Pastor Steven Furtick

Archive for the ‘Motivation’ Category

2 Lies the Devil Loves to Tell God’s Children

| Motivation, Spiritual Growth

The devil is a liar. That’s all he is, and he’s good at what he does.

He’ll tell you whatever he needs to tell you in order to trip you up, or keep you down.

And he’ll change up the delivery of his message depending on what you’re going through.
So when you’re suffering a trial, the devil will whisper a message of hopelessness to you.
He’ll say something like:
This will never end.

On the other hand, when you’re in a season of blessing, the devil will try to shake your confidence by telling you the exact opposite:
This will never last.

But trials do end. Joy comes in the morning. There is a mountain of victory on the other side of your valley.

And blessings do last. Even though seasons change, God’s favor is forever. He who began a good work in you will be faithful to complete it.

Don’t let the devil twist the truth.
Catch him in his lies, and stand on what God says.

One Day…

| Motivation, Personal Development

Two words can disqualify every dream you’ve ever had:
One day.

One day I’m going to start my own business.
One day I’m going to move overseas.
One day I’m going to live wholeheartedly for Christ.
One day I’m going to lose weight.
One day I’m going to make a difference.

If you’re not careful, one day becomes the next day, and the next day becomes the next day, and the next day becomes…

The best time to start a diet is tomorrow.
The best time to start making a difference tomorrow.
The best time to do anything is tomorrow…

…if you don’t want to ever actually do it.
Tomorrow always comes but the dream never happens.

Stop waiting.
There’s only one day that’s appropriate to start chasing your dream:
Today.

Make today your “one day.”

Resource of the Day: If you want to get started, but aren’t sure where to begin, download the Small is the New Big series on Elevation’s video podcast.

The $320,000 Kindergarten Teacher

| Motivation

I read an article last year about the true value of a good kindergarten teacher that shocked and encouraged me.

The average kindergarten teacher makes around $30,000 a year. Research, however, has estimated that when you take into account the additional money kids who have a good kindergarten teacher go on to make, they are actually worth about $320,000 a year.

That’s not a typo. Really, they’re making 10x the impact their salary indicates.

It just goes to show you that what you do can’t define what you’re worth. That your salary does not necessarily correspond to your real value.

I think that should be encouraging for a lot of you.

For those of you who are working jobs where you’re pouring yourself out for the good of others or the Kingdom but not getting heavily compensated, you need to know that you’re more valuable than the number on your paycheck. What you’re doing and the impact you’re making is significant, even if your salary package isn’t.

For all of the people who volunteer during their free time to make their church run, I need you to know that you’re the real heroes and your investment is reaping eternal rewards. Just because you’re not making a paycheck doesn’t mean you’re not making a difference.

I doubt any of us are getting $320,000 raises any time soon. But maybe in the mean time we could give our perspectives a $320,000 raise and see that the value of what we’re doing is far greater than the money that we’re making.

Your worth is determined by the God who is in you and the impact He’s making through you. And believe me, it actually makes the $320,000 look like chump change.

Resource of the Day: For any of you who volunteer in a church, if you want to know just how much of an impact you really do make, check out a sermon I preached a few years back called “No-Show Sunday.” In one of the craziest moves we’ve ever made, we  gave all of our volunteers the weekend off. It was chaotic, but it proved a point: our volunteers are the most valuable resource we have.

Upon Further Review

| Motivation, Spiritual Growth

As he approached the town gate, a dead person was being carried out—the only son of his mother, and she was a widow…When the Lord saw her, his heart went out to her and he said, “Don’t cry.” Then he went up and touched the coffin, and those carrying it stood still. He said, “Young man, I say to you, get up!” The dead man sat up and began to talk, and Jesus gave him back to his mother.
Luke 7:12-15

This widow’s son. Lazarus. The son of the Shunammite.

All of them looked dead. Were dead.
But then in one instant, everything changed.

Life was reintroduced.
Hope was rekindled.
Vitality was restored.

It reminds of how sometimes in football, the officials will come out after a play or a call has left a team dead in the water. Everything appears hopeless. The game or the opportunity looks over. But then after they have looked at the tape, the officials will say, “upon further review,” and overturn the play or the call. And in one instant, everything changes.

Every dead area of your life is available for further review from God’s life-giving power.

Maybe a relationship in your life just fell apart.
Maybe you lost your job last year.
Maybe you’ve made some terrible mistakes that have cost you a lot of time and opportunity.

It looks like a dead situation.
But it’s not over as long as Jesus is on the scene.

Upon further review, He can restore your relationships.
Upon further review, He can supply all your needs.
Upon further review, He can forgive you and make you whole.

Most of us give up on God too easily.
Don’t lose hope.

With God, nothing in your life is ever beyond its resuscitation point.