Developed or Discovered?

I once heard Perry Noble say that a lot of leaders would rather be discovered rather than developed. I never realized that that was what I wanted until God revealed it to me through Perry saying that. I realized that the driving force behind anything I was doing or saying was to be "discovered" by a person, an organization, or anything that had influence to help me get where I wanted to go. I still fight those motivations every day, as I'm sure a lot of leaders do, especially young leaders. I would encourage anyone reading this to consider this: Am I seeking to be developed as a leader, or just discovered? To help you consider that, let me share some thoughts I've had when I've pursued discovery, as well as development.

When you look to be discovered, everything you do and think is motivated by:

- Pride: Where do others fail? How can I sell myself?

-Achievement: If I can do it better, I AM better

-Appearance: Who can I impress? 

Whereas these motivations may bring rewards of a temporary nature, there is no way to grow. When you look to just be discovered, there is no room for character growth when everything is done to be in the sight of others.There is no room for fellowship, when you are driven constantly by competition and comparison. And there is certainly no room for spiritual growth, because the focus is on YOU. Not God.

When you look to be developed, everything you do and think is motivated by:

- Humility: Where can I improve? How can I serve others in this position?

- Prayer: How can I be better aligned with God's will?

- Relationships: Who can I learn from? Who can I pour into?

If there's one thing I've learned, the pursuit of development  has eternal significance and the focus is entirely on being shaped by God and His Will. Discovery only lasts as long as it takes for a better opportunity to come along. Honestly, sometimes it doesn't have to be better, it just has to be new.

I want to be developed, not discovered. But wanting isn't going to change a thing. It's a start, but it doesn't fix anything. This blog post certainly won't. No amount or reading or talking or listening is going to change our focus. We have to fist take the focus off of ourselves and onto the one person who can change  us: Christ. If you want to be discovered, then any development that comes is superficial, just meant to move closer to the opportunity or job or respect or whatever that you're after.

But if you seek development, it doesn't matter what jobs or people or opportunities come or pass, because you will always be moving closer to Christ, closer to His likeness. And THAT is what lasts. Growing closer to Christ lasts far beyond any opportunity in this world.

"Why, you do not even know what will happen tomorrow. What is your life? You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes." James 4:14

No Longer a Wanderer

This is the first post I've written since changing my blog title from "Where My Mind Wanders" to "One Step Closer". The change came from the fact that I no longer want to be a wanderer. Right now, I'm experiencing a great deal of change in my life, from coming closer to graduation, to doing something new over the summer for the first time in 3 years, to the normal changes that happen to everyone every day. I'm surrounded by uncertainty and change and it is HARD. I'm not going to say I have no worries or doubts or fears, because I do. I have so many. I struggle with so many terrifying thoughts.

I don't have what it takes.

No one will listen to me.

I'm too weak to move on.

I'll lose touch with all of my friends.

No one can really love me.

And the fears don't end there. But, I believe that God surpasses all fears and all pain. When I have these thoughts, He is faithful in reminding me of the real truth.

I don't have what it takes. But God will be the One working through me.

No one will listen to me. God is always willing to listen.

I'm too weak to move on. But God is my strength.

I'll lose all of my friends. The Body of Christ is stronger than any distance, physical or otherwise. 

No one can really love me. Christ already proved his unfailing love on the Cross.

I don't want to wander through a sea of opportunities and thoughts day after day. It isn't about choosing the right opportunities. It's not even about the opportunities. No matter what opportunities I choose or pass up in my life, no matter who I meet or who I lose touch with, and no matter how many times I fail, I want to move towards the Lord in everything I do. In my successes and my failures. In my high points and my low points.

I don't want to wander. I want purpose. I want to have a destination. My destination is Christ. My journey in this life is to move closer to Him in every opportunity, every day.

 I'm done wandering.