Being Intentional About Growth

What do you pursue in order to stimulate growth in your life?

Malcolm Gladwell, in his book Outliers, estimates that it takes 10,000 hours to become an expert in something. If we are willing to put in that kind of time we can master our craft.

Over the past 18 years, I have spent a lot of time in a Bible School that journeys through all sixty-six books in only nine months. Every year, day after day; I have spent a significant amount of time in the Word of God.

Eighteen years on, I can see the difference. I can’t totally explain it, but when I am teaching things are different. Passages come back to my mind faster. I am able to draw on the depth of study to answer difficult questions. There is a well that God can dip into to bring things back in a timely fashion.

In our ministry, we meet many people with incredible vision to plant churches and begin new ministries. One of the things we must challenge them in is that these new works do not just drop out of the sky. You don’t become a world changer overnight. It takes hard work.

James 2:17 tells us that “faith without works is dead.” This book was written to believers. This is not a book about salvation, rather about success in life. The way they see change in wisdom or their tongues, is to add action to their faith.

We would never expect character change or freedom from addiction to drop out of the sky. Why would be do that with vision for ministry?

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Success in ministry comes from God first and foremost. But God honors our faithfulness to put in the time it takes.

One of the things that I have done through the years is to read. I read about many areas. A few years ago, I started keeping track of the books I read in a year as a friendly competition with a buddy. A little motivation has grown into 70 books through November of this year.

Find teachings and podcasts that you enjoy to feed your interest. Be it leadership, ministry, or politics; there are many great opportunities.

Read blogs. Tell your friends to read blogs. Tell them to read this one! (Sorry, could not resist.)

Whatever your method, find a way to develop a personal growth plan. Fill the well so that years from now, God can draw from it in a timely situation.

What do you do to initiate growth in your own life or ministry?

Related links:
Michael Hyatt Blog- Article by Robert Bruce on How to make more time to Read
The Myth – Jon Gordon
Outliers: The Story of Success

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