Management by Force

How we create our schedule each year is fairly straight forward. We start with our previous years schedule as a starting point, working with the promoters who have already asked us to return, and then add any new races around those. As we approach the new year, our schedule is normally fairly well set with only a few details to work out. That is not the case this year.

While we have many events returning from last year, there are a few that are not, a few that are up in the air and then a couple of new promoters looking for coverage. While it will not take much to get it all sorted, you can imagine it is a little unsettling, especially since it’s far from the norm for us.

Most business owners would be fretting or working 24/7 to get things squared away. That is not how our Father would have us operate. First, it’s the holidays, there is little or nothing we can do to ‘press’ owners to make a decision during this time of the year. Generally all you’ll do is frustrate yourself or anger your potential customers or both. Neither of those is good for anyone.

Instead of doing things man’s ways, the Lord has us take a different approach, we wait for the work to come to us. Yea, I know, sounds crazy, but it works. Every time we try to take matters into our own hands, it does not work or if it does, it does not work well. Isaiah 40:31 is my life verse, ‘But they that wait upon the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint.’

There is no word from the Lord to change how we operate, so there is no reason to do anything different. It’s a matter of trusting Him. If you find yourself at a crossroads today it’s time to take it to the Lord and decide what He would have you do.

Blessings

Management by Force
by Os Hillman

“Take the staff, and you and your brother Aaron gather the assembly together. Speak to that rock before their eyes and it will pour out its water. You will bring water out of the rock for the community so they and their livestock can drink.” – Numbers 20:8

Moses and the people had been traveling for days without water. The people were thirsty. They were complaining and grumbling about their plight, and Moses became the object of their complaining. Moses sought the Lord for wisdom on how to handle the situation. The Lord instructed him to speak to the rock and water would flow. This would be a sign that God was still in control, that Moses was still the leader, and that God was their provider.

When it came time to speak to the rock, Moses’ disgust with the people became so great that instead of speaking to the rock, he angrily addressed the people and then struck the rock twice. The water came out, in spite of Moses’ disobedience. But the Lord was not pleased with Moses.

This was a time for Moses to operate at a higher level. No longer was he called to touch things with his staff to perform miracles; it was a time for him to speak to the problem. His very words would have changed the situation. Moses’ staff represented two things-his physical work as a shepherd of sheep and his spiritual work as a shepherd of the people. God was calling him to move into a new dimension of using his staff. Up to now, Moses had always been commanded by God to touch something to perform the miracle. Now it was time to speak God’s word to the problem.

However, Moses made the mistake many of us make. He used his instrument with force to accomplish something for God. He took something God wanted to be used in a righteous manner and used it in an unrighteous manner. He used force to solve the problem. This disobedience cost Moses his right to see the Promised Land.

Have you ever been tempted to use your power, skill, and ability to force a situation to happen, perhaps even out of anger? God is calling us to use prayer to move the face of mountains. The force of our ability is not satisfactory. God is calling each of us to a new dimension of walking with Him. Pray that God will give you the grace to wait on Him and not take matters into your own hands. Then you will not be in jeopardy of failing to move into the Promised Land in your life.