I want to give you the deciding power to define. What does that mean?

Well, when I want to determine the things on the outside of me I must have made a defining decision from the inside of me. You see, in The Master’s Program, we’re working towards identifying our life’s mission. Yet, the thing about living out one’s life’s mission is it’s going to create strain and struggle, and that’s natural. 

Like your career or your family, mission pursuit is like a puzzle filled with many pieces and it requires trust in God to put the pieces together. Trust enables you to hold onto a dream that you’re heading towards. While you’re heading in that direction, it is important to strengthen the mindset, soul, and spirit that we’ve got. Strength can be achieved by controlling the words that come across your lips. Because whatever one says, the whole body is going to follow, and the soul also. Your body will believe what you say. So, your words have great power. You must have the deciding power to define things on the inside. Then, as you declare them on the outside, you’ll begin to move forward with them in strength. 

This morning, I was having Bible study with my sons, we’ve been working in a book study alongside our Bible study. One of the things that we’re looking at while we’re defining what it means to be a Godly man is to look at some of the words that Paul used to describe what Godliness looks like. He used the word pugnacious which is a word that we don’t use very often. Pugnacious means to lose control of our anger so much that we would strike people or become violent. 

Now, why does someone become violent or angry and sin at the same time? It all starts on the inside. I want to look at that to help you to have the deciding power to define. Let’s go into the inside. 

On the inside, when I’m angry or losing control, it’s rooted in comparison, and all of a sudden, I believe there are some things that I deserve and want right now. “I need these things; how come I don’t have them?” This leads us to believe there are deficits that should not be. The beginning of anger starts when there are things that I feel I have the right to have, and I’m going to demand them now. 

I really want to dissect what’s going on inside of me that allows for this bubbling over where I become pugnacious or angry and so upset that I lose control. Well, we’re looking here then at the decision to say I deserve something, and I have something that should be mine. I have a deficit. 

You see, to have the deciding power to define, I need to remove some words from my deficit mindset. Well, how does that work? 

Substitute the word “need” for “want”, because when I use the word “need”, it implies a deficit. It implies that there is something that I should have or need to have. I want you to substitute “need” for “want”. 

Now, this is wisdom, not a Biblical command. I’m telling you that if you will get rid of deficit language, you will start to define what it is that you want. Now, while I do that, I will hold my mouth until I’m ready to say I “want” this instead of I “need” this and that puts me in a position of defining what needs to happen. And there isn’t a sense that I am in a deficit mode. Instead, I have decided. So now I have the deciding power to define. 

“I want this.” 

“I want you to do this.”

Using this language puts me in a place of not allowing my heart to look around at all the things that I believe I have need for. Instead, to make commands to define and create action. So, substitute the word “need” with the word “want”.

Now there are the “O-U-L-D” words that we want to get rid of as well. The “coulds”, “should” and “woulds”. 

The “could” says that I’m uncertain. Using “can” instead of “could” gives me power; 

“I can do that.” 

“I will do that.” 

“I want to do that.” 

Get rid of the “could” because there’s uncertainty. 

You see now I’ve got the deciding power to define when I get rid of “could”. 

How about “should” and “would”? Both of those are uncertain as well. Should we? Would you? No, no, get rid of those and substitute the words “must” and “will”. 

“I must do this.” 

“You must do this.” 

No, should. 

“I will do this.” 

“I want you to do this.” 

This is now defined language. We want to get rid of uncertainty. 

Remember, it’s…

“…Him who can do exceedingly and abundantly more than we can ever ask or imagine…”

Ephesians 3:20

We understand that we are in collaboration with the Father. The God of the universe. And so by that, we’re no longer allowing for all of this uncertainty. We’re managing our mindset, our heart, and our emotions the more thatwe’ve got a deciding power. And when we have decided, we move forward, and we make the request, we make the order, we make the command, we decide.

This deciding power is so powerful because as I type the word “need” or one of the “oulds”, I start to spot them and realize right now I’m dealing with uncertainty. I’m dealing in a deficit, and I don’t want to have a deficit mindset. I want to be in a place in which I’m certain. 

Stay in certainty. Anchor into that certainty and have the deciding power to define in your mind. I’m sure God has got this: what I can’t understand at this moment. I’m still sure that He’s got this, and then lock in and speak: 

“I will.” 

“I want.” 

“I must.” 

“I can.” 

In The Master’s Program, we are working to build leadership that works not only in our businesses but in our families and in the Kingdom. Stay fruitful. Use the deciding power to define.

In your corner,
Jeff

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