D-Day

Today I had a big surprise at work. I found out my company is being sold to a competitor. I have helped in the fight against just such competitors. There were so many ways in which this was a shock and a let-down initially.

If you cut me I would bleed this company. I've been with this company for a little over 9 years and have worked really hard (I've probably done 30 work-all-night sessions for the company in the past 3 years, and was happy to do it). I've also prayed diligently for the company, the employees, and even the products. I say all of this to explain that when I found out this news today I was really sick about it. I don't know how else to describe the feeling other than it was similar to grieving. This 9 year relationship was ending and there was nothing I could do about it. When you have been through as many ups and downs as I have in this company and have taken the job personally and tried to go above and beyond and then it just ends in a sudden flash- its going to affect you. Its quite a feeling of loss.

In addition to this there was the fear of potentially losing my job. I have a family so its not like losing my job just affects me. Anyway, you can see a lot of pressure, stress, and grieving was going on with me.

I had 4 meetings to attend about all the changes today and for now it seems as though my job is ok at least until early November, so that is good. And, there does seem to be a strong possibility that me and my 2 sales teams will be ok permanently, and that is great.

After walking with the Lord and holding his hand through all circumstances of this job for over 9 years and learning to trust him no matter what my natural reaction to all of this was to try and trust the Lord in spite of how I felt. When you really focus on trusting the Lord like it says in Proverbs 3:5-6 and in Psalm 37 and you work on that for a few years it becomes a natural reaction to any situation of stress, loss, pain, or need. (start today)

Although I was working on trusting the Lord I still found throughout the day that my thoughts would become angry, frustrated, hopeless, and mournful for periods of time. When I realized I was sinking in this hole I would quickly catch myself, say a prayer asking the Lord for help with my thoughts and feelings, and ask him to forgive me. Then I would get back to focusing on trusting in him. I did this all morning throughout the meetings.

Why did I do that? Why does my thought life even matter? Well, what goes on in my mind with anger, resentment, or whatever - is not just "my own business". Those thought processes are not compatible with the Christian life. I could write extensively on this but I'll try to limit it to a couple of passages and a few thoughts.

Philippians 2:13-15 is really good: "Do everything without complaining or arguing, so that you may become blameless and pure, children of God without fault in a crooked and depraved generation, in which you shine like stars in the universe." So, what I pickup from the above passage is that our thoughts, words, and attitudes matter a lot. Why is that? Because our attitude reflects whether we trust the Lord or not. You can't complain, argue, fuss, and be filled with resentment about a situation and say you're trusting the Lord. Those things are not compatible with a growing Christian life and they shut down your communication with the Lord. So, what is the alternative to the "natural" mental thought patters that are bitter, vengeful, vindictive, angry, etc?

I'm going to point you to Romans 8 below but its just one example of a Jesus-way of living that is powerful and effective. By reading the Psalms and the New Testament you will see a ton of helpful and encouraging growth secrets regarding getting the Lord involved in your daily life, in your pain, in your thought life, and in the victories that you have to win. If you tell the Lord what you are dealing with and ask him to help you with it and ask him to teach you on that area and then read the Bible he'll really lead and guide you. Guaranteed. But don't put God in a box, he doesn't usually answer in the exact way you "imagine" he "should" but he will answer. If ever in doubt, keep trusting him, and keep seeking.

Ok, here is the Romans 8 passage I was going to point out. Romans 8:5-8 "Those who live according to the sinful nature have their minds set on what that nature desires; but those who live in accordance with the Spirit have their minds set on what the Spirit desires. The mind of sinful man is death, but the mind controlled by the Spirit is life and peace; the sinful mind is hostile to God. It does not submit to God's law, nor can it do so." This is a great passage that gives a glimpse into just how powerful God's help can be. When we accept Jesus Christ as our Savior and as the leader of our lives he transforms us and gives us his Spirit to live inside of us. His Spirit is there to encourage, comfort, teach, remind, and empower us. And in this passage it clearly talks about conforming our thoughts to the Spirit and how he can control our thoughts for us. (I don't know about you but that is good news to me because my thoughts are often all over the place and a percentage of them are certainly not good.

Well, I went to lunch and prayed to the Lord about all of the things going on at work. I really sat down with him and just said, "Lord, you know I have worked and bled for this company for 9 years and have tried to make a difference. You know I've prayed for the success and turn-around of this company as well. But this is ending now and I am making the decision right now to put this company to death. I give this company to you and I dedicate all of this to you. I also dedicate my career to you and I commit to you that I will work for you anywhere and go where you lead me. I am not about this company, I am about the vision and destiny you have for my life. I am about the ministry you have for me and about being the man of God in the business world that you want me to be. I dedicate myself to your purpose and your plan and I put to death my old company and my old job right now. I commit to trusting in you on this and I ask for your help with that." I talked to the Lord about this extensively with many words like that and really shared with him my feelings but re-dedicated myself to whatever path he has for me. I had such a peace in my heart the rest of the day and through tonight.

I choose to walk hand-in-hand with the Lord throughout life. There are often tough circumstances but we have his promise that if we put him first, seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, then all these things will be added unto us. I choose him now. I choose him again. I am not about a company or the things of this world. I trust that if I put him first and work hard wherever he leads me I will be incredibly effective and powerful in whatever I do- and that I will be incredibly powerful in a life that pours out the ministry of Jesus Christ.

May God help me, lets go!