Eliminating Confusion & Disorder
July 26th, 2006 | Michael Pink
“The earth was without form and void.” The Hebrew term for “without form and void” is “tohu and bohu”. Wherever that term is used in Scripture it conveys the idea of confusion and disorder, but the first time was in Genesis 1:2. So God is looking upon the earth and upon seeing its condition of confusion and disorder, the first thing He brings to the equation is “light.” It is of some interest that many suggest the earth had actually fallen into a state of confusion and disorder somewhere between verse 1 and 2. That is interesting and even fanciful to consider, but not the point of this B-mail.
If the first thing God introduced to remedy confusion and disorder was light and if light is analogous to vision, then introducing or getting a clear vision statement developed may actually help in clearing up confusion and disorder in your life and business. Make sense?
You see, vision provides clarity. Clarity allows for focus. Focus gives certainty. Certainty encourages action. Action produces results. Results are how we are measured. Measurement shows where to improve. Therefore, clear vision is absolutely critical to clearing up your confusion and disorder and lighting a path for you to walk on.
Vision is an inner knowing of exactly what you are doing and why. It sees the result and can communicate its value to others. When others see that kind of clear vision, it is easy for them to run the race. Are you feeling a little sluggish lately? Are your employees trudging through the fog in the mud at night? Take some time and get your vision clear.
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July 27th, 2006 at 5:09 am
Dear Micheal: thank you for the insight that God has given you . You have also opened up my eyes as well.
July 27th, 2006 at 5:54 am
I like the idea of having a clear vision of what I want for my business and believe that the exercise you are recommending is a good place to start. My problem is with my employees. How do I communicate this to them if they do not have the same spiritual beliefs I do?
I truly believe that God has a plan for me personally and that it involves my business. He has given me an opportunity to use my business as a tool to do his work. How do I explain to my employees that God is trying to direct me%u2026%u2026direct them%u2026..to do his work in our everyday running of this business?
I have a salesperson working for me that was in a terrible slump and really becoming discouraged. He knows my spiritual beliefs and when I tried to explain to him that I believed he needed to pray and turn things over to God he angrily replied that %u201CGod has to give me something first.%u201D I wanted to remind him that it wasn%u2019t that long ago that God blessed him and his wife with a beautiful baby girl and the ability to buy a nice home and all the other things that were right in his life but he didn%u2019t want to hear it.
How do bring the spirit of God into my workplace if my employees don%u2019t believe that God has anything to do with what%u2019s happening in their lives? How do I %u201Cturn on that light%u201D for them?
July 27th, 2006 at 6:54 am
To Vince:
I struggle here too.
My greatest desire in sales management is for those under my charge to see Jesus in me. In this role for the last 25 years I have missed that mark several times. I have begun to realize that I that I need to love them and care for them and sometime that is the best sermon I can preach-JESUS in me loving them! Oh that HE would give me HIS grace daily to see what I must do to love my team!
July 27th, 2006 at 7:19 am
TO Vince and John:
As spritual managers I believe it is important we do not loose sight in the fact that we can not and do not have the power to bring anyone to Christ. In order to do this we can only and it is what Jesus has asked of us is to sew the seed. No one will come to Christ with out the Holy Spirit. Therefore, do not feel you have failed but always remmber you have planted the seed. Fruit will not grow with out seed but just think of how much fruit one seed will produce. Remain faithful servants, sit back and watch what happens!
July 27th, 2006 at 7:54 am
Perhaps it is time for us to become null and void, that is to have God remove the disorder and confusion and bring new light into our situation.
July 27th, 2006 at 8:19 am
Conveying why we do what we do to our co-workers in business and to our family in personal life, is our best way to witness. Decide if “what you are doing” is being done God’s way. Can’t go wrong!
July 27th, 2006 at 8:34 am
Thank you for giving me the opportunity to receive your daily devotionals. They are very encouraging. Once I finish reading them, I feel encouraged to pray to God to apply your message to my daily life. Have you thought of adding a prayer at the end of the devotionals? I believe this will help many people including myself. Thank you.
July 27th, 2006 at 9:58 am
This was one of your best I am planning on using this as our devotion and study at our monthly chaplains meeting
Thank you for the encouragement and wisdom your articules give
July 27th, 2006 at 10:03 am
THIS REALLY GETS TO THE HEART OF THE MATTER, WE NEED TO KNOW THE WHY OF WHAT WE ARE DOING AND BE ABLE TO SEE THE VISION OF WHERE WE WANT TO BE IN ORDER TO STAY ON TRACK TO REACH OUR GOALS.
ARE FIRST GOAL IS TO PUT GOD FIRST IN ALL THAT WE DO !!
I PRAY FOR A SOUND MIND AND A SOUND BODY FOR MYSELF AND OTHERS.
July 27th, 2006 at 10:57 am
Vince- I believe you need to meet your employee where he’s at. You have to continue to be a witness through your actions and limit your spiritual advice if he’s not willing to listen. How is he to pray to God if he dosn’t know God or the saving grace God gave us through His son Jesus?
Meet him where he’s at by finding out what motivates him. Use the business as a way to model this behavior. By seeking clarity of purpose with business roles and goals we fulfill the ultimate purpose of the business which in turn glorifies God. Does the salesperson know the mission of the business? Does he know how his role fulfills the mission of the business?
Why does he want to make $?
Hope that helps.
July 28th, 2006 at 12:49 pm
Vince,
We get that question alot… “How do we bring the Spirit of God into our workplace?” Something to consider… the Spirit of God is already in your workplace. Instead of trying to bring Him in, I would say you may have just joined Him in your sales person’s life. Jesus always opened people up with questions… good questions that cut right to the heart of an issue. My advice would be to ask your salesperson instead of tell your salesperson. Ask him questions that get under his skin and force him to his knees before the Lord for answers… ask him in a soft and gentle way of course…if possible. I’msure you are already doiong this, but I would also encourage you to pray for him… he can not stop you, and God can soften his heart at any time. Hope that helps.
July 31st, 2006 at 8:10 am
Vince;
I appreciate your heart for your employees and I understand how frustrating it can be when you truly want to help someone who doesn’t want the help you have to offer and they truly need.
My recommendation is that you don’t bring up the subject of God in your conversation with him unless he specifically asks you. In the meantime, find ways to demonstrate the love and care of Christ to him non-verbally. Pray for him daily. Take your burden to the Father and lay it at His feet daily. Weep for him. Intercede for him. There’s a lot riding on him responding to God and of course, I am not talking about sales.