Just this morning I was reading a message from Dr Mike Murdock about the Lion. The Lion is BY NATURE the king of the jungle. Yet they are not born with the developed skills to operate as the king of the jungle.

They have to LEARN these skills. They have to WORK at it and it takes them at least 2 years to fully develop as the king of the jungle they were born to be.

When you accepted Christ into your life, you were given the right (authority and power) to become an adult son (or daughter) of God with ALL of the rights. (Look at the verse John 1:12 quoted at the beginning of this article).

Now the question is:

• Are you DEVELOPING those rights and the authority you were given?
• Are you BECOMING an adult son (or daughter) of God?

In order to be able to operate in this position (as an adult son (or daughter) of God, you have to LEARN (develop) the skills. It will take WORK. This work could be called “self development”.

Remember in the last article we began to look at the apostle Paul’s exhortation in Romans 12:2 – where he told the church they needed to be transformed.

Notice how we are to be continually transformed. By the renewing of your mind. How do we do that? By turning the tables on the negative influences around you, beginning with what is in your mind.

There is an interesting parable told by Jesus in Luke 8 – the actual message Jesus was communicating in this parable has to do with finances. However, He made an interesting comment as he concluded this story. I believe we can apply to many areas of our lives without taking away from the original intention of this parable.

“for the children of this world are in their generation wiser than the children of light”

The other day I was chatting (by phone) with my young pastor friend in Acapulco. I shared with him some of the things that are developing in my life at the moment, and among these is the vision and passion to teach a Christ Centered Personal Development. I really see a need for this!

He responded - “Wow – many of the young people go to Motivational Seminars in town here and come back more motivated than the youngsters that are in church”. Then I remembered that verse found in Luke 16:8 (which I mentioned above).

I think it is time that the children of light (those who have chosen to follow Christ) learn to rise up and become WISER than the “children of this world”. Don’t you?

I was talking to this same pastor just a few days ago. He has a challenge to face today actually, and in the course of conversation he declared “God has control”. I stopped him and said “No – that control is in YOUR hands, man of God”.

Now

• I am NOT saying that God is not sovereign – I believe 100% in the Sovereignty of God.
• I AM saying that God has placed certain things (power, authority) in our hands He expects us to use.

Moses was backed up against between the army of the Egyptians and the red sea. He cried out for God to help. God’s reply was almost a rebuke – in fact it really was a rebuke.

God said: “Why are you crying out to Me? What do you have in your hand”? (See Exodus 14:15) He had a rod in his hand. What does the rod symbolize? Authority!

So what was I saying to this pastor? God has given YOU the authority and power to dominate this situation (starting in your mind) – and He expects you to use it! YOU have the authority to control this situation (as God’s representative).

Yes it is time for the God’s people (the children of light – Jesus’s disciples) to rise up and train as the warriors we are called to be on this earth. We are to be the HEAD, not the tail.

And this training and developing, starts with a consistent disciplined daily training (renewing) your mind.

Start today – download these mp3s and start listening to them right NOW.

* (Extra words in brackets, I added to show fuller meaning of the word, as found in the original language).

** Note: These recordings are by John Di Lemme – a motivational teacher, who I also KNOW to be a man of God – I have met him in person. These mp3s and mp4s are FREE – and yes, if you do decide to buy anything from John’s business, I do receive a commission.

Photo Credits

Do not be conformed to this world, but continually be transformed by the renewing of your minds so that you may be able to determine what God’s will is – what is proper, pleasing, and perfect. Romans 12:2.

What does this verse have to do with self-development? This is the first of a two part article where we will explore the answer to this question.

First: What is the biggest contamination in this world?
You might be thinking “evil of course” or “rebellion against God” or even “dishonoring God” – yes, all of these answers are true.

But the very heart of these answers is the negative words that are spoken and thought. (Take a look at Genesis 6:5).

All three of the above answers could be summed up with – Negative Words.

Second: What exactly is being conformed to this world?

A popular definition of “this world” is the material things, but in fact –

God is more interested in what you have in your HEART than what you have in your home.

To really understand this concept let’s take a look at the “normal” priorities of “this world”:
1. Self - what can I get out of living. The top priority of most people’s minds is self.
2. Negative – the most popular trend of this world is negative.

Don’t believe me? What sells more in movies, books, news, tv shows? What are the headlines that are always glaring at you from the magazine rack as you by the supermarket checkouts? Violence, scandal, gossip — negative!

What is the main topic of the conversations you hear when you approach a group of co-workers in the office, factory or restaurant? – Negative!

Motivational and “self development” teaching in its purest form is all about renewing your mind and training yourself
to become the champion you were born to be.

1. It is about finding the seed of your destiny that God put in your heart and then watering this seed.
2. It is about taking responsibility for the free will that God has given you and using that free will to be your best for the benefit of others around you.
3. It is all about learning to really make a difference in the lives of others. This includes learning to really put God and others first in your mind and heart.
4. It is about creating a positive mindset that will be able to contain the blessings of God. This is how you learn to walk in abundance and success.
5. It is about learning to focus on positive faith building thoughts that will attract blessings. A positive mindset has room for blessings while a negative mindset is not able to receive good things.

   This means that as long as your mindset is negative, you will be missing out on a lot of what God really wants to give you.

Remember Jesus talked about old wineskins not being able to contain the new? (Mark 2:22).

Christ centered motivational and self development teaching is all about creating the new wineskins that are able to carry the new wine.

Look for part two on < href = "http://kiwichamp.com/self-development-gods-way-part-2/" title = "Part 2 of Self Development God's Way">Wednesday March 3rd, 2010.

Photo Credits

Words create your mindset. How? You and I respond to words. You hear words, sort them out with that filter that is sitting in your subconscious mind and then make a decision about what you heard.

This decision is filed away in your subconscious mind to become a part of that same filter for future words. This filter is your mindset (or thought framework).

This is the framework or foundation that your life is built on. Your foundation will either restrict your building or will give it lots of freedom to expand.

It all depends on your foundation.

Words predict your future. What you think or say today is forming your mindset. Your mindset causes you to make decisions which will determine what road take on the journey through life.

These decisions will also cause you to be aware of and take opportunities. Conversely your mindset may cause you to be blind to opportunities or simply decide they are “not for you”. So you may miss out on something that the Lord had planned for you – all because of your mindset.

Words are faith vehicles to take you to the promised land. John Di Lemme
This is of course is talking about positive words. These are words that are creative, not destructive.

There are two principle forces that are operating in this world today:
The good (positive) and the bad (negative). You decide which side you want to be on by your words. Now perhaps you are thinking “I chose which side I wanted to be on the day I gave my life to Christ” Yes you did, but this is a DAILY decision also.

You decide DAILY who’s side you are on and your WORDS will reveal your decision.

Note: Now right now I am not talking about salvation as in whether you are going to heaven or not. I am talking living in the promised land, which in New Testament terms is the abundant life.

This is true success – enjoying all that God has provided for you. Above all, what is it that REALLY pleases God? Faith – without faith you cannot please God.

How is faith manifested? By your WORDS!

Finally here is something to think about:
When people start to feed negative thoughts, they start to feed the seed of doubt. The feet of the seeds of doubt take root. The root then develops to a tree of despair, indecision, and all of a sudden, you are under the Shadow of Doubt - John Di Lemme.

Which side are you on TODAY?

Photo Credit – Alan Nakkash on Flickr

But the question is: Are you enjoying the benefits of belonging to this group?

You may be reading this with an echo in your heart that says – YES this is me! IF so, my response to you is FANTASTIC! Lead on Champion!

But you may also be reading this with an echo in your heart that says – I wish I was really happy! If this is you, read on.

WHY so many Christians are not really happy:

• You were born a champion
• You were given the right to develop as a champion (mature child of God) the day you decided to follow Christ (John 1:12).
• All of the abundance and riches of God were made available to you in Christ Jesus (Ephesians 1:3) and yet you are not happy?

So then what is wrong?
There are too many Christians who still sincerely believe that Jesus taught against riches (which includes success and happiness).

It is harder for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of heaven – is the scripture quoted to support this.

But if you look closely at ALL of the teachings of Jesus found in the New Testament (and ALL of God’s dealings with man throughout the Old Testament) you will find ONE central theme.

God is interested in the condition and focus of the HEART.
(Look at the context of the scripture quoted above – Matthew 19:16-22 The young rich man was grasping his riches in his HEART).

God and the Bible are NOT in any way against success, abundance and happiness. On the contrary:

Jesus Himself said: “I am come that you might have LIFE and have it in ABUNDANCE“.

True happiness is the result of KNOWING that you are fulfilling the exact purpose you were born to fulfill.

This means that:

• You recognize you have a destiny or a purpose for being in this world.
• You choose to embrace this purpose, train for it, live for it and even die for it.
• You recognize that when you walk in this purpose (your destiny, or your WHY) you are pleasing God and yourself. You cannot help but be fulfilled when you are living your true purpose.
• You recognize and know that your destiny is ALL good (Jeremiah 29:11). God’s plans for you are good.
• You recognize that God’s desire for your life is that you enjoy His abundance! (John 10:10).

Are you ready to train to live in the abundance and victory you were born to enjoy?

Look for more about this on Thursday next week.

One of the traps I have noticed happen a lot in the lives of so many christians is the trap of passivity. I call it a trap because it is often unintentional as we earnestly seek to do God’s will. Other times it is a coverup for laziness.

The easiest way to explain this is not to explain it, but rather to illustrate it.

Let’s take a look at:

My Favorite Bible Story:
One of my favorite Bible stories, contains one of my favorite verses which comes from the mouth of Isaac’s servant. Do you remember the story? (It is found in Genesis 24 in the Bible).

Isaac needed a wife. The suitable woman was not to be a descendant of the Canannites where they were living. So Abraham (Isaac’s father) sent Isaac’s servant to look for a wife for Isaac back in their home country. Here is what happened:

• The servant (who’s name we don’t know) sets off for Mesopotamia and comes to the city of Nahor
• He prays to the Lord, setting out a sign so he could know the right girl.
• The right girl would give him a drink from the well when he asked for one, and she would also go the second mile by offering to give a drink to his camels also.
• Rachel comes to the well to draw water.
• He asks her for a drink – she willingly obliges and offers to water his camels also.
• The servant is overwhelmed and reveals his story.
• Rachel invites him to her house where he can meet her father and family.

The servant recognizes that God had led him as he said:

I being in the way, the LORD led me to the house of my master’s brethren.

I remember my very first mentor, Mrs Inwood (and I will share more about her in future articles) repeating this declaration over and over again. This was one of her favorite texts from the Bible, and it has become mine too.

I being in the way, the Lord led me — Genesis 24:27

There is nothing passive about that. This is a declaration of ACTION.

Now what would have happened if the servant had have sat on the side of the road waiting for God to show him where to go? Yes, he knew which country to go to, but he had no idea who he was looking for. He could have easily fallen into the passivity trap.

What if he did not feel like taking the trip. He could have easily sat on the side of the road, found no direction and then went back to report that he could not find the right girl.

But no, Isaac’s servant was not like that.

He was a man of ACTION.
He simply cleared up one doubt with Abraham (what if the woman won’t come back with me) and then set off on his journey. (verses 5-8)

He was a man of OBEDIENCE and FAITH.
He did not question the instructions, but rather immediately obeyed one he had some simple details clear. He went on his way, BELIEVING that the Lord would lead him as he went.

He was a man of PRAYER.
He came to the well and then said to the Lord (my paraphrase) – I am here by the well where all of the young women come to draw water. Now I am trusting You to show me which one is Your chosen. Here is how I will know. (verses 13.14)

Again – He was a man of ACTION.
He took a few minutes to “gaze at her in silence to learn whether the LORD had prospered his journey or not”. (verse 21). Then he acted.

He was a man of GRATITUDE
towards the Lord. Before he told his story to the girl, he bowed his head and worshipped the Lord. (verse 26).

Then comes the statement of ACTION: I being in the way Lord led me.

Are you one of God’s ACTIVE servants?

What does this story say to you?

Are you one of God’s champions that takes action?

Or do you sit on the side of the road waiting to be shown where to go?

Take action today and start allowing God to lead you as you do what you know to do.

Get “in the way” and He WILL lead you.