Word for the day "Never give up on you"

Ecclesiastes 9: 11 (NLT) I have observed something else under the sun. The fastest runner doesn’t always win the race, and the strongest warrior doesn’t always win the battle. The wise sometimes go hungry, and the skillful are not necessarily wealthy. And those who are educated don’t always lead successful lives. It is all decided by chance, by being in the right place at the right time.

Our lives are chock-full of uncertainty, but we must never give up on ourselves.

Life is provocative and many times life is full of surprises. I have been greatly surprised by the way people's lives have turned out.

I think of people I went to school with who seemingly had no potential whatsoever, and they have clearly proven otherwise.

Then there are those who seemed to have so much promise, but when I look at the trajectory their lives took, it is another story altogether.

Where are you in your life today? God knows when I look at my life, my mouth is open, even now.

In my experience of working in the office of a pastor for more than 5 years, and I had seen a lot of people come and go through the 5 years.

I’ve seen some individuals who were gifted as musicians, preachers, or in some other way effectively crash and burn.

I have also seen some who I thought would go out and change the world basically self-destruct instead. Where are you in your life today?

Servant leaders are less concerned with being impressed and more concerned with being impacted.

As time goes by, I find myself being less impressed with things I was once very impressed by, and more impacted with things I was once less impressed by.

Nowadays, I am far more impacted by character than charisma. I am more interested in personal integrity than in mere talent. (Will this person stand the test of time?)

I am impacted not by a person who has a huge ministry, but by someone who is still married to the same person they started out with.

This is impactful to me because so many things change as time goes by. What are you impacted by?

I am honestly saying today that servant leaders are not interested in being impressed, but rather are interested in being impacted.

Sometimes I hear people say they don't see how they can have any significant impact on their place of influence, like the workplace, family culture, ministry, because they are not in a traditional position of influence, with little authority to make a change.

They fail to realize that the influence to impact any place, culture, and people comes from having influence with God, not man.

And each person can have great influence relationally with God. God wants to use you to influence the people, places, and things in your life.

If God has gifted you, then you need to take that gift and use it for His glory. You not only want to start this race well, but you also want to finish it well.

Point to ponder

You can hold on to first place in a race for a while, but if, in the end, you break the rules or don’t cross the finish line, it doesn’t count. Finish well great people of God!

Special thanks!

Our Leadership team is especially thankful for those of you who provided financial donations and support in the month of September 2019 by partnering with us in efforts to advance the kingdom of God in this 21st century season: Special thanks to Mrs. Angela Harrison, Ms. Annette Straker, Mr. David Straker, Ms. Chisa Tolliver, Mr. William Jones, Mr. Kenneth Washington, Ms. Darlene Simmons,  Mrs. Denise Johnson, Ms. Itholear Abbott, Ms. Quiana Volney, Mrs. Barbara Mason, Ms. Mable Bazemore, Ms. Theresa Lewis, Mr. Ron Clarke, Ms. Divinia Stewart, Ms. Lykeisha Thompson, and Ms. Gertrude Scott.

Thank you!

Thank you for using the Word Cup devotionals brought to you through Grace and Truth Leadership. Why don’t you take the opportunity to write to us on our blog and let us know how we are doing in serving you, Great people.

We are a faith-based, donor-supported ministry. If you have been touched by these daily devotionals and would like to make a monthly pledge or a special gift of any amount, please use the link below to give as the Lord leads.

Follow me on Twitter @James Baker_jr as I endeavor to encourage and empower leaders of today and tomorrow!Kingdom Blessings,Pastor James Baker, Jr.