Taking Initiative

I decided this was not the time to beat around the bush.

Luke 16:1-9

Reference: “The master commended the dishonest manager because he had acted shrewdly. For the people of this world are more shrewd in dealing with their own kind than are the people of the light. (‭Luke‬ ‭16‬:‭8‬ NIV)

Explore: I recently had a friend ask me for advice when applying for a new job. It’s not that I am a careers expert, but I had worked in the organisation in the past and she was keen to hear my thoughts on her application process.

I decided this was not the time to beat around the bush. My friend was needing honesty and she had come specifically to me to find it.

I started out by outlining the many strengths my friend has and how advantageous these would be in the role she was applying for. But the one growth area she would have to work hard on was to come up with her own solutions.

The organisation she was interested in was fast paced and under resourced and the only people who survived the role were those who were able to move forward with their own initiative.  I believed she had it in her but she would have to work very hard to bring that side of her into the new role.

Application: Everyone has strengths to bring to a job position but often people hold off on taking initiative. And yet this happens in every work place!

While I’m a big believer in relying on God, I’m also passionate about people using the gifts and abilities God has blessed them with to make decisions and move things forward. It’s not always easy, but God acknowledges those who take initiative.

There are times when you feel like you’re putting your neck out for others, but that’s when your faith truly becomes real. We trust God will hold us no matter what the outcome.

Prayer: Lord, work places can be tricky places at times. Give us your wisdom and discernment to take initiative in what we are called to complete. Amen.

Where do you need to take some initiative?

future, growth, initiative, Luke, strengths, work