Leverage

"For it is God who works in you to will and to act according to his good purpose." Phil. 2:13

"But by the grace of God I am what I am, and His grace toward me did not prove vain; but I labored even more than all of them, yet not I, but the grace of God with me." 1 Cor. 15:10

"Come to Me, all who are weary and heavy-laden, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and YOU WILL FIND REST FOR YOUR SOULS. For My yoke is easy and My burden is light." - Matt. 11:28-30

In the marketplace leverage is critical. What is leverage? Leverage is advantage gained through power and effectiveness. Most of us feel ineffective and increasingly drained physically, emotionally and spiritually especially in the workplace.

What God is inviting us into in both prayer and in intentional application is simple, but not easy. We tend to complicate God with our stuff, our lack of faith, our procrastination, and our disagreement with His Lordship and with our true Kingdom Identity.

Our keys in which to pray through this year are as follows -

Our leverage, as we read in the verses above doesn't come from ourselves it comes from God.

Leverage or position yourself for Power - which is the application of God's Grace (His sufficiency for my insufficiency) - and Effectiveness - which is God's Will by trusting Him in ways I've never done before (His ways over my ways).

Power - God's Grace is activated by a unique combination of humility, trust, and recognition in God's ability. Have you truly declared that He is Able in your life today?

Effectiveness begins with Surrender. Surrender is predicated upon permission. What we allow, make room for, give permission to is what takes precedent.

Leverage - as with a yoke placed on an ox is meant to be a load bearing instrument, not a restriction to keep us away from destiny. God cannot do the heavy lifting in your life if you see Him as restrictive. Do you believe that He is Good and that His plans for you are to prosper you, to give you His best? If not, then the restriction is in your thoughts toward Him, not His character or desire for you.

Application - making simple easier:

Your work is important to Jesus. And it is important that you work like Jesus. Jesus work was to do the Will of Him who sent me. Do you feel and know that you are a Sent One?

Build your effectiveness from that perspective.

Conduct yourself as He did, earning a reputation for the way you work and the quality of the product or service you provide.

Treat your co-workers and employees with the same kind of respect and love that you would imagine Jesus to have shown His employees.

Get satisfaction out of delivering your very best to your clients or patrons, giving them even more (better, higher, etc.) than they expected or you even promised.

Oh, don't forget...If you get tired and if your work-life is fatiguing with all its demands and challenges, double-check to make sure you are 'harnessed" or yoked with Christ. As you start your workday, listen as He beckons you..."Come unto Me, all you who are weary and heavy-laden, and I will give you rest...for My yoke is easy and My burden is light" (Matt. 11:28, 30)

With Him by your side, your heaviest burdens will seem lighter and your most difficult workplace challenges will suddenly seem do-able. Don't go it alone. Work in tandem with Him and others today and you'll really make today count!

Today's Workplace Prayer:

Father God, today we position ourselves in You and ask you to position Yourself in us (our hope of glory). Yoked with a clear sense of leverage to carry out and bear the weight of this calling upon our lives - we give you praise and thanks for trusting us. You are the heavy lifter - indeed the lifter of our heads. We look to you for effectiveness today. Use us as lights in a darkened world. Let the Joy of the Lord in us be strength for those around us. Use us to take a burden from someone today that will cause them to see You and Your Kingdom in their midst. In Jesus Name!

Marketplace Solutions – WB Journal