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| Zoe M. McCarthy |
Here are 13 essential activities (verses in italics from the NIV):
1. Identify my problem. I’m specific in details.
Jonathan’s big problem:
- Israel had become a stench to the Philistines.
- The Philistines were ready to fight the Israelites.
- Saul had only 600 men to the Philistine’s 6000.
- Israelites were poorly armed; only Saul and Jonathan owned swords.
Jonathan said to his young armor-bearer, “Come, let’s go over to the Philistine outpost on the other side.”
3. Realize challenges will arise. They’re a sure thing. I’m alert and ready to deal with obstacles.
On each side of the pass that Jonathan intended to cross to reach the Philistine outpost was a cliff where Philistines were posted.
4. Recognize God is my essential resource. He’s the one who will give me success.
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| Image by AlejandroFaletti |
Jonathan said to his armor-bearer, “Perhaps the Lord will act in our behalf.”
5. Believe in God’s power. He can do anything.
Jonathan then said to his armor-bearer, “Nothing can hinder the Lord from saving, whether by many or few.”
6. Know my role. Am I a loyal follower, or a loyal leader?
Leader: Jonathan led his armor-bearer. “Come, let’s go over to the outpost of those uncircumcised men.”
Follower: “Do all that you have in mind, “his armor-bearer said, “Go ahead; I’m with you heart and soul.”
7. Make sure my actions are God’s will. I seek God before I act.
Jonathan set up a method to know God’s will. He said:
“Come on, then; we will cross over toward the men and let them see us. If they say to us, ‘Wait there until we come to you,’ we will stay where we are and not go up to them. But if they say, ‘Come up to us,’ we will climb up, because that will be our sign that the Lord has given them into our hands.”
8. Present myself for service. I courageously step out of my comfort zone.
So both men showed themselves to the Philistine outpost above them.
9. Proceed in complete trust. If God has called me, He’ll equip me.
The men of the outpost shouted to Jonathan and his armor-bearer, “Come up to us and we’ll teach you a lesson.”
So Jonathan said to his armor-bearer, “Climb up after me; the Lord has given them into the hand of Israel.”
10. Perform the hard prep work. I attack the obstacles in my way, moving forward and refusing to give up.
Jonathan climbed up, using his hands and feet, his armor-bearer right behind him.
11. Carry through with vital activities that solve the problem. I do what is right and necessary according to God’s will.
The Philistines fell before Jonathan, and his armor-bearer followed and killed behind him.
12. Recognize success. God’s definition, not mine. GOD + me = Success
In that first attack, Jonathan and his armor-bearer killed some twenty men in an area of about half an acre.
13. Praise and thank God. I give God credit for giving me success.
Two men killed 2o enemies with one sword. Without God, we’d see this success only in the movies.
What vital activity have you failed to do while you’ve attacked a big problem?
13 activities to perform to succeed in solving a big problem. Click to tweet.
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| About the Author |
Zoe M. McCarthy believes the little known fact that opposites distract. Thus, she spins Christian contemporary romances entangling extreme opposites. Her tagline is: Distraction to Attraction, Magnetic Romances Between Opposites. Christian Fiction Online Magazine published two of her short stories. Zoe self-published two books of contemporary Christian short stories. She’s a member of American Christian Fiction Writers. She enjoys leading workshops on the craft of writing; speaking about her faith; planning fun events for her 5 grandchildren; and exploring the Blue Ridge Mountains, where she lives with her husband, John.
Learn more about Zoe M. McCarthy at her website: http://zoemmccarthy.com.
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| Calculated Risk by Zoe M. McCarthy |
What happens when an analytical numbers man meets a mercurial marketing Rep? Romance is a calculated risk…
Jilted by the latest of her father’s choices of “real men,” Cisney Baldwin rashly accepts an invitation to spend Thanksgiving weekend with a sympathetic colleague and his family. Nick LeCrone is a man too much her opposite to interest her and too mild-mannered to make her overbearing father’s “list.” Now, Cisney fears Nick wants to take advantage of her vulnerable state over the holiday. Boy, is she wrong.
Nick wants little to do with Cisney. She drives him crazy with all her sticky notes and quirks. He extended an invitation because he felt sorry for her. Now he’s stuck, and to make matters worse, his family thinks she’s his perfect match. He’ll do what he can to keep his distance, but there’s just one problem—he’s starting to believe Cisney’s magnetism is stronger than he can resist.
Purchase links for Calculated Risk: http://zoemmccarthy.com/books
