Lessons Learned : Learn to Quit (Part 2)

Last week, we talked about QUIT COMPLAINING!

This week, I want to talk about another thing that we do WAY TOO OFTEN!! What I am about to say to you is going to make no sense whatsoever when you first begin to read this BUT if you read the entire post, you will understand why I am saying this.

We need to QUIT trying. Yes, you read that right. Quit trying. We are always TRYING to do something. We are always TRYING to impress our boss, neighbor, friend, family member, spouse, teacher, coach, and the list can go on. We are always TRYING to make a difference. We are always TRYING to be something we are not created to be. So, yes you need to QUIT trying.

God's Word tells us that its not by MIGHT nor by POWER but by MY SPIRIT says the Lord. (Zech. 4:6) When we realize that our talents, our abilities, and our personality will only get us so far but God's anointing finished the work; TRULY what a DIFFERENCE we can make. IN OTHER WORDS, we need to GET OUT OF THE WAY, and LET GOD MAKE A WAY where there seems to be NO WAY!!

I read a story last month after Billy Graham's death about a crusade he had in London in 1966. You see prior to that great crusade, some of the London media accredited the success of the 1954 crusade, not to the power of the Gospel but to the emotional draw of the song that the crusades always closed with; "Just As I Am." When the reports reached Rev. Graham, it began to bother him. So through prayer, he consulted the music director to not sing that song after his message and prior to the altar call. The story went on to say that Rev. Graham preached his heart out and you could sense the presence of God in that room and when it came time for the altar call, Billy Graham stated that there would be no music tonight. He continued that if you felt God tugging on your heart and soul to come down and they would pray for you. He then stepped back and folded his hands in prayer. Witnesses state that for 15 seconds (which is a long time in church for some reason) there was complete silence. Then one by one, chairs began to squeak as people came to the altar. Throughout that crusade, 30 nights, they never once played a single note of that song and when it was all said and done, 1 million people attended and over 40,000 people decided to follow Jesus Christ.

You see, Rev. Graham understood that even though he wasn't playing on the emotions of people as he was accused; he still had the faith and confidence that if he stepped out of the way, God would still draw people. When we QUIT trying AND start BELIEVING and knowing beyond a shadow of doubt that God is MORE THAN ABLE (Eph. 3:20), we will see a shift happen in our lives.

Now to clarify to those of you out there that maybe saying that, "Well Pastor said I don't have to do anything, blah blah blah."; God still requires us to go. God still requires us to be active for the kingdom, but instead of trying, start DOING things by faith and by His anointing and you will truly see a difference. You will begin to see favor on that job. You will begin to see your marriage improve.  Paul reminds us in 1 Cor. 2:4, that its not with enticing words but by the DEMONSTRATION and POWER of the Holy Spirit that we need to operate in the church. Lean on God and not on your own abilities and see what God will do in your life.

Lessons Learned: Learn to Quit (part 1)

This is going to be a two part or even three part series in this portion of "Lessons Learned".

You read the title right, "Learn to Quit". If we are ever going to grow, we have to learn to quit. Now I know that goes against everything we have been taught in life. But now that I have your attention let me indulge into this. There are certain things that we need to quit doing in order to grow. There are other things that we need to do MORE EFFECTIVELY in order to grow. And finally there are other, very important things, that we need to keep doing and put at the forefront of our lives in order for us to complete this destiny that God has for us.

But in this next 2 or 3 parts, I want to focus on things we need to stop (quit) doing.

Numero Uno. We need to QUIT complaining. Listen to yourself talk. How many times do we complain during the day? It ranges from us not having enough sleep, the way our body feels, all the way to how people are dressed, how crazy people drive, to how horrible our job is. We have to remember that there is LIFE and DEATH in our tongues. What you speak HAS POWER! So when we quit complaining and began to rejoice, what can/will we accomplish. In Philippians, Paul reminds us to "REJOICE ALWAYS and again I say REJOICE!" (Philippians 4:4) God inhabits the praises of HIS people. So when we turn all of that complaining to PRAISING, what change can that bring. I am reminded of many stories in the Bible where God used the praises of people to confuse and destroy the enemy. That still stands true today. When the enemy is attacking, praise God.

I am reminded of James 1:2-3, "Count it all JOY, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know the testing of your faith produces steadfastness."

I want to close with this. When we look at our circumstance as a stepping stone into a higher and deeper relationship with God; the heat of the fire isn't quite as strong. So I encourage and challenge you this week, QUIT COMPLAINING!

Lessons Learned : Being who GOD created ME to BE

Have you ever imitated someone? Maybe a cartoon character, your favorite movie scene, Forrest Gump and his voice, or maybe a boss or family member? We all at one time in our lives, imitated someone.

What I am afraid that has happened in churches is that we have became cookie cutters. We take a formula that works and we just copy it from church to church to church. But God is not in the copying business, God is a CREATOR!!

I have learned his lesson this past year and it was a tough one. I have to remind myself daily that I AM FEARFULLY AND WONDERFULLY MADE!! There is no one else on this planet like Dereck Jay White. So I can't be like other pastors or ministers, I have to be who God created me to be.

So let me encourage you today, BE who GOD called YOU to BE!!! God made you to reach people that I can't reach, to do things that I can't do, and to accomplish feats that only you can. Don't get discouraged when things aren't happening as fast as it seems it is with others; your time will come. Just hold fast to God's promises and stay in your lane that God has you in. He is never early or never too late; HE IS ALWAYS ON TIME!