Circle of Influence

"The problems, challenges, and opportunities we face fall into two areas--Circle of Concern and Circle of Influence. Proactive people focus their efforts on their Circle of Influence. They work on the things they can do something about.  Reactive people focus their efforts in the Circle of Concern--things over which they have little or no control. Gaining an awareness of the areas in which we expend our energies in is a giant step in becoming proactive." (Stephan Covey)

This past summer, God began, again, to work on me.  If you know me, you know sometimes I can be a bit stubborn...so, this time, God's refining was painful and frustrating and confusing.  I spent a number of months this year asking God for clarity, and direction, and understanding.  My heart was hurt, but I knew God had an answer.  I just could not hear it, because my feelings were too loud. 

During a four hour night of intense worship, God was finally able to break through my feelings so I could hear His voice.  His answer was very clear and had everything to do with my circle of influence.  

I had ambitions, and I spent a few years working very hard for those ambitions, only to be disappointed.  I was working toward relationships that were not working toward me.  After months of praying, God used this one night of worship, to break those ambitions.  He gently and beautifully showed me, my circle of influence.  The circle I had been far too busy to focus on.  Moving out of my "circle of concern" and into my "circle of influence" was the only option to proactively build God's Kingdom.

Friends, if we are going to do the work of our Father, we cannot get stuck on disappointments, what other's fail to see in us, how we have been hurt, what we are missing out on, or what we cannot do.  We must simply commit, to fiercely love the people God puts in our circle of influence.  

If you are in a season of disappointment, pain or confusion, I pray God will show you the circle of influence He has set before you.  I pray you will see that circle and choose to fiercely love.

 

"For I am about to do something new. See, I have already begun! Do you not see it?
I will make a pathway through the wilderness. I will create rivers in the dry wasteland."

Isaiah 43:19 (NLT)