In a new year's blog post, Bethel Church pastor Kris Vallatoon described five keys to influencing your destiny and changing the world. I like them and record here these five points and put in my own insights and understanding on this. These ideas are attributed to Kris, and I am just reflecting on them.
1. DO ORDINARY THINGS IN AN EXTRAORDINARY WAY
When I rise above from a comparative and a competitive spirit and merely do my mundane or daily tasks extraordinarily. It will help me prepare for further alignment with my purpose. This builds the foundation, gratitude, intention, and new anointing. Last year the simple act of making the bed consistently for 350 (of the 365 days) was an achievement. A navy general, in fact, wrote a book on this premise and idea.
2. STEWARD YOUR RESPONSIBILITIES
When we steward our current responsibilities well and work at the tasks at hand as if we work for His Glory and work with Him. He meets us in the challenges and stewardship of our responsibilities. The Lord often uses our work to shape us, he often uses our relationships at work to give and align our account of responsibilities for collaboration and become more abundant in our interconnectedness of purpose and unity.
3. VIEW EVERY JOB AS TRAINING FOR YOUR DESTINY
Kris refers to King David and his shepherdship responsibilities as on the job training to be the future King. His care for his sheep, his courage to go after the lion and the bear, his waiting on the Lord as a poet/musician was all part of the formation of his character in life's training ground to be future King. I have a lot to learn and improve in this area, especially with my heart's attitude. When I end up doing other people's work instead of whining, I can always view it as on the job training for gaining collective experience that various positions do. Knowing the organization inside out is a by-product that others can benefit from with the wisdom and knowledge I gain.
4. BEHAVE LIKE YOU’RE PASSIONATE, EVEN WHEN YOU DON’T FEEL LIKE IT
Maintaining one's passion and focus or vice versa is another key, especially when life seasons of dryness and attacks of the enemy, circumstances tailspins us into depression or discouragement. Last year I was proud to have been consistent with the Gratitude Journal and ended up with around 1701 thankful things. Going back and rereading them reminded me of the stability and keeping passion alive have been excellent outputs of the exercise. When you are down and out thankfulness, letting go, forgiveness, random acts of kindness are drivers that fuel passion.
5. SEEK FIRST HIS KINGDOM
Kris cites that once we are after the mandate that Jesus spoke, "Seek first the kingdom of God." Everything we do as new covenant believes becomes part of the kingdom. From praying to playing, it's all a part of serving the King. I am not sure about everything. It might be quite a generalized statement, but I do want to agree in the spirit that He needs to be the first in every area of your life. This is the biggest lesson from last year. The First things of our soul and relationship with Jesus align everything else correctly.
