“¹Fist of all, then, I urge that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings be made for all people, ²for kings and all who are in high positions, that we may lead a peaceful and quiet life, godly and dignified in every way.” – 1 Timothy 2:1-2 (ESV)

With my prayer I should be lifting up all. I should be praying for the lowly and those in authority. I have to remember that God is God for all.

As I studied this morning in the commentary of my various versions of God’s Word, my New International Version (NIV) commentary for verse 2 above reminded me that prayer for those in authority is easy to remember in those difficult oppressive times and more alluding in times of prosperity and peace. I know that for me, I find that I am not as in tune with lifting up those in authoritative positions except when I concerned.

Paul reminds us that we are to be praying for all at all times. Regardless of the day or situation, we should be lifting everyone up to the Father. When I look at verse 2 above I see the last part as the reason why, “that we may lead a peaceful and quiet life, godly and dignified in every way”. This lets me know that for me to get the most out of my time here in this world and do the work of Christ most efficiently and effectively, I need every advantage. I need to remember that even in peaceful times, I should be praying that those in authority continue to work according to God and in the interest of His glory and not their own. I have to lift them up in the good as well as difficult times. In the philosophy of leadership principles I have to “catch them doing something right” as opposed to only looking for the places where they can improve or do things “my way”.

For me to lead a peaceful, godly life I need to be aware and focused on praying for all. Not just those that are in my circle of influence, but all that are in my circle of concern as well as those not. I have to remember that those in authority are God’s children just as I am and need appreciation and lifting up also. When I pray for all, I am praying for “a peaceful and quiet life, godly and dignified in every way”.

When you pray, what are the situations where you are praying for all, even those in authority? Are you only praying for those in authority only in times of need? What if we just prayed for all at all times, what difference would that make in our “peaceful and quiet, godly and dignified” lives?

It is not the temptation or adversity that defines me, it is how I recover from it. I teach this as a part of my mission to improve lives through growth and learning. It is inevitable that we will be tempted in life and will have to overcome that temptation to get through the difficult situations that we will encounter.

“¹³And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.” – Matthew 6:13 (ESV)

In order for us to grow and learn, it is important that we experience temptation and adversity. We learn and overcome to be stronger on the other side. But, do we ask not to be tempted, do we ask not to experience adversity. I find that we are reactive to what comes at us as opposed to proactive to avoid things.

I have to make sure and ask to be delivered from temptation and adversity so as not to have to experience them. I want to live a life that is comfortable and filled with opportunity to give God the glory He should be receiving. When I am focusing my attention on overcoming temptation and adversity, how much will I be able to focus on bringing God the glory.

I have to ask God to lead me in the path to His glory and away from temptation and adversity. I have to ask in order to receive. Will I still have to overcome, yes. Will God deliver me for His glory, yes. God only wants what is best for me and if there are times that I have to experience hardship and overcome, then He will allow it to be. But, I still have the ability and have been instructed by Jesus here in the Lord’s Prayer to ask to be spared from that hardship. If I do not ask, it is likely I will not receive.

It is important that we learn to overcome the temptation and adversity that we are presented with. The thing is that there will be plenty of opportunity to do so without asking for it. God wants what is best for us and when we ask Him, He will provide. Jesus gave us the model prayer and it outlines that we should ask to be delivered and not led into any difficult situations. Asking God for deliverance will lead to the temptation and adversity minimized to that which is necessary for our growth, learning, and bringing of glory to God. No need to ask for more.

Are you asking to be challenged in the interest of growing from it? Are you defining yourself by the temptations and adversity you are experiencing? What if we were to ask to not experience the temptation and adversity as opposed to being delivered from them?

God is great and mighty.

“¹⁰Behold, the Lord GOD comes with might, and his arm rules for him; behold, his reward is with him, and his recompense before him.” – Isaiah 40:10 (ESV)

He is there with all of himself to take down whatever gets in the way of His work being done. He is there to provide for us as we take on the tasks He has for us. He is powerful and in control of all things.

God is loving and gentle and kind.

“¹¹He will tend his flock like a shepherd; he will gather the lambs in his arms; he will carry them in his bosom, and gently lead those that are with young.” – Isaiah 40:11 (ESV)

He is there to care for us and protect us. He will carry us to safety and make sure that those with others to care for, He will lead them to the same safe place with care and love.

God is our protector and provider, and in all of those times, he does it all with love and care for each of us.

What does it look like for you with God in your life? Are you the lamb being protected and guided? What if we all went into the day knowing that God leads with love?

I have thought about the relationship between leading and following and have even read books related to the subject of both. I know that leading, as mentioned in other of my studies is that of inspiration. Following therefore is that of being inspired. And when looked at in this instance, I can see the harmony that is found in the two.

“⁶The wolf shall dwell with the lamb, and the leopard shall lie down with the young goat, and the calf and the lion and the fattened calf together; and a little child shall lead them.” – Isaiah 11:6 (ESV)

I was led to this above passage this morning in my study of the word “lead” and what I found was the essence of the harmony between leading and following. The fierce animals described, the leopard and lion, are able to lie next to the prey they would normally be going after. They are lying not in fear or in wait, but together in concert and harmony. They are able to co-exist without going against one another. And to top things off, a child will lead them. Another of the prey to those that would be predators in the world. This group will follow the one sent to lead as they work together.

I like to believe that I will follow leaders regardless of who they are or what the situation will be. The thing that drives that is the idea of leader in the true sense of the word as I have described. I will follow those that inspire me. I will run through the brick wall that they ask me to when I believe that what is on the other side is truly that of great value, and that will only be manifest when I believe in the leader before me. I will do the work of a manager as a part of the job I have been tasked with, but will not be harmonious with them as I will only be performing a job without inspiration.

It is that harmony of leader and follower that makes the work effective, efficient, and worthwhile. I am looking for that instance when I am lead to complete work and in those I will follow. God is that leader and for Him I will follow in harmony.

What is your thought on leading and following? Are you currently inspired to do work as a follower? What if you were to follow God and His leadership example, what harmony would you find there?

Leading verses Managing is an age old conflict. The meaning of these two are not the same thing at all. Managing is the control of things to keep them in order. Leading is the inspiring of to complete things. What a difference when you look at it from those differences.

“³⁵Lead me in the path of your commandments, for I delight in it.” – Psalm 119:35 (ESV)

I see this verse and am drawn to two parts this morning, “lead me” and “I delight in it”. The first is the idea of being led. Being inspired. Being driven to work and complete the commands of God. He provides me with tasks to complete and those are commanded by Him. I have a duty to complete them for His glory.

The second is the idea of enjoying the idea of being led. Wanting to be inspired. Wanting to be driven to work and complete the commands of God. He provides me with tasks to complete and those are commanded by Him and I am happy and excited and inspired to complete them for His glory. Yes there is the sense of duty to work, but I don’t do it out of duty, I do it out of joy. I want to do His work and whistle the entire time.

I can say with confidence that most of us do not want to be managed or controlled to complete tasks. In fact I hear in the business world all the time of not wanting to be “micro-managed” in doing work. I will say that being led seems to be the choice. Being inspired to do work. And being led by God is that which should be bringing joy to us all. We should as stated in the verse above, “delight in it”.

When you are completing tasks, are you feeling managed or led to do so? Are you doing things out of a sense of duty? What if we approached the tasks that God has for us out of a sense of joy and inspiration and what if you truly were to “delight in it”?

There seems to always be a selfish motive for the things I do. I am human and therefore it is natural for that to be the case. I have been conditioned in the world to look out for number one. If I am not working to get mine, who is.

“³For you are my rock and my fortress; and for your name’s sake you lead me and guide me;” – Psalm 31:3 (ESV)

And there you have it. I have no reason to look out for me in this world. I ask God to take the wheel and lead and guide me for His glory and no other reason. I am to be the servant of God and do all for Him and with His glory in mind. I should not let my own wants and desires cloud the fact that I am taking action for God and not for me.

Now this does not mean that we are to be door mats with regard to how we are treated in the world. We are still deserving of the respect of those we interact with. We can still strive to do well and be recognized for that work in the world. But where I have to draw the line is in that thinking the recognition somehow defines who I am. It is blessings from God that should be of greatest value to me. I will receive those blessings when I am doing the work He has for me and seeking to be guided and led by Him in that work. I follow God for Him and not for me.

When you are out there seeking to follow, who are you doing it for? Are you willing to follow for the sake of the leader? What if you were to follow God with the express purpose of glorifying Him and not for your own reward?

God leads me. I may not always pay attention and will wander off my own way, but I know He leads me. I believe that what causes me to wander off the path He has for me is that I am looking for the quickest way to achieve something. I feel as though I have a hold on what it is He has in store for me and I then take the fastest route to getting there. I tend to focus on getting it done as opposed to getting it right.

“¹¹Teach me your way, O LORD, and lead me on a level path because of my enemies.” – Psalm 27:11 (ESV)

Here I read the words of David and see that while I may “figure out” what it is that God has in store for me, I must look to allowing Him to “lead me on a level path” in stead of just going with reckless abandon. I have to be willing to see that it is the journey that He wants me on for that is the cleanest path to accomplishing His work. Yes, there may be adversity along the way, but He has already planned for that adversity and will allow me to get through it based on His plan.

Take the Israelites for example. God had them escape along the longer route to get away from Egypt and Pharaoh. That path was level and safe for them to pass. Yet, they came upon the Red Sea that they would have to cross or go around. That adversity was enough to create doubt that God was leading the right path, but He provided a safe level path to cross and protected the from the harm that would have befallen them otherwise. By allowing God to provide the level path, they were able to escape and progress with their journey to the promised land.

I know that too often I want to get to the “promised land” faster than I probably or actually should. I have to remember that the path God has for me is purposeful. He makes it so that I will move at the pace that will produce the fruit He is looking for and ultimately that will provide us with our reward in heaven. I have to remember this and allow Him to lead me on a level path that He chooses and not the quickest route I would like to take to just getting things done.

When you are out there going about things, what path are you looking to take? Are you allowing God to lead your way? What if you allowed God to lead you on a level path regardless of the timeline so that you will reach the destination in the timing that God has for your arrival?

God is always leading me. In the daytime, night time, in good times, and in bad. He is always there to provide me with the direction I need.

“²¹And the LORD went before them by day in a pillar of cloud to lead them along the way, and by night in a pillar of fire to give them light, that they might travel by day and by night.” – Exodus 13:21 (ESV)

Here we see that God was not only with the Israelites as they left Egypt, He provided guidance for them at all times. During the day, they would follow the cloud and by night the fire. Either time, He was with them, leading them through the wilderness toward the promise land.

For me, He is doing the same. Maybe not in such an overt way, by cloud and by fire, but God is leading me all the time. I am not always sure which way to go and it is in those times that I am able to find my way as I read and study His word. I dive into scripture and find just what I am looking for, or at least a direction to take. God leads me to the passages in His word that provide the guidance for my movements and to make sure that I am on the right path.

I will say that just like the Israelites, God does not always take me through the easiest or simplest of routes to where He needs me to go. He provides the path that is needed for me at the time. I may and will still have adversity as I take that path, but when I am being led by God, I am on the right path and He will provide safe passage for me. He led the Israelites through the day and night, and delivered them from Pharaoh at the Red Sea. It was not the easiest of journeys, but He guided them all the way to the promised land.

“²²The pillar of cloud by day and the pillar of fire by night did not depart from before the people.” – Exodus 13:22 (ESV)

God is with me all the way. He leads me, not just when things are going well, but when there are challenges for me to experience. Yes, He guides me through the challenges He allows to be in my way. Whether those challenges are people, things, actions, financial, social, familial, cultural, professional, or whatever other challenges I am to face. He leads me through them all.

When you are out in the world, where are you looking for your guidance? Are you aware that God is with you always? What if you looked to and allowed God to lead you in all?

Promotions and advancements are a good thing to happen. Who would not like to be in a “better” position tomorrow than today. I mean really. More money, more prestige, more responsibility, more stability, more just about everything. I know that I would like and appreciate more or better of just about anything.

“¹¹And Haman recounted to them the splendor of his riches, the number of his sons, all the promotions with which the king had honored him, and how he had advanced him above the officials and the servants of the king.” – Esther 5:11 (ESV)

What a great thing for Haman. He was elevated to a high office and rightly, was happy and proud to be in such a position. But, that is where his undoing began. He was proud. He allowed the power and prestige go to his head and it consumed him, taking control of his life.

“²And all the king’s servants who were at the king’s gate bowed down and paid homage to Haman, for the king had so commanded concerning him. But Mordecai did not bow down or pay homage. ⁵And Haman saw that Mordecai did not bow down or pay homage to him, Haman was filled with fury.” – Esther 3:2 & 5 (ESV)

The human condition is one of greed and misunderstanding. Actions by the king were not done in haste and for some personal aggrandizement, Haman was elevated to the higher position for a purpose. It was Haman that took the advancement and allowed it to cloud his mind and soul with the thoughts of being “better” than his fellow man. He was angry at someone for simply not bowing down to him. He allowed himself to be filled with hate based on the actions of one person.

“¹⁴Then his wife Zeresh and all his friends said to him, ‘Let a gallows fifty cubit high be made, and in the morning tell the king to have Mordecai hanged upon it. Then go joyfully with the king to the feast.’ This idea please Haman, and he had the gallows made.” – Esther 5:14 (ESV)

Wow how fast that escalated, and look how it happened. Haman was already feeling overly proud since he was advanced, and those around him were benefiting from his advancement. He had already hatched a plot to destroy the Jews in the kingdom to “get back” at Mordecai for not bowing down, and now, the people around him were encouraging him to take it a step further and kill the Mordecai. They had let their advancement through Haman take control of their self.

I look here and see the err of allowing advancement go to our head. We are right to want to be taken seriously and seeking to be better than we are. Even God wants for us to be more than just beings here in this world. But, that advancement is for God’s glory and not our own. I have to remember that all that I am is provided by God and for Him. I have been granted provisions, not for me but for Him. He works to give me what I need to do His will. Sometimes that is a bigger, more authoritative position. Sometimes that is more money to give away. Sometime that is more security to work for Him freely. And, sometimes it is just to say thank you for a job well done. I have to remember that God’s actions are all calculated and have a purpose, and I cannot let it consume me nor take control of me. It is all for Him.

What do you think when advancement comes your way or the way of those you know? Do you act proud and believe that it was deserved and that now somehow you or they are now better than others? What if we were to accept advancement and use it to advance the gospel as opposed to advancing ourselves?

This morning I am reading and studying in Paul’s letter to the Philippians. Here Paul begins with thanksgiving and prayer as he does in his letters. Then he moves directly into living a life of Christ beginning with advancing the gospel.

“¹²I want you to know, brothers, that what has happened to me has really served to advance the gospel, ¹³so that it has become known throughout the whole imperial guard and to all the rest that my imprisonment is for Christ.” – Philippians 1:12-13 (ESV)

You can see that Paul is of course maintains his transparency in that he does not shy away from the fact that he is in prison. And everyone knows that he is in prison for advancing the gospel. He is fully aware of the cost to his decision to follow Christ and advance the gospel. I even look here and can see his smile as he tells how everyone is knowing of his reason for being there, as well as in the next verse. It is worth it to Paul in that he has advanced the gospel to all that he has come in contact, regardless of what the consequences are or where he might be at the time.

“¹⁴And most of the brothers, having become confident in the Lord by my imprisonment, are much more bold to speak the word without fear.” – Philippians 1:14 (ESV)

Not only does Paul know the cost and is indifferent to it for his sake, but he also knows the result is subjective as well. There are those that will learn and advance the gospel for the glory of God and there are those that will do so in mockery and out of spite.

“¹⁵Some indeed preach Christ from envy and rivalry, but others from good will. ¹⁶The latter do it out of love, knowing that I am put here for the defense of the gospel. ¹⁷The former proclaim Christ out of rivalry, not sincerely but thinking to afflict me in my imprisonment.” – Philippians 1:15-17 (ESV)

I read these 3 verses and see that man will be good and man will be evil. It is not my duty to judge their actions, that is left to God. My role is simply to advance the gospel as Paul did, regardless of the result of my work. God will do the work on the individuals just as He will judge them. I have to understand my role and embrace it for the glory of God.

“¹⁸What then? Only that in every way, whether in pretense or in truth, Christ is proclaimed, and in that I rejoice.” – Philippians 1:18 (ESV)

Paul understood that any proclamation of the God is good. Whether that proclamation was for Him or against Him, the advance of the gospel took place and God’s word was heard. He knew that if even one life is saved, it is all worth it. The seen result is something that cannot be our concern. We have to be looking for the advance of the gospel and not the result of our actions. God will reward us for the work we are doing when the work is done.

I may not reach everyone that I come in contact, but I have to continue advancing the gospel. I cannot concern myself with what the cost might be, God will care for me by providing for all of my needs. I cannot concern myself with the result of my advance of the gospel, God will cultivate my advancement with those that are interested. It is simply my role to advance the gospel and allow God to take care of the cost and result.

When you are in the world, what does your advance of the gospel look like? Are you “preaching” only in the environments that are favorable and will yield the “best” results? What if you took the approach of Paul and did not worry of the cost or the result and just advanced the gospel to all?