Inspiration from New Life Church

Today's Word

Keep your heart with all vigilance, for from it flow the springs of life. ~Prov. 4:23 (One modern translation puts it this way)......Be careful how you think; your life is shaped by your thoughts.....

Today's Thought

The title on your business card may prompt people to lend you their hands, but only your moral authority will inspire them to give you their hearts.

Moral authority is established when it becomes clear to all that progress, financial reward and recognition are not your gods; that you value something more, something you refuse to sacrifice on the altar of profit or popularity.

With moral authority comes influence. You can manage people without moral authority but you can't influence them.

Wake up! Talking one way and living another "wounds" you, and depending on time and circumstance, you may or may not recover from it.

You can tell yourself that how you conduct your private life is nobody's business, but if there's a perceived difference between what you demand of others and what you do yourself, it'll erode people's respect for you. While your position may make you secure, your influence and moral authority will always remain fragile. At any given time you're only one decision, one word, one reaction away from destroying what took years to build.

There can be no high civility without a deep morality. ~ Ralph Waldo Emerson

"Why is it important to know this?" you ask. Because the fastest route from where you are today to where you'd like to be tomorrow, isn't always the most honorable one. Leading, and being the person you want to be, don't always line up. It's in those moments, however that you discover a great deal about yourself - you find out what you value most!

Today's Prayer

Father In Heaven; I don't want to "Just" lead my family or those around me I want to "Influence" them for You and Your kingdom. I am determined to become a Moral Person, a person of Integrity. I know I need Your help to become this. So touch my life, my heart, my mind with Your Power & Presence. In Jesus Name. ~Amen.