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?
We have been talking a lot about words on this blog. Words that are thought or spoken both have a powerful affect on yours and my life.
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 filter for future words. This filter is your mindset (or thought framework).
When God calls you, He has already made all the preparations necessary for you to succeed. Failing is never an option when you obey God’s call for your life.
Do you feel worthy of God’s call?
If you don’t feel worthy of God’s call on your life, you are not alone. Jeremiah was not exactly the ideal candidate to become a prophet to the nations. He did not seem to be a great candidate for success either.
Let’s face it, if you were to interviewing candidates for the position of a prophet to the nations, would you choose someone who by his own admission could not speak? (See Jeremiah 1:6 “… I do not know to speak for I am only a child”) I am sure you wouldn’t.
In fact, I am sure you would see him as weak, perhaps instable and not ready for the position that was open in your organization. No, according to man’s criteria, Jeremiah was not the ideal choice.
When God calls you, it is always to do something that will probably seem impossible or too big for you. Remember, Jeremiah certainly thought that when he was confronted by an incredible task.
We can see his reaction when He said: “Ah, Sovereign LORD, I do not know how to speak; I am only a child.” Jeremiah 1:6.
I have heard many Bible teachers responding to objections with the following argument: “Don’t worry, just respond to the call and the rest is up to God. Carrying out your calling does not depend on you, it all depends on God”
Well, that is only partly true. In fact, this concept taken by itself is close to a fallacy. A few years ago church went through a phase where in some circles almost all you heard was “believe it, confess it and you will have it”.
But there is a BIG missing ingredient in this theory This missing ingredient actually turns these theories into dangerous proclamations that have hurt many people who tried to follow them.
Remember that the prophet Jeremiah was called to do the impossible (see post Called to Do The Impossible). At least it was impossible for him. When God appeared to him saying that He had called him to be a prophet to the nations, Jeremiah’s response was:
“Ah, Sovereign LORD I do not know how to speak; I am only a child.” (Jeremiah 1:6)
History reveals that he was probably quite young, but here he was focusing on his inadequacy more than on his age. His age was an excuse. He was simply saying “What? It’s too big for me, I can’t do that”.
I remember being called into my boss’s office after I had submitted my resignation in the Education Board of New Zealand.
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