What would you do if you knew a storm was coming? Would you stick your head in the sand? Would you run? Be honest with yourself: What is your tendency when trial and tribulation are clear to see on the horizon?

Now, let me ask you: What do you hope your response will be? Again, be honest with yourself; and write down your answer. Seriously, write it down.

I recently met with a young entrepreneur who has his eye on the horizon – with understanding of the coming storm. It surprised me to learn that he was in the midst of a new business startup. So I asked him, “How do you find the energy and optimism required to build a successful business in these troubling times?” His answer is the inspiration for our next two preemptive responses (you can find the first two in part one of this series).

Preemptive Response #3: Reckon it to be true that nothing in this world can prevent God from accomplishing what He has planned for the one that has surrendered to His purposes. Psalm 37:4 promises that God will give us the desires of our heart, if we are soft toward Him. Job recognized that no purpose of God shall be denied Him (v. 42:2). Romans 8:28 tells us that all things work together for the good of those who love Him and are called to His purpose. Reckoning is a powerful practice. It is accounting what God says is true to be true for us. This is not a positive reinforcement technique. It is more than the power of positive thinking… because the power is not in our thinking, but in the thing we are thinking about: The truth of God.

Preemptive Response #4: Live for eternity like you are dying soon. My young entrepreneur friend is also the father of two young boys. As much as he wants to leave a financial legacy for them, he is much more interested and focused on leaving them a spiritual legacy. He has found more joy and peace in the adventure, by focusing on God’s bigger plan. He has discovered how to have more impact for God’s kingdom by living each day with purpose, as if it were his last. This is a mindset that we must fight to obtain and protect.

Let me know if you are interested in learning more about renewing the mind through reckoning and living out of God’s greater purpose. It would be a blessing to supply you with the resources God has so graciously provided our ministry.

Humbly yours and His forever,

Rob Streetman; President, inLight Consulting, Inc.