| June 17, 2008 |
Vol 9, Issue 19
|
|
 Get Ready to Lead!
"It's simple. We're just changing the world."
| |
|
|
|
| "I can't influence the next generation because I'm not charismatic enough to make people change." | Greetings!...  It's a frustrating feeling that stops people from mentoring: "I'm not charismatic enough to really have an impact on others."
That's why churches and Christian schools place so much hope on special programs that impress or scare people into spiritual change--they fear that their own efforts are inadequate to really make a difference.
Once I learned the principle I'd like to share in this newsletter, I was instantly free from that kind of stress, and had a lot more fun walking with others as a mentor, discipler and coach.
Welcome to Get Ready to Lead! | | |
 |
|
|
| How to shut up and start having an influence |  We've all seen powerful evangelists who wow the crowd, drawing out an instant response. I've found myself thinking, "If only I were charismatic like that, I could help bring about dramatic change in the next generation. Since I'm not, though, I'd better leave the job to those who are."
I realized that, for me, that frustration comes from a belief that whether others change is up me--the force of my personality, my persuasiveness.
In Handoff: The Only Way to Win the Race of Life I wrote about what I think is the answer: surrender the OUTCOME to God.
To surrender the outcome to God means acting faithfully through the process, but relinquishing control of the results.
As long as I feel responsible for the outcome of the lives of others, I live in worry. I fret about not being able to manipulate the right outcome. I wonder why I can't force my children to respond to the truth. I sluff off responsibility to pass the baton, rationalizing that "They won't listen to me anyway."
But when I surrender the outcome to God, fear melts away. If I'm confident that God will bring about the outcome that pleases him, I'm free to stop wheedling and manipulating and cajoling. I'm free to let God open the floodgates of blessing if he chooses to do so.
Here are some things I've found helpful in surrendering the outcome to God:
(1) Stop worshiping the cult of personality.
We tend to place way too much emphasis on charisma and force of personality. Charisma does change people, but only as long as the forceful personality continues to exert force. That's why unless there's an intentional follow-up plan things quickly return to normal after a powerful evangelist comes to town.
In the long run, people become inoculated to forceful appeals. When they first hear the powerful altar call, they're moved. But the 10th or 11th time they ignore it altogether.
It's far better to be a consistent, persistent presence in the lives of those we hope to influence than to attempt to scare or impress them.
(2) See my investment in others in light of eternity.
If one of my children rejects the baton pass and makes bad life decisions, I may feel that my own reputation has been damaged. I might respond in fury, "Don't you realize what this does to me?" or "I thought I raised you better than that!"
But if I see my influence in the light of eternity, my response can be, "My goal is to help restore you to the place where your life brings glory to God."
When that happens, I rejoice like the father running out to embrace the prodigal son. When it doesn't happen, I am forced to my knees in humble reliance on God, who works all things together for His good.
(3) Patiently await long-term results.
Those who make the greatest difference are those who continue to invest without the expectation of immediate return.
When I started saving toward retirement, my financial counselor advised me to think long term--"Don't even pay attention to daily stock market returns," he said. "All we care about is that the daily gains and losses add up to a substantial rate of growth over 45 years."
We all know stories of those who went through prolonged dark seasons only to emerge in the light after what seemed like forever. Maybe this is your own story. Have faith that this will be the next generation's story as well. Let God take responsibility for the outcome of the race, and just pass the baton as best you can.
(4) Put tools in the toolbox, even if they don't care.
I'm involved with Summit Ministries camps for high school and college students. At a recent conference a speaker addressed the topic of "Economics from a Biblical Perspective." In spite of being a compelling instructor, most of his material went right over the kids' heads. But that's okay; they may not care about economics right now, but when they do care--when they have a job and savings account--they'll be able to call to mind what they learned and reference it in their notebook.
The same is true in passing the baton. Just pass it as well as you possibly can, starting now. If they fall down, help them up. If they drop it, help them pick it up. But don't blame yourself. Surrender the outcome to God and let him bring about the result he desires.
When you begin to sense that you don't have the power to make people change, relax. That's not your job. Focus on faithfully passing the baton, and surrender the outcome to God. That's how to win the race of life. |
|
|
 From Jeff Myers: Make it a great week!
I am in Israel this week with two of my children, and look forward to getting home next week to share what God has taught us during our time here.
As always, you can track our activities from the front page of our website. Thank you for your prayer and support as we call this generation of adults to rise up and pass the baton of godly faithfulness to the next generation!
Make it a great week!
--Jeff
Jeff Myers, Ph.D., President
Passing the Baton International, Inc. |
|
|
