TAKE THE INITIATIVE

" Look at an ant" Prov 6:6

Too many of us are waiting for someone to come along and tell us what to do next. The story's told of a man who was employed by a duke and duchess. One day, he was called in to speak to his employer. "James, how long have you been with us?" said the Duchess.

"About 30 years, Your Grace," he replied.

"As I recall, you were employed to look after the dog," she said. "Yes, Your Grace."

"James, that dog died 27 years ago," said the Duchess.

"Yes, Your Grace," said James. "What would you like me to do now?" 


1. Why do we fail to take the initiative?

Because we don't realize the consequences of our inaction. Solomon writes:

"Look at an ant...Nobody has to tell is what to do. All summer it stores up food...So how long are you going to laze around doing nothing? How long before you get out of bed? A nap here, a nap there, a day off here, a day off there, sit back, take it easy - do you know what comes next? ...A dirt-poor life, poverty your permanent house guest? (Prov 6:6-11 TM)

Whatever we do- neglect to do - always catches up with us. Those who procrastinate end up like the man in playwright James Albery's verse: "He slept beneath the moon, he baked beneath the sun. He lived a life of going-to-do; and died with nothing done.

Paul writes: "God has given each of us the ability to do certain things well." (Romans 12:6 TLB) Knowing your ability is one of the keys to understanding life's assignment. But you can only plan and prepare for so long, then you've got to take action!



2. Two Important Lessons to Success

"Act with courage, and may the Lord be with those who do well." 2 Chronicles 19:11 NIV

One of the last obstacles between Israel and the Promised Land was the River Jordan. But God had a plan. He told the priests carrying the Ark that when they stepped in the river, the waters would roll back.

There are 2 important lessons here for you:

i) Nothing happens until you quit holding back!

You can't wait for everything to be perfect. You can't wait until your fear subsides. You must take the initiative. Overcomers understand that momentum is your friend. As soon as you start moving, certain things become clearer and easier. And when the moment um gets strong enough, many of the problems actually take care of themselves.

Maybe you've heard the story of the tourist in a small town who asked an old man, " Can you tell me something this town is noted for?" After a moment's hesitation he replied, "Well, you can start here and go anywhere in the world you want."

That's true of you too. Where you finish in life isn't determined so much by where you start, as by whether you start. If you're willing to get started, there's no telling how far you'll go.

ii) You must be willing to persevere.

The Jordan River didn't dry up the moment the priests stepped into it. God dried it up 40km upstream, so they had to wait till all that water passed by (See Jos. 3:14-17). Why did God do it that way? Because He see the big picture. God planned an opening wide enough for not just one of two, but for more than a million people to cross.

SO TRUST GOD, AND TAKE THE INITIATIVE! 


3. What happens when we take the initiative.

"Do not be afraid...The Lord...is going before you." Deut 1:29-30 NIV

Notice two things about taking the initiative:

i) Taking the initiative closes the door to fear.

We all have fears. The question is, are we going to control them or allow them to control us? Norman Vincent Peale said: "Action is great restorer and builder of confidence. Inaction is not only the result, but the cause of fear, Perhaps the action you take will be successful; perhaps different action or adjustments will have to follow, But any action is better than no action at all."

To have any chance at getting what we desire, we need to work for it. Nothing is as discouraging or draining as hanging on to an uncompleted task. The longer we let things slide, the harder thy become, The hardest work is often the accumulation of many easy things that should have been done yesterday, last week or last month. The way to get rid of a difficult task is - DO IT!

ii) Taking the initiative opens the door to opportunity.

People who take the initiative and work hard may succeed, or fail. But anyone who doesn't take initiative is guaranteed to fail!

So, ask God, "Is there a decision I should be making?" Is there and opportunity I should be seizing?"

Solomon writes, "If you wait for perfect conditions, you will never get anything done" (Ecc 11:4 TLB) It's better to be 80% sure, and start, than to wait until you're 100% sure, because by then the opportunity may have passed you by.



4. Launch Out!

"Be sure to do what you should." Gal 6:4 NLT

You can only pray, plan and prepare for so long, then you must step out in faith and act. The Chinese say, "He who deliberates too long before taking a step, will spend his whole life on one leg." The reason why we never get started is because we focus on tomorrow instead of today. The only time over which you have any control is the present.

James writes: "Look here, you people who say, " Tomorrow we are going to a certain town...We will do business there and make profit." How do you know what will happen tomorrow? For your life is like the morning fog - it's here a little while, then it's gone" (James 4:13-14 NLT)

Edgar Guest wrote: "The greatest of workers this man would have been- tomorrow. The world would have known him had he ever see-tomorrow. But the fact is he died and he faded from view, and all that he left here when living was through, was a mountain of things he intended to do- tomorrow.

The idea of tomorrow can be very seductive, but the promise it hold is often false, It's starting that stops us! Dawson Trotman, founder of The Navigators, observed, " The greatest time wasted is the time getting started."

The hardest part of writing a letter is penning the first line. The hardest part of making a touch phone call is picking up the receiver and dialing the number. So how do you overcome this difficulty? Schedule a specific time for doing what you don't like to do or fear to do, and each time you follow through and do it, it will get easier and you'll get better at it.



John G Fabrin

RBG New Zealand

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