We are continuing to talk this year, and probably forever, about how to reach your God-given potential – joyfully! There is a certain issue that holds many people back. I don't hear anyone talking about it, but this insidious force starts with the letter "O."

The word is "Offense."  (As in getting offended, not as in getting the ball!)

Sometimes it is easy for us to look at other people in our field, or a leader or someone who seems more "successful" than us and we may disagree with what they are doing. Perhaps we find out that they are being unethical, or corrupt. Or maybe we just can't stand their way of promoting their services. When that happens, we become offended. We become critical, because they don't fit into our pre-determined rules of what is right and wrong.

It's as if we walk around wearing certain uber-cool designer sunglasses, thinking that we are cooler than everybody else because we know what is right. We are superior. The problem with this thinking is that it puts us in a place of pride.

Unfortunately, God opposes the proud. His energy can not mesh with proud flesh, and now we are cut off from His supernatural help. Good luck succeeding on your own. Being offended literally means to stumble. We know that pride goes before a fall.

Last week I took a stand about how I wanted to share my success tips from a more Christ- centered approach to be truer to my calling. I went to bed one night thinking how I wanted to help you overcome this spirit of offense.

I woke up the next day to an email telling me how wrong I was in my theology, and how I shouldn't say things I said. I was being corrected by someone who did not know me, but he had scriptures to point out my errors. Suddenly, without realizing it, I got all disturbed and agitated, and I told God, "This is why I did not want to work in the "Christian" market! They are all so critical and judgmental."

In effect, I was saying, "Everybody should be much more gracious, like ME!"

Oops. I guess I got offended, for a moment.

The truth is, people do not need to be more like me, and they don't need to be more like you. WE need to be more like Christ. He humbled himself and was obedient to death, because he had a JOY set before him. Therefore he was exalted.

Action: Today please re-view the people that may offend you some how. Let go of the judgments you may have cast. The way you judge others is the way you are judged, not just by others, but by your self. You diminish your own confidence when you have a critical spirit.

Until next time, keep playing to win and I'll be right here,

in your corner!

 

Gina

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Tagged as: achieve your goals, authenticity, forgiveness, leadership, overcoming disapointment, overcoming obstacles, success, Winning In Business