What’s The Deal?
July 28th, 2008 | David G. Johnson
Today’s message is a guest entry from David G. Johnson, founder of Nourish The Dream
It was just about 2 years ago that I sat across from my good friend over a cup of coffee in a local restaurant. We had met early in the morning to talk about some of the challenges we faced in profitability in our businesses. He, the CEO of a software company servicing clients on multiple continents, and I, operating a marketing consultancy.
While we had been good friends for years, something developed out of that conversation that brought our friendship to an entirely new level of intimacy. I knew, for example, that he had been born overseas — the son of missionaries to some of the darkest parts of the world. I also knew — having met his father and mother — the level of devotion to Christ that had caused them to risk their very lives in service to the Call of God.
He knew that I had been born into a devoted Christian family here in the States — that my father had been a pastor when I was younger, and that my mother’s father had been in the ministry since shortly after World War II. He knew that our family was in church every time the doors were open.
What neither of us knew until that day, however, was that both of us dealt with an inner struggle with success. It seemed that we both had always reached a place where that “big breakthrough” had eluded us just when it seemed to be in our grasp. We learned that both of us were fighting against inner programming — instilled in us from childhood — that somehow there was something “wrong” with hitting a big win financially and in business. Both of us had come to understand that we were serving God in the marketplace in response to His call on our lives… and yet we both had run up against seemingly impenetrable barriers.
We began meeting on a regular basis to explore the roots and the nature of the battle between heart and head — between Biblical understanding and the traditions that seemed to be infused in our thinking. What we discovered and what God has shown us — individually and jointly — has been nothing short of amazing.
What about you? Do you struggle with whether God could really want you to accomplish what you’re working so hard to achieve?
More to come…
July 28th, 2008 at 3:01 pm
David & Michael,
Very timely. Very timely, and something I believe that God is addressing. I’ll share a little on my side why I think that.
We’re having our roof replaced due to some hail damage from a tornado a few months ago. There’s a financial blessing in that, another story. One of the sales guys for a roofing company, I find out, is a Christian, so we end talking for about an hour, about who we know in common, etc. In a follow-up call, he asked me to pray for him as he and his family are struggling financially. I sensed from the first time I met this guy, plus our long conversation, that he was a man of integrity (I promise I’m going somewhere with this). I prayed over the phone with him, praying through breaking poverty and wrong mindsets (in both of us) as well as believing God.
That night, I had a dream in which I saw the book “Piercing the Darkness,” by Frank Peretti. Attached to it was a study guide to the book. On the back of the study guide was a statement that Caesar in 265 had taken all of the gold.
I believe God was showing me, in part (I don’t have the full interpretation, and welcome other’s comments in that regard) that I’m to understand (through study) how to pierce the darkness of the world system with regard to money. Some of the issues regarding this are thought-processes/thinking patterns/mindsets, referred to the Bible in strongholds. I’m working through this, I look forward to hearing what you have to say, as well as others.
Blessings,
Dennis
July 28th, 2008 at 3:16 pm
Yes. I struggle with this everyday…please son’t leave me hanging… write on….
S.
July 28th, 2008 at 3:20 pm
Jesus Christ did not suffer and die for me to be poor or without. After all I am the daughter of the Most High King. I consider my gifts in the area of selling to be of God and the more successful I am the more money I have to give to those who are less privileged in his kingdom. I can not imagine ever ever feeling guilty for accepting what clearly God has provided me with in terms of know how and ability. I was designed to make it big so I could share it big! The only heart tug is when I don’t have enough to share. So everyday I wake up with the intent to the best, richest and most successful in my company.. God made me that way ! If I drive a Porsche and live in a nice house God gave me that too!
July 28th, 2008 at 3:32 pm
Many of us struggle with this. And though we know logically it is not the way God intended for us to live, we don’t have the specific steps to take. We’d love it if you would share some specific “how-to” instructions on overcoming this problem. Knowing the problem exists is not enough. Hearing that we need to change our thoughts and look for answers in the bible is not enough. I read the bible, pray, and get emails like yours and still haven’t found the key. Some straight-forward advice would be a God-send.
July 28th, 2008 at 4:04 pm
Why this got instilled in me so many years ago I do not know, but it did. I have thought that I could only earn X per year or I was going beyond what God wanted me to have and I always wanted to honor him. Have been involved in sales for many years, and have actually backed off from making an offer which would have benefited the client because I did not want the person who had the account to lose their income from it.
I like Mary hope you will share the key to overcoming these thoughts and help me to move forward in dealing with this.
July 28th, 2008 at 4:08 pm
Thanks for your mutual courage to initially have your “breakthough” conversation with one another. Like many others I’ve struggled with this one as well as it’s counterpart “day late and a dollar short”. I am very interested to hear about any revelation you’ve have on this and look forward to reading other comments. Thank you so much for your transparency.
July 28th, 2008 at 4:42 pm
I think I have experienced some of the same kind of conflict. To the extent that sometimes I am afraid to succeed by using some of the visualization techniques that I know work to direct my mind. I worry that I am possibly directing my mind away from the Lord…
Then, however, I realize that I am made in His image, so that I should not shy away from my ability to “Create” from my own thoughts. Then I feel that I should use this gift to glorify him, remembering to always give credit to Him.
Different topic… Have you heard this Christian musician??
http://www.laurakaczor.com/live/
Lord Bless
John Wilson
July 28th, 2008 at 5:37 pm
This is definitely me too. I am the son of a pastor who couldn’t even find the way to be successful as a pastor even though he was brilliant and a great “out of the box” thinker. I started out thinking that I was going to do a lot better than he did financially - a terrible motive in and of itself, and I have been plagued by a fear of success for over thirty years. I think I am ready to move to a different level - I think I would utilize wealth in very good ways for my family and the kingdom.
I am ready to move in a totally new way of thinking while still retaining the knowledge I have accumulated in business over the years.
God bless,
David Barber
July 28th, 2008 at 5:48 pm
Great thought-provoking post!
joel
July 28th, 2008 at 8:59 pm
Yes, I struggle with being stuck also. I get to a certain level and then stop. It’s like I freeze. I have read a lot of motivational books and listened to a lot of tapes but I still freeze. Thanks for being real.
Blessings,
Marsha
July 28th, 2008 at 10:10 pm
Wow. Great thoughts from everyone. While I’m not sure that there’s one key that will apply to all of us, I definitely believe that everyone will be able to find something in what we’ll be sharing that will impact you.
@Dennis, thanks for taking the bold step of sharing the story and the dream. I’ll be interested to hear what else you learn about it.
@Susan, @Mary, @Gary, and @Maura Jean, thanks for the heartfelt responses. There’s definitely more headed your way.
@John, thanks for sharing your struggle. And… that’s the first I’ve heard of Laura. Thanks!
@David, @Joel, and @Marsha, I’ll look forward to hearing from you again as we go!
July 28th, 2008 at 10:20 pm
Interesting issue and one that many of us deal with, I’m sure. There is a significant gap between the intellectual understanding of and the daily practical receptivity to God’s desire to blow our minds with His goodness and super-abundant provision. Perhaps many have settled for a mindset that requires conflict and poverty to embrace the “Brokenness Paradigm” that is necessary for intimacy with the Lord Jesus. Hosea 3:5 says it best…He is terrifyingly good!
July 28th, 2008 at 10:22 pm
Yes, my struggles have been for a long time with fear of success, fear of “designing my own life” because I wanted the will of God, fear of stepping out on passions because maybe that was not the will of God, or maybe I am in a season of struggle or maybe God does not want me to have that much right now, and so on and so on. Fearing that people in church, even fearful that leaders would be jealous of me and wealth and treat me bad, fearful that wealth would bring jealousy of others and that others would mistreat me. Too much fear, but I am coming out though!
July 29th, 2008 at 12:00 am
so thankful to find your web page. Continue sharing…this is what God has been recently leading me into..stepping out of the boundaries, or limits, that I, even those closest can set b4 us…God is leading me to start some things..& while excited, there is a sort of fear…hmmmm…this is so on time for me..glad to have found this… lookin forward to the future..and more of your articles…great stuff. Revealing truth frees us, and helps us to become more liberated, & able to reach to others.i need this!
anna:)!
^V^V^…___FLAT-LINED,___
DIED…
met JESUS :)!
July 29th, 2008 at 12:33 am
Hi David,
good to see that somebody ‘reveals’ this truth to all of us.
For some years now - though being a markeitng consultant - I do NO marketing for myself, except the internet-presence.
I ALWAYS get new orders when I need them and I DO KNOW that these come directly from heaven.
So I look at every client as it being Jesus himself - and (after having in vain tried to become a millionaire before I turned to HIM) I have everything I need.
Blessings to all readers
Michael - from Germany
http://www.marketing-und-vertrieb-international.com/en/
July 29th, 2008 at 1:35 am
I belief that time is now, for children of God in Marketplace to receive this great commision be blessed abundantly and be a blessing to where the needs are. We must overcome and have breakthrough in this area. It is the timing for this subject to be discussed and shared for, we have allow the light to shine through these dark areas. Glory to Jesus
July 29th, 2008 at 7:04 am
Holy Shamoly. When God speaks God speaks LOUDLY. I’m preaching on the loaves and fishes this Sunday. You do realize, don’t you, that God didn’t just meet their hunger but blessed them so abundantly that there were leftovers? I think my hang-up here is in always realizing that there are many who are without and so I back away, sensing someone else can benefit more. But if I ask God to use me as God blesses me, perhaps the abundance becomes something I can share abundantly with someone else . . . I say all of this also realizing that the riches of God surround me in so many more ways than financially. Hmmm . . .
If you’d like me to preach at your shindig, let me know. I just might consider it.
July 29th, 2008 at 8:10 am
I KNOW you are talking to me. I have been so close and everything falls apart in various transactions, however, I know God has a plan and purpose for my life, and it was God who told me to go to Real Estate School and it was God who told me to get my Real Estate Broker’s License.
July 29th, 2008 at 8:38 am
yes, my limitations have been imposed on me by my parent’s programming, mainly my mother, who grew up “poor” and always let us know it so for us everything has to be hard work with little fruit to our labor.
I have to let go of that type of thinking, that says, you can’t. You can’t have this or that because I had nothing growing up, we were poor and so on (mom’s quotes). Everything has to be bought on sale, you live a frugal lifestyle without abundance and you remember her constantly, so to be “successful” as you quoted would be a violation.
My father and older brother were successful in the workplace and dad is a millionaire and my brother is a Corporate Manager with a fat salary and an MBA. Traditional. Safe. Secure. I on the other hand am an entrepreneur, writer, creative director of my own company and head of my own ministry.
A deviation from the plan. I researched and have compiled notes for a book on “Success” and was told by a Christian man I could be “Success Coach.” I was a Business Consultant, product designer, etc. I am considered a leader and visionary. But I am stuck. As many others are in this past thinking. Nothing has moved forward for years although I am sitting on a gold mine, I’m told. My books, movies, products and services have not been propogated in the market because of belief, I believe.
Can God really do it and can I really be successful and is that Godly and will it please my mother?
God just had a man of God buy the condo I live in instead of my father buying it because I would then have had to live under their domain, and their plan for my life. He wants me to be free to believe - in the unexpected, in the “impossible”, in the improbable, in the uncommon and the extraordinary. That can’t happen in the 9 - 5 safety zone. That only comes to those who will believe and then take the necessary steps to achieve the uncommon life God has ordained for us.
Thank you for your article. It has helped me “see” some things.
July 29th, 2008 at 11:35 am
I NEEDED this… and am looking forward to the next few installments of it. I have discovered in the last few weeks that my problem is not with believing that God CAN do this or that in my life but with believing that God WILL do these things. That puts quite the different take on it, doesn’t it?
I know that God CAN make me wealthy, give me the dreams that He has placed inside of my heart, and make me into a true warrior for the Kingdom…but will he? Will He really? And there are all these reasons why He wouldn’t: I didn’t pray enough, I didn’t fast, I didn’t speak the right things, I didn’t believe enough…it all ends up as following the Law instead of allowing Grace to lead me into victory.
I’m a “take the bull by the horns” kind of person and sitting back and just letting God work is very, very difficult to do…even when there’s OBVIOUSLY nothing I can do to change the situation. He’s trying to take me from independence FROM Him to dependency ON Him. And that’s hard to get to when you’re used to standing “on your own two feet” not realizing that the whole time you thought you were standing alone, He was actually standing with you.
At any rate, Mr. Johnson, please continue. It is a timely word.
July 29th, 2008 at 12:05 pm
OK, I’ve discovered my hang up. It is not HAVING money, it is being a responsible steward of that money and being grateful for and with what I have. The question Jesus asks is, are you willing to give it all away for me? Here is my interpretation. God has given you everything you have — wealth, health, faith, hope, love, etc. Are you willing to give it all away in order for God’s name to be glorified? Is God more important than all of these blessings? I look out over my congregation and see some who have and some who do not have. When those who have hold tightly to what they have been given (being prepared for a rainy day) I look at the ones who do not have and see their generosity. Those who do not have are the ones who frequently say to me, “God has provided in the past and will provide for my needs again.” So if we seek wealth, I believe we also need to prepare ourselves to part with it for the sake of the kingdom. As we give it away, God can continue to provide for us. There is no problem with wealth, health, love, faith, unless it makes us greedy for more. So the question I wrestle with is not a question of whether of not I should receive wealth, but rather how/if I will let go of those blessings if God calls me to do so.
July 29th, 2008 at 1:53 pm
If we are about our Father’s business, then He will supply all of our need in accomplishing His work. If we are doing our own thing and expect God to bless us we might be dissapointed. You have to continually ask, “how are the resources God has entrusted me with as a steward to be used for His Kingdom?” My heavenly Father always pays for what He orders. Our task is to make sure that we are always aware of what he has ordered in our life. Are you called to buy NBC, CBS, ABC? Then expect bilions. Are you called to counsel pregnant teens? Then expect what is needed to do that. One is not more important to God than the other one unless YOU are called to one.
Find out your calling, be faithful, and you will have what you need. Ask God to expand the corners of your tent and allow him to supply. Gaining blessings for the sake of blessings is fruitless. Ask Solomon
July 29th, 2008 at 2:18 pm
To: Jeremiah Stormbreaker
I think we need to be careful about the “sitting back and just letting God work” approach. I think that he wants us to be at peace knowing that he:
a) is in us with His Spirit,
b) has promised to be with us, even in the valleys,
c) works all things for the good of those who love Him,
d) is trustworthy to save and guide us, and
e) wants to know that our “faith without works is dead”,
f) does not want us to fear the “world”, because he has overcome it
We just need to step out, to walk on the worldly waters, and keep our eyes on Him as we step. He is our alpha/omega. We are in the “business world”, but we do not need to be “OF IT”. We are only travelers passing through, but we should not be passive observers waiting for Him to do everything. It is OK to try and even fail … We only seek His approval.
Lord take our hands, and help us to burn brightly the lamp of your love. Use our business efforts even as you used the skills of fishermen and tax collectors.
July 29th, 2008 at 11:48 pm
David, Thank you for addressing what has been a major issue in my life. I have struggled with this very for years. Everytime I have become successful in a business venture a strange fear would overtake me and I would find a way to sabbotage my work even to the point of quitting. I have finally realized the cycle/pattern and have asked for God’s wisdom to help me understand where the roots for this issue comes from. I believe that as we have all recognized this we can stand in agreement in prayer for all of us to be victorious over this. I’m looking forward to the continuing revelations that you have received! Thank you!
July 30th, 2008 at 11:28 am
Once again, everyone’s responses here are really great.
@Rick, God’s goodness is such a critical component, and yet most of us can’t even seem to go there in our minds because we try to reconcile our experience against this knowledge. If only we could “get” this!
@ckb raises the question of how the will of God fits into the picture. Here’s a thought: how much does God permit me to participate in this process?
Thank you to everyone for responding. I hear many of you grappling with these concepts, including a pastor among us (Hi Katie!)… trusting God, purpose, frugality, stewardship, the willingness of God where “blessings” are concerned… these are all areas that we need to explore. Good stuff!
July 31st, 2008 at 4:28 am
Dear Jeremiah,
I have been reading this back and forth and came back to you and thought I should comment a bit on your post.
What do you think who gave you your first name !?
I remember my mother told me about mine:
After I was born my father went to te autorities to announce my birth and give me a name which was part of his first names. It was a different one from today !
He came back and my mother asked him. He told her and she said ‘but he should be named Michael’. So my father went back to change it.
From your first day you ARE in HIS hands.
I have a comparable bsckground - obviously - like becoming successful on my own, having a good career, DOING myself, etc., etc.
After I received HIM - just 14 years ago - HE showed me that I have to forget everything and ONLY rely on HIM.
During a prayer for me the spirit once talked to me via an elder and said specifically: “Please take aways your hands and let ME work !”
I struggled with this for minimum five years and he had to convince me again and again that he DID, not only COULD.
Today - working on my own for a long time already - I just relax and LET HIM DO - HE has plans/orders/people fore me which are by far better then mine.
I could talk for hours about the miracles my family and I experienced during the last couple of years.
I know how difficult it is and my stomach/the devil protests quite sometimes but I send this away - the greatest thing you could do for you is pray, present the situation to HIM, ‘tell’ HIM that you are looking forward to HIS next things and … relax.
Blessings from a brother
Michael
August 2nd, 2008 at 9:15 pm
Dear Michael,
How truly like God to bring out what you have commented on. My name was HIS idea, not like with your mother and father, but with me personally. In 2005 God told me that this would be my name, but I didn’t realize that He meant NOW. I thought He meant that it would be my “new name” that He would give to me when I get to Heaven. Six months or so later, He told me to change it “right now” and I fought it for a bit, but finally received overwhelming confirmation to change it. That was March 2006. It became my official, legal name in October 2007.
I’m looking forward to His next things for a change…haven’t been for a LOOOONG time. There is still one personal issue that looms in my life like some great dark shadow that I cannot get out from underneath. It is a burden to me that I have yet to be able to get rid of, a person whom I wish to see whole, but for whom wholeness seems impossible. Everything else in my life is turning around right now. I’m headed to Iraq to work as a civilian for the U.S. Army and I’ll be making more than enough money to pay off my debts and start my life “for real this time”. But still that issue lingers, that person…and there’s nothing I can do about it but TRUST and sometimes that’s hard to do. It’s been such a disappointing affair.
Your response is well-timed and could only be of God. Thank you for your words. They mean much to me.
Jeremiah
August 3rd, 2008 at 12:34 am
Dear Jeremiah,
thanks for anwering.
By the way, my baptizing verse is Jeremia 33.3 !
I don’t know how your English bibles are built up, however, let me translate what my German version gives as an introduction to the book of Jeremiah. It may give you some additional insight. Ohterwise - I don’t know the story - for this person you can only pray and/or correect things if you were the reason for this ‘missing wholeness’.
Intro of the book:
Jeremiah - the meaning of his name is uncertain - was a young priest of Anatot, when he started his service as a prophet. His book is written very personal and his life and character are known better than others. He is also named the ‘crying prophet’, he loved his people by heart and served God and is holiness totally. He was pursued from his own people because he announced the imminent imprisoning with boldness, but he never lost the merciful love for his people.
His major job was to tell the people that - if they would not repent - the town would be destroyed.
After the fall of Jerusalem he was given the choice to go to Babel or to stay with the remainder of his people. He chose the latter and to serve his people.
Later he was taken by his own people to Egypt. He permanently tried to guide the remainder to God.
I pray for you and send HIS bleessings
Michael
March 5th, 2009 at 7:39 pm
You are a very smart person!