Had breakfast this morning with a person whom I did not know three months ago, but now consider a close ally, mentor, and friend. And it's such a God thing that we connected when we connected.
This guy has learned and forgotten more than I ever will learn about leadership, starting something from scratch, fund-raising, success/failure, and following Jesus through it all. His only mode is "dream big" and he stretches me every time we talk.
In 1 Samuel 14, Jonathan had a bizarre idea: rather than sitting around waiting on the numbers to make sense, maybe my teenaged armor bearer and I can take on an entire Philistine outpost by ourselves. Oh, and we'll have to scale two cliffs and the valley inbetween to get there, but no worries, God is able to work mightily on our behalf.
I love the armor bearer's response:
"Do all that you have in mind," his armor-bearer said. "Go ahead; I am with you heart and soul."
With that, they go and God does in fact show up mightily on their behalf. Not only do they take out the entire outpost, but God sends an earthquake that sends the entire Philistine army into total confusion. The story ends in verse 23:
"So the LORD rescued Israel that day..."
God used one guy who had an audacious vision to rescue a nation. But what if the armor bearer said, "No." What if the armor bearer questioned his sanity and told him to go back to bed? What if the armor bearer told him, "You can't do that - it's not in the rules."
So much of what God wants to do in and through us hinges on who we surround ourselves with. We don't need "yes" men and women as much as we need encouragers. Encouragers don't just pat you on the back, tell you you're perfect, and confirm all your ideas as God's ideas. True encouragers push, pull, poke, challenge, ask questions, give advice, offer suggestions...all with the end of EMPOWERING you to go do what God has put on your heart to do.
I don't know what I would do without the empowering encouragers God has brought into my life. When I approach them with questions, dreams, ideas, etc. and say, "I need your help," the avalanche of wisdom, experience, and encouragement most definitely empowers me. I came out with of my time today with a napkin full of notes and a heart full of encouragement!
Look around you and decide if you have at least one empowering encourager. If you don't, go find one...NOW!
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