a long but rewarding time for many of them. Though not everyone will win a medal, just the opportunity to have the chance to compete is all they ask.

Likewise, as disciples of His, we are also involved on a daily diet of exercises to prepare ourselves for that day when our turn comes to enter the greatest event of all time. We prepare for the return of God’s Kingdom on earth in all its totality. When we will be changed into spiritual beings and live for eternity. The greatest competition is not against one another, but against Satan, against this world’s system, and against our self. We all run and we will all receive the prize. Our pace may differ. Our paths may differ. Our obstacles and challenges may differ. But our final prize will be shared with many.

Paul wrote in first Corinthians, chapter nine, starting in verse twenty-four that we need to be in the race to win. That everyone who competes also disciplines and trains their body for victory. Likewise in Hebrews, chapter twelve, verse one, Paul writes instructing us to run the race with perseverance removing every obstacle that comes in our way.

Our daily routine is built around seeking the kingdom of God. Our priorities are established not to seek fortune, fame, power, or whatever in this life. Instead, our priorities are set to pursue the kingdom of God. It is with our relationships family members, co-workers, neighbors, and everyone we come in contact with during the day. Some days we may become lazy and our Coach has to remind us of our commitment. Other days, our Coach has to remind us to slow down and not become frustrated for not establishing the kingdom today in every corner of the universe. He has set the course. We only have to run it at the speed that God knows is best suited for us. Isn’t it great to have a Coach and support staff that has guaranteed us victory as long as we follow the program?

OUR PRAYER

PRAYER 1

Our Great Coach and Heavenly Dad, thank you for entering us into the greatest “game” of life – your kingdom.  Your kingdom is the solution for all worldwide, governmental problems. It is the answer for all peoples everywhere. It is your method of governing mankind.

Help us to learn more of your government, your kingdom, and your ways. Teach us your love and faith and help us practice it each and every day in all circumstances. Train us in all your ways. Discipline us to be one of the best in your kingdom. Let us make you pleased with all our work, thoughts, and actions.

Your government is our preferred one. Let your rule exemplify itself through our life. Let us be a living ambassador for your government while we walk on earth.  Answer this prayer and all our prayers according to your will. Amen.

Yours In Christ,

Dr. Mike

Coach, Consultant, and Speaker

Author of Great Business Emulates a Good God

 

Patience Under Construction

Dr. Mike Journey in Christ , , , , , ,

construction 1

Remember in our early business careers how restless we became when events and situations didn’t occur as quickly as we had planned?  We would probably become frustrated and at times outwardly angry because of it. Some of us were probably even an explosive bomb with a very short timer. Then one day we found our self waiting in the lobby of a customer. Previously to this time, we would have waited for a few minutes and if the customer didn’t arrive, we would reschedule and move on to other important priorities of the day. But remember that first time when it was different? When we found our self waiting patiently for their late arrival. There was no frustration. There was no anger. There was no explosion. There was only calm, reassuring patience. We may have even forgotten to this day what was the result of our meeting except for the fact that we had exercised patience for the very first time in our life.

A friend shared this story with us a few days ago. He mentioned that at seventeen he started to realize he needed to change and to improve himself. So he began working on improving his character via the old Benjamin Franklin method. He would list the character traits that he knew needed improving and was working diligently to make himself a better person. But patience was not on top of the list. It was way, way, down on the list. There was what he considered more important items that needed to deal with. This is why he marveled. He didn’t do anything to change his behavior in regards to patience. His focus was working on other leadership traits that he considered more important. This was his first experience of truly marveling at the power of God working within him. He came to realize that the real permanent internal change was not caused by him building habits of success. But the real changes in his life came from the Holy Spirit creating within him a masterpiece that only He could produce. This time is was patience. He truly then realized that he is under construction and the Master builder is God.

Since that time he has come to realize that his priorities for spiritual growth are different than God’s plan for him. Why would a young man desire patience? Are there any other more important characteristics that he could use to shape the world? In his case, patience was the first fruit of the spirit that God must have considered more important in his life at that time. Now we see why.

It is through patience that faith comes alive. It is through patience that love is revealed. It is through patience that joy is expressed. It is through patience that peace rules. It is through patience that self-control is exercised. It is through patience that kindness is exemplified. It is through patience that goodness wins out. It is through patience that gentleness makes its mark.

To walk by patience is to walk with God. God is very patient with us. He wants us to learn from Him and to become like Him. As a disciple of His, we are also disciples of patience.  God truly knows what is best for us. Let us walk with Him and trust Him to patiently create His masterpiece in us as we live in Him.

OUR PRAYER

PRAY 8

Thank you Lord for building your patience in us. Help us in our lack of it. Let your Spirit fill us with the entire Fruit of your Spirit. You know which one we need most today. Let your glory and honor always be revealed in your children. Amen.

Yours In Christ,

Dr. Mike

Coach, Consultant, and Speaker

Author of Great Business Emulates a Good God
Portal: Be Radical…EnjoyLifeInChrist.com

 

Pre-eminence Belongs To The King

Dr. Mike Journey in Christ , , , , , , , , , , ,

SEEDS 2

Do you recall in the early grades when you competed with other students in speed-reading?  You and they would probably take turns being the first one to read any material and then recall the contents for the teacher.  Was our motivation to read with speed and comprehension or simply to be first?  Later in life when you were playing sports, was it to be the best you could be or to be the best among your peers?  Likewise in college while wasting time in the student activity center playing cards with your peers, was it to win all the time, or just to be better than your peers?  Did you walk away with a trophy or two back then, but if you were honest with your motivation was it to be the best player or the internal drive to be better than your peers?

Throughout life, those of us with a competitive or achievement spirit tend to have a strong motivation to be number one among our peers. When we sold, who had to he # 1 at the end of the year in sales? When we did whatever, can we admit our motivation was to be the best in comparison with our peers, no matter what the price?.  If you are like many of us, we have a strong internal drive that we can’t control but had to be satisfied. It would drive us in whatever we did.  It wasn’t until we totally surrendered our life to God that this motivation dissipated and eventually disappeared.

In scripture, we read how Satan wasn’t content in being a servant of God, but wanted to be in charge of God’s Kingdom. He persuaded one-third of the angles to work with him to overthrow God from His throne. But instead of victory, he learned that God is in control and no one is going to remove Him from His Office. Likewise, we have come to learn who is Number One in our life.

There is a great sense of peace and contentment knowing that you don’t have to be better than anyone else. That God wants you to be the best you can be. That we are all created differently but distinctly in the image of God with the purpose to live for all eternity working with Him in whatever is best suited for us.  In fact, nowadays instead of seeking pre-eminence, we find ourselves serving others with more joy than ever before.  Instead of trying to become number one, we work at helping others to excel.  Instead of seeking the glory for self, we let it shine upon others.

As a disciple of His, we find it easier to put the pre-eminence where it belongs and that is on Jesus.  Instead of crawling over one another and competing against one another, we find it easier to place Jesus central and learn to serve Him and those He chooses to send our way.

OUR PRAYER

PRAY 8

Our Glorified Dad, thank you for being number one in our life.  There is a great sense of peace and comfort knowing that no matter what we do or accomplish you will always be the Best in our book.  Help us to see others through your eyes. Help us to serve others through your eyes.  Help us to build up others especially those you have placed into the church.

Thank you for the assurance and faith to live this life as your child and pupil. Thank you for your tutoring and thank you for the privilege of serving others.  Help us channel the energy you give us to serving others and revealing you as first in life.  Whenever the opportunity comes, help us to always place you first in the eyes of others and keep this servant in humble submission to your Kingdom.  Amen.

Your Consultant & Coach for Christ-Centered
Business Owners & Executives

Dr. Mike

Author of Great Business Emulates a Good God