What to Do When It Seems Like It's Taking Too Long
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2. or you quit
The San Antonio Spurs, one of the most successful teams in NBA history, have a quote hanging in their locker room: “When nothing seems to help, I go and look at a stonecutter hammering away at his rock, perhaps a hundred times without as much as a crack showing in it. Yet at the hundred and first blow it will split in two, and I know it was not that last blow that did it—but all that had gone before.”
Illustrations
Ice
Bamboo
Working out / diet
You do what Jesus tells you to do, but you see no change on the outside
Breakthrough moments are often the result of many previous actions, which build up the potential required to unleash a major change.
On the following day, when they came from Bethany, he was hungry.
And seeing in the distance a fig tree in leaf, he went to see if he could find anything on it. When he came to it, he found nothing but leaves, for it was not the season for figs.
And he said to it, “May no one ever eat fruit from you again.” And his disciples heard it.
As they passed by in the morning, they saw the fig tree withered away to its roots.
And Peter remembered and said to him, “Rabbi, look! The fig tree that you cursed has withered.”
And Jesus answered them, “Have faith in God.
Truly, I say to you, whoever says to this mountain, ‘Be taken up and thrown into the sea,’ and does not doubt in his heart, but believes that what he says will come to pass, it will be done for him.
Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours.
Mark 11:20-24
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Fig tree - Jesus spoke to the tree and nothing changed outwardly on the tree.
Fig tree - Jesus spoke to the tree and nothing changed outwardly on the tree.
1. You do what Jesus tells you to do, but you see no change on the outside
2. or you quit
The San Antonio Spurs, one of the most successful teams in NBA history, have a quote hanging in their locker room: “When nothing seems to help, I go and look at a stonecutter hammering away at his rock, perhaps a hundred times without as much as a crack showing in it. Yet at the hundred and first blow it will split in two, and I know it was not that last blow that did it—but all that had gone before.”
Illustrations
Ice
Bamboo
Working out / diet
Breakthrough moments are often the result of many previous actions, which build up the potential required to unleash a major change.
In jail as a slave in Potiphar’s house he was already a success and his results got the attention to his of his overseers. They saw that he was a success in all that he did. What was it that they saw? He did his work with excellence.
In jail as a slave in Potiphar’s house he was already a success and his results got the attention to his of his overseers. They saw that he was a success in all that he did. What was it that they saw? He did his work with excellence.
He had a dependency upon God which propelled him to prosperity. He had habits daily habits that lead to future victories and promotion and favor.
He was successful doing small tasks and was given greater responsibility. He got promoted. He operated with excellence.
The Lord was with Joseph, and he became a successful man, and he was in the house of his Egyptian master.
His master saw that the Lord was with him and that the Lord caused all that he did to succeed in his hands.
Illustrations
Ice
Bamboo
Working out / diet
Be committed to the process every day
Be committed to the process every day
And Pharaoh said to his servants, “Can we find a man like this, in whom is the Spirit of God?”
Then Pharaoh said to Joseph, “Since God has shown you all this, there is none so discerning and wise as you are.
You shall be over my house, and all my people shall order themselves as you command. Only as regards the throne will I be greater than you.”
And Pharaoh said to Joseph, “See, I have set you over all the land of Egypt.”
Then Pharaoh took his signet ring from his hand and put it on Joseph’s hand, and clothed him in garments of fine linen and put a gold chain about his neck.
And he made him ride in his second chariot. And they called out before him, “Bow the knee!” Thus he set him over all the land of Egypt.
Moreover, Pharaoh said to Joseph, “I am Pharaoh, and without your consent no one shall lift up hand or foot in all the land of Egypt.”
Joseph did get here overnight. A series of commitment to excellence led to his breakthrough.
Joseph did get here overnight. A series of commitment to excellence led to his breakthrough.
Now as they went on their way, Jesus entered a village. And a woman named Martha welcomed him into her house.
And she had a sister called Mary, who sat at the Lord’s feet and listened to his teaching.
But Martha was distracted with much serving. And she went up to him and said, “Lord, do you not care that my sister has left me to serve alone? Tell her then to help me.”
But the Lord answered her, “Martha, Martha, you are anxious and troubled about many things,
but one thing is necessary. Mary has chosen the good portion, which will not be taken away from her.”
Prayer/Reading/Study/Meditation/Hearing/Confession
Develop good habits
Be committed to the process every day