Thoughts from daily Bible reading for today- January 5, 2014
Then the king said, “Bring me a sword.” So they brought a sword for the king. He then gave an order: “Cut the living child in two and give half to one and half to the other.” 1 Kings 3:24-25
A wise process protects. It protects life; it protects relationships; it protects resources; it protects commitments. The process, on the surface, may not seem smart, but time wins you over with its wisdom. It is tempting to bypass the process. After all, you know what needs to be done, or so you think. It is tempting to barrel ahead into activity because the need is so great and the time seems so short.
But even if you are confident of the needed outcome, continue to trust the process. At the very least, it will involve others who need the process for understanding around requirements and support of a new role. For example, your work may require a new position to be filled. Will you fill this role with the first interested warm body or will there be a defined process for the protection of the company and the protection of the one being interviewed? The rule of three is normally a wise process to employ. Interview three legitimate and good candidates with the purpose of selecting one.
During the process of interviewing, you may discover new issues related to what the job really requires. You may even rewrite the job description. Perhaps this process of employee selection needs to include four or five other interviewers. Their perspective and wisdom is invaluable, as you seek to discern the most qualified person for the position. These “people” processes need not be rushed so that everyone is protected from unwise decision-making. Opportunity evokes emotion. Process channels positive energy into better options.
Jesus understood this. He spent a 30-year process of preparation before He embarked on a relatively short three years of ministry. In addition, He took his followers through a process of discipleship, teaching, and on-the-job training. His process with people was pregnant with questions, discovery, and hands-on experience. Ultimately, His process culminated in the cross and the Resurrection.
Therefore, some processes require death before there can be life. The death of a vision may be needed before it can be realized. Hence we are all in a process. We are all learning along the way in preparation for God’s next assignment. Process grooms you for greatness. If you run ahead of the process, you may very well disqualify yourself from greatness. Therefore, it is wise to be patient in the process and enjoy its excursions. Your vision may be dormant at best, or even dead for now. Do not give up on its feasibility. This may be part of God’s bigger process. Process is His protection for your family. Without a prayerful process, you might over-commit to the neglect of those who need you the most.
You can implement prayer immediately as your number one process component. Make Christ your process consultant. Default to “what does Jesus think?” before you ask Him to bless your “seat-of-the-pants” process. Prayer is your best process. Employ it well and employ it often. Allow prayer to define, initiate, and conclude the process. Prayer that seeks the wisdom of God and the wisdom of godly counselors is guaranteed a great process. Therefore, weave prayer throughout the process, and watch God work. Allow the Holy Spirit to drive the process. Hearts, minds, and spirits align around a prayerful process. You can’t beat a process interwoven with intercession and punctuated by prayer.
Taken from the January 5th reading in Boyd’s 365-day devotional book, “Seeking Daily the Heart of God vol. 1” … http://bit.ly/Tv6y9a
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