DOZ Issue 26 December 2017 | Page 11

Belief #1: I Don’t Matter Have you come to believe that it’s a man’s world; therefore, your opinions and contributions don’t matter? Though your ideas may have been dumped so many times simply because you are a woman, know this: YOU MATTER! Your contributions are valid. After being passed up for due promotions for so long by the company she worked for, Mary Kay Ash still touched many families through her beauty company, in a way that the world will always remember. Even Esther had thought she was a simple Jew girl until Mordecai reminded her that she was made for such a time like this. Let me be your Mordecai, You Are Important. Go do that which God is calling you to do. Start that business, NGO, write that book, etc. The world needs it. Belief #2: I am Young – or Too Old No, you are not. And get this, that excuse is as old as Jeremiah (Jeremiah 1:6). How old was Moses again when he led the Israelites out of Egypt? Okay, no more talks about being inadequate. God knit you specifically for the role He’s asking you to play. And He says to you today, “don’t say, ‘I’m only a boy.’ I’ll tell you where to go, and you’ll go there. I’ll tell you what to say, and you’ll say it. Don’t be afraid of a soul. I’LL BE THERE LOOKING OUT FOR YOU.” – Jeremiah 1: 7-8, MSG. Belief #3: I Don’t Have What It Takes You don’t have the credentials or qualifications? You are not an eloquent speaker? You have failed a lot in the past? You can’t convince anyone to help you? Is that it? Is that why you’re stalling? 3 years ago, I did an intensive study of Psalm 23:1 that revealed to me how much more God is to me (and you). The word ‘Shepherd’ as used in that Scripture means shepherd, ruler, associate, teacher, friend, special friend, companion, protector, etc. I made a list of the roles that each of these persons plays in our lives that looked like this: • A shepherd to feed, guide, direct, protect, etc. • A friend to laugh, cry, share stories with, etc. • A teacher to pass wisdom, insight, understanding, etc.… After making this list, I re-wrote that Scripture this way: God is my EVERYTHING, I shall want NOTHING. If you want to succeed in the assignment God’s given you, you need to take your focus away from all the things you don’t have and place it on Who and what you have. God will always help, provide for and lead you aright. DOZ Magazine December 2017 11 «