A thought by Matt Perman, from his book, How to Get Unstuck (p. 35). Zondervan. Kindle Edition. (Click on the book title to go to Amazon.com to buy the book.)
We really do, don’t we?
Matt says, “We want to be getting the right things done in the right way and for the right reasons. Because we live in a fallen world, we know that obstacles are inevitable. And so, to begin, we can sum up what it means to be unstuck like this: getting important work done through obstacles.
“Note that this summary statement encompasses all three of the things we need: vision, execution, and overcoming obstacles.”
He goes on, “We see vision in the phrase ‘important work.’ You aren’t just doing anything. You are doing important work—work that stems from and aligns with a vision. It meets needs and utilizes your abilities and capacities.
“We see execution in the word ‘done.’ You are ‘getting important work done.’ You aren’t just trying (as noble as that is!). You are actually making things happen.
“And you are getting this important work done through obstacles. Obstacles don’t throw you off track or kill your efforts. You persevere and can navigate through them.”
He continues, “Further, being unstuck doesn’t just mean you can get through the current block. It’s about something with a much higher rate of return: the ability to get through blocks as an ongoing capacity. It means you can create and get important work done even when the conditions are hostile and even through obstacles—and that you can do it consistently.
“To be unstuck is to be getting important work done through obstacles, and to keep doing it—over and over again. That’s the master skill we need in our era, a skill we all need. And as things keep getting more challenging, we need this skill now more than ever.
“We especially need this skill when we are performing at the edges of our ability—which is what you will have to do sometimes if you seek to make a real, lasting difference in the world. To do important work often takes everything you have.”
He then says, “We need to go beyond this, however, and have an understanding of being unstuck that is explicitly biblical. For there is no way to truly be unstuck without taking God into account and, beyond that, making him the center.
“As my pastor once said, ‘Christ doesn’t just want to be another app on your operating system; He is the new operating system altogether.’ Christ should not be just one component among many in our lives. He ought to be the center from which everything else flows because He is Lord of all.”
Matt says, “Too often, personal effectiveness is used as a tool to build the life we want, and God is left out of the picture. This is not a small matter. It is actually very dangerous, for Jesus said, ‘For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world and forfeits his soul?’ (Matt. 16:26). How do you forfeit your soul? By not seeking God first.”
So, this is the major part of making a difference in and through our life! So, let’s do it, okay?
Comments
Post a Comment