November 12. Are You In The Credit Business?

Here is a question for all leaders and their teams to consider. What are the three most inspirational successes you have seen this year? You might ask why, as a leader, should we answer this question. The reason I think leaders should answer that question is because the answer affirms.

We need to acknowledge and affirm our team members and that which we see is good. I believe that affirmation feeds our very souls. It tends to displace the negative energy. It releases the positive chemicals in our brains, and it prepares us to be moved. How often are we looking for that inspiration?

I believe that is all we have to do, is to take a second look. Because when we look a second time, we will see something different. Different chemical reactions will begin to take place the second time. Inspiration is all around us because of this. How often are you looking for inspiration and affirming it?

Who has been inspirational to you in the last seven days? When we fail to affirm others, we open the door to allow someone else to do it. When that happens, we open the door for competitors and other teams to provide value. The more value our team gets from outside the organization the less they value yours.

Perhaps it is time for us to give credit where credit is due. What will you do to affirm someone today?

Brothers and sisters in Christ, you amaze me. There are those of you that are fighting through amazing pain. But you take comfort in the simple thought of resting in the palms of God’s hands. You adjust your schedules and your activities so that you might join to praise God's holy name in worship.

We read, “I will praise you, LORD, with all my heart; I will tell of all the marvelous things you have done.” Psalms 9:1 NLT. Let us pray that we not forget that we are made in God’s image. We like to be acknowledged and affirmed. This has been studied and proven about us as humans.

If we are made in God's image and we like to be affirmed, then our God wants to be affirmed as well. How often are we truly appreciating God? How often are we appreciating one another? Maybe our lack of appreciating one another might be reflective of our appreciation for our God.

The polarization and isolation of thought and the way it should be in our mindset does not heighten affirmation or appreciation for others. It pulls us apart and away from one another. When we are pulled so far apart, we cannot even hear one another speak; we cannot affirm one another.

Where are you separated and removed from others? Perhaps it is time to draw a little closer by sharing some affirming thoughts and words. What is the first thing you can do about it in seven days?

Let us pray, Heavenly Father, you are amazing. Your creation is before us as your sunsets and your sunrises change the day. You remove the dark with the light. And with you, the pain and suffering turns into joy. Joy joy joy. Your holy name brings us joy.

Thank you for the joy and thank you for warming our hearts. Lord, join us every third minute, on the hour throughout the daylight today. In Jesus’ name, we pray. Amen,