Welcome to Monday Minute With God. A place to start the week right and tools to keep you in the word all week long.
Stand Firm
1 Chronicles 16:8-12 Oh give thanks to the Lord; make known his deeds among the peoples! Tell of all his wondrous works! Seek the Lord and his strength; seek his presence continually! Remember the wondrous works that he has done, his miracles and the judgments he uttered.
What would be a demonstration of a leader standing firm?
David was able to stand firm in leadership because he did not stand alone, the people of God gladly followed David’s leadership because of his passion for the Lord.
As we read through this chapter we see repetitive themes of strength, worship, seeking and remembrance. We should view these as building blocks of a firm foundation we as believers can stand on. In David we have a picture of a mighty warrior and an excellent leader of men. But, he didn’t get there overnight; there was a lot of building going on over many seasons of his life up until this point.
Because we are doers by nature, building things is something we as women can get our arms around. We love pulling it all together and making it work. In building you must make deliberate steps to accomplish a goal. There is a plan to be made and followed but, if we are not careful we may allow our circumstances to determine the outcome. We must purpose in our heart to move in Godward direction.
We are living in a world of immediate gratification. In a world of “I want it all and I want it now” there is not much patience for building. I often say these words when I am frustrated and things are not working according to my plan, “ain’t nobody got time for that!” What I really wish is that my life would cooperate with what I have already decided is best for me. Of course once I submit my stubborn will to the Father’s, I am reminded that building with/for God is all done in His economy of time and it’s not the same as mine.
Building and learning are part of effective leadership and King David is a pro at both.
Think about it we build and learn daily in so many ways.
We build relationships based promises, acts of faith, and wisdom. We must encourage others to worship, seek and remember God in our daily lives. For those we are leading our passion must become contagious!
Core Concept
To stand in leadership is an active demonstration of your faith in God’s call and in His promises. A strong leader will stand firm and those following closely will be compelled to stand alongside them.
Think about It
- What are some God’s promises to the Founding fathers of faith? How do these promises impact you?
- Have you witnessed the promises of God fulfilled in your life? Give an example?
- In your reading of 1Chronicles 16:8-36 what did you find meaningful?
Stand (ing) firm this week:
Day 1: What it is to stand.
Memorize: 1Chronicles 16:35 Save us, O God of our salvation, and gather and deliver us from among the nations, that we may give thanks to your holy name and glory in your praise.
In the dictionary stand is defined as; to maintain an invincible or permanent attitude; steady; to take a position in resistance or opposition. This is an active definition considering standing appears to be a passive stance. Our daily lives will offer many opportunities to stand. Even when we are bombarded by unpleasant circumstances, God calls us to stand.
Day 2: Serving others as you stand.
To serve literally means to work and labor on behalf of someone else. Serving requires a selfless heart and obedience to the will of God, essentially it is an act of worship. When I think of serving I often think it to be a lesser place to stand when in reality it is a much grander place to stand.
In our service to others we are standing with God along with our brother and sisters in Christ. How are you standing with God and encouraging others to stand alongside you?
Day 3: To stand as an act of obedience.
Obedience is important to God. Basically it is not an option. Obedience is the power behind what we will do next in following God. Once we are clear of God’s direction our heart must quickly follow, no matter the circumstance we must stand firm as an act of obedience.
How often do you surrender your heart as an act of obedience, even in the hard places? Remember the times you haven’t surrendered your heart to the work and plan of God, what did that look like and how did that make you feel?
Day 4: Stand through preparation.
Habakkuk the prophet chose to stand as a form of preparation to hear from God and offer his response. “I will take my stand at my watchpost and station myself on the tower, and look out to see what he I’ll say to me, and what I will answer concerning my complaint.”
How are you choosing to stand in preparation to hear from God? Are you waiting to hear from God before you take your stand if so, why?
Day 5: Leading others to Stand.
In verse 30 we see that God has established a very firm foundation for us to stand on. David was an excellent leader through the form of worship and reverence to a holy God. “Worship the Lord in the splendor of holiness; tremble before him, the world is established; it shall never be moved.”
David was in possession of a courageous heart and he was able to translate that to the people he led. How have you built a firm foundation to stand on? How are you leading others to stand alongside you?
Talk About it:
When life is comfortable and adversity is minimal your obedience is easier, what about when it’s not comfortable and there is plenty of adversity do you choose obedience?
