THE NUMBER #1 REASON people do not succeed.
Strange as it seems, most people do pretty good at knowing what they want. They may even have a good plan to get it. The problem occurs in the moment they need to take that one critical step that puts them over the top. What happens? Consistently, the focus and energy SHIFTS from moving TOWARD the vision and instead the energy refocuses on AVOIDING what they FEAR.
Not surprisingly the thing feared most is failure! Soooo some sort of procrastination or other self sabotaging antic shows up to make sure failure or embarrassment never occurs. Ironically, this pattern guarantees that SUCCESS in the manifestation of the vision never occurs either.
This cycle breaks the moment you discover that 90% of humanity will put more effort into avoiding what they fear than they will in perusing what they really want.
Singles stay single trying to avoid rejection. Employees stay under compensated avoiding the rejection of a raise or negative feedback on their performance. And even Pastors drive away the very people who can build their church out of fear of competition and comparison.
The remedy? SEE THE PATTERN and push past the fear. Everything you want is on the other side of a courageous choice!
What do you think?
Lance
Kim,
I am so sorry for what your dad said to you! I acknowledge the pain and woundedness of your soul. But you are so loved in the Beloved and HE has an awesome plan and purpose for your life! I want you to know YOU are VALUED and highly favored as a daughter of the King! I decree the Lord will heal every wounded part of your heart and create in you a NEW HEART! I send love and a big hug to you! Mindy
Mindy,
Gracias amiga, many times in my life I have lived as a David and danced before the Lord and rejoiced and fought battles with the Lord as my one and only guiding light. I have lived as a son of the great King and decreed that the devil has no power over me, but I have hidden the fear of my father deep inside of me and for once decided to express it and my very best of friends was guided to Lance´s column and read my inner fears. As one other woman has said I fear men, but not just men, I fear humans and my preference is to live with horses, dogs, cats even a pig over living with another person. My inner self is so damaged from my life as a child that no matter how hard I try to believe that I am right with Christ the lies of satan have been bound so tight some days I cannot even breath. At the age of 4, with my sister only 1 year older than me, my father sold us to a family of a man and his two unwed daughters and the 3 of them raped and molested the two of us 4 – 5 times a day. We were told after each event that we needed to get on our knees and pray to God for forgiveness for our sins. I have believed in the love of God for all my life, for everyone, but could not accept this love for myself until I was 40 years old. That was many years ago, but I still live with the fear of the words of my father, the actions of these three people and the fear that one day, me a so called man of God will come face to face with one or more of the videos that were taken of me as a child. That fear cripples me and yet I reach out to children to teach them not to fear and to be strong and to love the Lord with all their heart. I strive to teach men the value of a woman in their lives and how important they are and how their soft and gentle nature can in my mind even cure the common cold, or maybe more to the point cold feet. ( a little humor still left in the old guy) I strive to teach men that they need to be an example in the house and in the workforce, but the words of my father ring so loud in my heart that I am paralyzed in this fear.
It has only been in the last 5 years, since I moved from Canada to live in Colombia that I have started to really face these fears. It is not easy being all alone in a strange country with a strange language and a culture so different from what I am used to. It is forcing me to look at who I am, who I want to be and what I need to do to change. I wish I was the man of God that I want to be and that God wants me to be, but the sad truth is that I am human and that I fail in this area of my life.
I need some of that old time conditioner where the lady on the commercial says, “I’m going to wash that man right out of my hair.” It would be easy if it was possible because at my current age I have very little hair to wash, but it is not that easy. God, I know you hear my cry and I know that Psalm 88 is my life story, and I know that in the end I will see you in Glory; but right now today I need your arms of love, courage,reassurance and more in my life. Come to me as have yearned for my early father to have done even once in my life, come to me and hold me.
I know the high and mighty people do not want to read or hear my story and it is a shame that we and I include myself in this long list, but that we as Christians look down at the wee people. The truth in my mind is that the Church needs to be more of a hospital, where the word of God is a balm, a blessing and act of restoration, rather than a weapon to wound and destroy others. Thank you Mindy and Melody, you are my M&M’s for today.
Delicious,
kj
Lance, To use one word this message means or speaks to me of “JUMP” which is ALL I have ever known.
God speaks and I jump without all the finances I need or a good plan, just go where God has told me to go. I believe I have gone thru the Greatest test I have ever known, everything & everyone(important people) saying for me to go this way; but I sensing a ‘RESTRAINT’ OF GOD. Your message here kind of pulled at my heart but I believe a specific obedience MUST be done first before that restraint is lifted. Your message is right on, absolutely true, however, every individual must know for themselves what God is saying to them.
I have wanted to write and comment on other things Lance but didn’t have the time or wondered if you would even see it. Let me take this opportunity to tell you that I believe I WILL BE one of the intercessors of GOZ that come to your house for the powerful prayer meeting.
I am soooo happy that you are writing your book. Paul Keith Davis propheized at the GOZ Hebrew Celebration(Sept.) that a biblical revelation(definitely in the bible) which has been obscured and hidden for a Specific time & a specific people. Paul said this revelation will COME FORTH from GOZ. This was spoken Friday afternoon when I was at an interview for this specific apartment I want in Denton; I did not get to hear the message until after the meetings were over, on my way home to Florida. Before Sunday morning’s service I laid down two copies of the revelation God gave me on Chuck’s seat, one for him & the other for Keith. THEN the GREATEST TEST I HAVE EVER BEEN THRU HAPPENED. I believe I should not go any further except to make it clear that the revelation was not outwardly rejected nor was I personally spoken to but very, very much prophesy came forth to direct me BUT NO, NO, NO INWARD WITNESS WITHIN ME. I BELIEVE TIMING WAS OFF, BECAUSE OF MY DISOBEDIENCE IN ONE AREA–A JUKE FOOD ADDITION THAT IS NO LAUGHING MATTER. I am a thin person but anything can be an idol.
Lance this revelation is THE ANSWER FOR THE ‘HARBENGER’, IT IS THE HOPE AND POWER FOR AMERICA, EVEN THOUGH SHE WILL & MUST BE SHAKEN TO BRING HER TO REPENTANCE. THE GREATEST REPENTANCE FROM THE CHURCH WILL COME FORTH, & AFTERWARDS THE GREATEST POWER SHE HAS KNOW WILL COME FORTH. ALLLLLL GLORY TO OUR LORD & SAVIOR, JESUS CHRIST.
OH HOW I WOULD HAVE ENJOYED KNOWING YOU WHEN YOU WERE A PASTOR, DO YOU THINK YOU MAY GET BACK TO THAT IN THE FUTURE. OH, IF THE SHAKINGS THAT THE LORD SAYS HE MUST MAKE BRING US BACK TO A MORE SIMPLE LIFE, YOU MIGHT HAVE MORE TIME. I am sure there are many of us who would be willing to share you with the world. That was just a little way of saying that I value the True Godly Character that you possess, You are Special Indeed and the wonderful part is we all can give ourselves to Our Glorious God & uniquely display is AWESOME CHARCTER, GLORY & BEAUTY. MY G R E A T E S T H O P E!!! THANKS SOOOOOO MUCH FOR THE MAN THAT YOU ARE! With Utmost Sincerity, Mary Frances Joyce
Mary,
After reading your thoughts I was able to breath out in relief. I have a dream, I have birthed the dream in the spirit relm, and I have designed, business planned, dreamed and drooled in the natural. Yet God has not brought the dream into reality yet because there is character to be developed through the dark night of the spirit, soul and body…I am not afraid but chomping at the bit to move forward but God has not yet released me to move into, so I have gently placed it to one side for his work to complete as I let him do the inner work in me and rest in his timing because I do not want to get ahead of God I want to join him, side by side….hardest thing to do is wait when the heart wants to jump!
So true! Great scene from “We bought a Zoo” sums it up: “You know, sometimes all you need is twenty seconds of insane courage. Just literally twenty seconds of just embarrassing bravery. And I promise you, something great will come of it.”
Thanks for all your insights and timely posts! Much appreciated.
Thank you for reminding me why & how I’ve gotten to be 50 years old and still single, no dating and no prospects. After two failed marriages less than 5 years each. The thought of ever believing what a man has to say is crippling. I don’t trust them, nor do I trust myself to trust them. When the hurt has been so deep, it’s hard not to fear that it will happen again.
Oooooo Lance , so timely! So I’m awake at 4 this morning being given a one on one from the Holy Spirit on faith and how it’s about what flows from you, a ‘place’ you live from not about what flows TO you; showing me Jesus, who is our perfect example of how to live by faith. Then I’m up and I see your post. Ive been taxiing on the runway avoiding taking off in the next phase of my business for all the reasons you mentioned. Thanks for the slap over the head. I’m reminded of captain winters balling at his troup in Band of Brothers when they scarpered into a ditch ….”KEEP MOVING”
Well said!
Timely and thank you for hearing and speaking the words connected to my heart.
Timely and thank you for hearing and speaking such a “now” word!
These are extremely true words, Lance, and hit the nail on the head. As Christians, when we think about our potential to become successful through our giftings and God’s great power working through us, it helps to work towards a deeper understanding of “perfect love casts out fear.” Our fear of failure is carnal in nature in that the negative backlashes to our courageous attempts come from the world system and the fall. The closer we come to and pursue an intimate relationship with Christ, the more we receive His love, and the more we step up in faith, trusting Him to lead, inspire, direct, and guide, the more we give opportunity for Him to show His great faithfulness to us in the area of success. This experiential walk with Christ imparts the manifested truth of His Word to us. If God be for us, who can be against us? It won’t matter because we will step out with the greatest Father, King, and Comforter of all time; Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. These will not be mere words to us because we will KNOW the truth like I know my husband and my friends. Christ working in us to set us free to be all He has created us to be. The only way up in the beginning is on shaky knee casting all our cares on Him who is able to see us through. It helps to have a few human cheer leaders on your team to stay the course of courage when fear comes again to destroy the vision. Love and support from a team is essential; we can’t walk this supernatural path to success without others.
Hi Lance, very good word! May we be able to stir up the courage to push through the fear factor. I hear the verse “He who began a good work in you is faithful to complete it.” May we learn to rest in that and believe GOD’s words to push through the fear. The phase that has been predominate in my life and our business’s direction here lately is “Stay the Course”. That maybe an applicable word for some others out there.
Blessings to you and your family!
Denise K Phillips