HOW PROMOTION WORKS IN GOD'S ORGANIZATION - by Joyce Meyer
God and the world have different perspectives on success. There are people out there living their lives to get the biggest office, the highest salary and the most impressive title, not necessarily treating other people fairly along the way. But God isn't impressed by worldly success. He cares about the heart. And if you want to be a leader in His organization, there are a few things you should know.
You see, God calls us to ministry to help people - not to plow ahead with our own selfish plan. So when God's looking for someone to fill a position of leadership, He doesn't necessarily look for someone with perfect performance. He looks for someone who has a right heart toward Him.
If that describes you, I believe you're going to get a word from God today that is going to make a major difference in your life!
God is Looking for a Certain Kind of Heart
God has all kinds of positions open in His kingdom. When a leadership opportunity arises, He can either promote you or keep you where you are. God may even demote you if He needs to. But if you know how to keep a right attitude, you're always going to be in position to step into a higher role. Really, what He's looking for is someone with a perfect heart.
Now, having a perfect heart doesn't mean that you don't make mistakes. It means you have a heartfelt desire to do right and please God. You may still have things in the flesh you need to deal with. Your mouth may still get you into trouble. You may even lose your temper from time to time. But when you do, you are quick to repent and do everything it takes to get right with God. If you've offended someone else, you will humble yourself and apologize.
The fact is, God is more concerned about your heart than He is your performance because if your heart is right, your performance will eventually catch up with that. But if you go around doing the right things with a wrong heart, you're not really honoring God.
Taking a Look at Your Innermost Heart
One of the most life-transforming things for me as a leader in the body of Christ is what God has shown me about the inner life, the hidden man of the heart. Second Chronicles 16:9 says, For the eyes of the Lord run to and fro throughout the whole earth to show Himself strong in behalf of those whose hearts are blameless toward Him...
If you want to be a good leader, you have to look deeper into those things that nobody knows about but God and yourself. What goes on in you? What kind of heart do you have? What are you really like inside? What is your thought life like? What kind of attitude do you have? What goes on behind closed doors?
We all have things in our heart that need to be exposed and rooted out. Many times they're things we just don't know about. Fortunately, God only holds us accountable for what we do know about. I don't have perfect performance. I still do things sometimes I wish I didn't do. But I love God with all my heart - and that's why He allows me to remain in a position of leadership.
I do not particularly want to be known as a famous preacher, but somebody who walks in love has a heart after God, because that's what matters to Him. It is imperative that the condition of the heart of a leader be right because a leader ministers out of the heart. The heart is the center of a person - their spirit, their mind, their inmost being.
If you're looking for promotion from God, I encourage you to let the Holy Spirit examine your heart, root out the thoughts and attitudes that might be holding you back, and let Him change you from the inside out. Because in His kingdom, that's what leadership is all about.
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from Enjoying Everyday Life, a Joyce Meyer Ministries (JMM) magazine, December 2011 issue
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