You Gotta Have Heart

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

Are You an Emotional Yoyo?

 by Joyce Meyer

Just because I feel like smacking someone upside the head does not mean that I am supposed to allow myself to do that. I cannot do everything I feel like doing.

God wants us to grow up and realize there are some things in this life that we must learn to control. One of those things is our emotions.

If you and I are to be leaders, we must realize that we will not be able to do or say everything that is on the inside of us.

I remember one time telling my husband, 'Dave, do you know what I feel like doing? I feel like running away from home!"

At that time I felt that everything in my life was caving in on me. There were problems at the office, problems in the home, problems everywhere I looked. I thought, I want to get out of here! But I know I shouldn't do that because I am a leader, and leaders do not run away from things they don't like. They stay and deal with them - because they have stability, aka self-control.

Stability is Important for Leaders

Before we talk about why stability is important, let's define it. Webster's II New College Dictionary defines stability as "1. Resistance to sudden change, dislodgement, or overthrow. 2. a. Constancy of character or purpose: STEADFASTNESS. b. Reliability: dependability."

If you have stability, you do what is right when it feels good AND when it doesn't feel good - you pray when you feel like it and when you don't feel like it. You give despite your feelings - and you give not just what you want to give, but what God is encouraging you to give.   

Self-Control: The Key to Stability 

I love The Amplified Bible translation of Galatians 5:22, 23 because it reveals things that I might have missed otherwise. It tells me that the Spirit of God on the inside of me is a Spirit of discipline and self- control. But the fruit of the [Holy] Spirit [the work which His presence withing accomplishes] is love, joy (gladness), peace patience (an even temper, forbearance), kindness, goodness (benevolence), faithfulness, gentleness (meekness, humility) self-control (self-restraint, continence)...

God Provides Emotional Stability

According to this scripture, self-control is a fruit of the Holy Spirit. If you want to be a leader, you must be able to control yourself.

Have you ever known someone who is up and down all the time, like you never know what they're going to do next? I call them "high maintenance". They constantly need attention.

People who fit this description follow their emotions rather than following the leadership of the Holy Spirit within them. If they don't learn to follow the Holy Spirit through the inner knowledge He gives and by reading and obeying the word, they will never develop into what God wants them to be.

Leaders have to discipline themselves and stay in control. They have to be able to recognize when they are going in a wrong direction and make the appropriate corrections themselves without someone else having to do it for them.

That kind of emotional stability, self-control and self-restraint is not limited to leaders; it is something we all need to develop more of in our lives.

Up and Down Like A Yoyo 

I remember the years when I was what I call a "Christian yo-yo". I was continually up and down. If Dave did what I liked, I was happy. If he didn't do what I liked, I would get mad.

I have grown since those days. Dave still doesn't always do the things I liked but now it doesn't upset me the way it used to. The reason it doesn't upset me as much now is that I have learned to exercise self-control.

Sometimes, Dave and I discuss what we see ahead for the ministry. We have many goals but as the leaders, neither of us does anything beyond our gifts and calling. That's another key to keeping your emotional stability.

Anyone can acquire stability; it is not limited to those in ministry. In the end, it's imperative not only for a good leader but for every person to develop stability because God wants to do more with your life than you could ever imagine. 

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 from Enjoying Everyday Life, A Joyce Meyer Ministries (JMM) magazine August 2011 issue