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Christian
Education Pre-K-12
Richmond Academy
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Tough Calls
Psa 92:1-15 “[It is a] good [thing] to give thanks unto
the LORD, and to sing praises unto thy name, O most High: (2) To shew forth thy
lovingkindness in the morning, and thy faithfulness every night, (3) Upon an
instrument of ten strings, and upon the psaltery; upon the harp with a solemn
sound. (4) For thou, LORD, hast made triumph in the works of thy hands. (5) O
LORD, how great are thy works! [and] thy thoughts are very deep. (6) A brutish
man knoweth not; neither doth a fool understand this. (7) When the wicked spring
as the grass, and when all the workers of iniquity do flourish; [it is] that
they shall be destroyed for ever: (8) But thou, LORD, [art most] high for
evermore. (9) For, lo, thine enemies, O LORD, for, lo, thine enemies shall
perish; all the workers of iniquity shall be scattered. (10) But my horn shalt
thou exalt like [the horn of] an unicorn: I shall be anointed with fresh oil.
(11) Mine eye also shall see [my desire] on mine enemies, [and] mine ears shall
hear [my desire] of the wicked that rise up against me. (12) The righteous shall
flourish like the palm tree: he shall grow like a cedar in Lebanon. (13) Those
that be planted in the house of the LORD shall flourish in the courts of our
God. (14) They shall still bring forth fruit in old age; they shall be fat and
flourishing; (15) To shew that the LORD [is] upright: [he is] my rock, and
[there is] no unrighteousness in him.”
How do you make tough decisions? We are in a time when abuse, intimidation, and
domineering people are out of control. Doesn’t the Bible say, “Love covers a
multitude of sins?” (1 Pet.4:8) Many think they need to cover up abuse from
others. But then the day comes when you can’t take any more. What are you going
to do?
Each of us will face a time when we must stand up to those things that keep us
pressed under evil. And while most (95%) of the decisions that we have to make
can be made by a 10th grader, it is the other 5% that either make or break us.
Every tough decision that is ever made will still make you moan and groan over
that decision. Why? Because every one of these tough calls includes 4
characteristics:
1. Each takes much energy, time and prayer. Never make a tough call in
reaction or in anger. Never do it without sleeping on it. Take time to make that
call. (In fact, that is what I have to do.) (Jam 1:20) “For the wrath of man
worketh not the righteousness of God.” (Kingdom of God) You can’t serve God
when you are resentful or angry; and if you try whatever you do is going to be
wrong even if it is right. Each of these calls saps the strength out of you. If
they were not tough, you wouldn’t feel stressed. There is only one thing to ask
God: “HELP!” Ask as often as it takes.
2. Each demands RISKS. If there were no risks, it would not be a tough
call. I am not talking about just getting out of your comfort zone. With these
calls, you stand in danger of losing everything: reputation, love of those who
are around you, alienation of others, what they think of you – “He’s just plain
mean.” The mental torment of all of this goes on while preparing to make the
tough call.
3. Each will be questioned and criticized and seldom applauded. You will
often face abuse, criticism, and domineering situations; and on top of this,
once you make the tough call, these negative responses increase. Some people
will say how stupid you are, how uncaring and unkind. But the tough decisions
have to be made.
4. Each will cost you dearly! It will cost you relationships. Good people
will not understand and will back off. It may cost you financially. Today, many
in leadership in churches will not make these kinds of calls because they might
lose financial support. Instead, they flounder and end up with nothing eternal
except a group of socialites ever learning but never coming to the knowledge of
what is truth.
How do you do it? Five steps can make these tough decisions a little easier.
1. Do your homework. Research your options and the ramifications of your
decisions. Seek the Holy Spirit’s direction. Then put the pros and cons in
writing. Make your decisions based on the deep values that you have come to live
by in Christ. Evaluate the decision with clear knowledge of all that will be
affected. Having a thorough realization of the consequences will prevent you
from basing the decision only on your desires.
2. Set a dead line. Don’t procrastinate. It only makes matters worse.
(Don’t decide in a hurry, but be reasonable about making your decision.) Make
your decision on time. Even if you don’t make a decision, you still have made a
decision, but one that is weak and frail, causing consequences worse than before
you began considering the possible abuse, intimidation, and domination of
others. (Proverbs 9:8)
Pro 9:8 (MSG) “So don't waste your time on a scoffer; all you'll get for your
pains is abuse. But if you correct those who care about life, that's
different--they'll love you for it!”
3. Seek counsel from the right people. Do not seek counsel only, but seek
it from the right people. Get wise and trusted counsel from those outside your
inner circle. Outsiders can help you see things that you have missed. They can
help you identify the bigger picture when it simply stares you in the face. {I
have 3 non-resident elders, apostles that I relate to and can call at any time
when I get stuck} Everyone needs to have someone from outside his immediate
circle to contact about tough decisions..
4. Make your decisions on principles and values you know. Base them on
who you are and what you believe. If you make them based on anything else, you
will have compromised. We have to be yielded and bending towards people, but be
true to ourselves. Be true to your anointing within and the way you work in your
life. Don’t be partial or vindictive. Don’t allow friendships to cause you to
compromise who you are. (Small people will compromise and try to overlook evil,
even when it goes on and on.)
5. Understand the emotions involved in making tough calls. The strongest
people will be willing to suffer over tough decisions, but still maintain their
ability to make them.
This is the central essence of those who will be able to go forth in the power
of the Spirit and the anointing to overcome evil in these days. Decision making
is one step beyond choices. Choices are made every moment of the day without
regard to others. Decisions are made throughout the day putting the other
person’s value up front. We must not make decisions to hurt others, but to bring
them to a place of deliverance and healing, even though the process looks like
more trouble and pain. Suffering is a part of life that forces a change within
us. Today we are being forced to change, either into the image of Christ or the
image of Satan.
CONCLUDING COMMENTS:
1. Are tough calls worth the pain and energy? Or should we make someone else
make them. Every tough call you make makes you a better person and your calling
more intact. (It is painful and costly, but if you ignore it, it will cost you
more in the long run.)
2. You might just be one tough call away from a breakthrough of quality. Make
the tough call.
3. Do your homework, set a deadline, and seek counsel. Then make your best call
based on who you are, and understand the emotions involved. And then JUST DO-IT!
-Pr. Steve
September
Newsletter 2007 | Tough Calls |
Pastor's Journal September 2007
Are You Committed? part 3 of 3 |
One Narrow Road part 1
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Biblical
Counseling for Leaders
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