confidence

Don’t Neglect the Gift Within You

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“Do not neglect your gift…”

(I Timothy 4:14, NIV)

Many times, gifts that God Himself has given us lie dormant.  We’ve allowed precious treasures He has entrusted to our care and stewardship to be hidden, inactive, and underdeveloped.  Often, we don’t really venture outside of our comfort zones until the pressure we’re experiencing becomes almost unbearable.  Then, under the weight, we finally yield and say, “Okay God – You win!!!”  When a storm comes to shake us out of our grogginess and complacency, we cry out, “Mercy!  Please help me, Lord!”

It is imperative that you cultivate, nurture, develop, and mature your gift.  If it weren’t important, Timothy’s mentor wouldn’t have admonished him to “stir up the gift of God that is in you” (II Timothy 1:6).  Was Timothy lazy, fearful, or just comfortable?  Perhaps he just wasn’t operating at maximum efficiency and effectiveness.  As a matter of fact, Paul seemed to admonish him to shake off his comfortable contentment with the status quo and stop settling for the mediocre and familiar.

If this sounds like a place where you find yourself, it’s time to give your gifts a wake-up call!  Repent, pray for direction, commit to purposeful action, and GET MOVING!  Your gift will take you into the arena of greatness (Proverbs 18:16).  Be so focused and single-minded in tending to your gift and executing God’s purpose that external influences and distractions cease to matter.  I’ll admit that it’s not easy or passive activity.  Jude 1:3 admonishes us to “earnestly contend for the faith.”  That means it’s going be a press.  Sometimes we’ll have to fight; yet, Matthew 11:12 tells us “…the kingdom of heaven suffereth violence, and the violent take it by force.”  I dare say that your destiny is worth fighting for.  The purpose of resistance, opposition, and pressure is to propel you toward opportunity – which is cleverly disguised as adversity!  Will you polish your gift and seize the opportunity? 

What will you do with the door opened by your gift?

 The world anticipates your response…and destiny awaits your embrace.

© Copyright 2008 by Kayren J. Cathcart

Controlling vs. Conquering Your Weakness – You ARE an Overcomer!

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*You must overcome your weakness – or it will overcome you!*

“To change means picking a fight with the status quo”

Taking Inventory

Let’s see – I know I still have some issues lurking, but I swept them under the rug.  I made sure nobody could see them, but I think a few folks with discernment are starting to suspect this growing mound under my rug – oh man, it’s getting lumpier – and taller.  Well, if I do all the “right” things and keep trying to look spiritual and “hold it all together,” maybe I can just blend in.  I think we were told from Genesis 1:28 to be fruitful, multiply, replenish, and subdue…okay, let me work on that for a minute.  But if I’m still holding onto old junk, then what am I being fruitful in growing?  Junk! I am making a mess!

Why change?  destiny, purpose (whatever doesn’t change – dies)

Growth = change, but change doesn’t always equal growth

You must CHOOSE to grow!

Characteristics of Controlling Behavior

Characteristics of Conquering Behavior
  • Co-dependent; making excuses
  • Taking responsibility
  • Keep it “just in case” I need something familiar/comfortable to fall back on
  • Kick the crutches away; Get rid of it because it’s holding me back/weighing me down
  • Hiding/pretending/projecting a false image (“frontin’”)
  • Exposure:

             light + sound = no secrecy
  • Pride makes me think I can handle it by myself
  • Victory = able to stand AND able to help someone else be delivered (Who really “has it all together” anyway??? Accountability matters)

Dieting

Lifestyle Change

Addiction/Lust/Destructive Habits

Deliverance!

Anger Management

“Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me”(Psalm 51:10)

Holding a grudge

Forgiveness

Criticizing others (fault-finding)

Committing to be the change I want to see

Overspending

Discipline!

Action Steps for Change and Growth

(Moving beyond my present situation/set of circumstances)

Accountability

  • Tell on yourself!
  • Surround yourself people who are strong in your area of weakness
  • Remain humble

Responsibility

  • Be honest with yourself
  • Be truthful with others
  • Admit mistakes and reward progress
  • Discipline your mind and body – you must feed your spirit with the WORD of God!

Maturity

  • Keep moving forward (one step at a time = progress)
  • Know when to ask for help (assistance = a hand up, not a handout)
  • Don’t expect someone else to rescue you or solve your problem – stand on your feet
  • Commit to move from milk to meat – time out for spoon-feeding!

The Process of Overcoming entails walking in the Big IDEA – O!

Integrity – according to the WORD, not yourself!

“All the ways of a man are clean in his own eyes; but the Lord weigheth the spirits.” (Proverbs 16:2)

Discipline – brings you to the results you need “..run in such a way to get the prize.” (I Corinthians 9:24b NIV)

Endurance – breeds consistency

“…be not slothful, but followers of them who through faith and patience inherit the promises.”  (Hebrews 6:12)

Action (be active, not passive – expecting it to “just happen” or come to you)

“…now therefore arise, go over…” (Joshua 1:2)

Obedience – (no loopholes, shortcuts, or hypocrisy) “…to obey is better than sacrifice…” (I Samuel 15:22)

© Copyright 2007 by Kayren J. Cathcart