W2D6 - Organization

"Not only was the Teacher wise, but he also imparted knowledge to the people. He pondered and searched out and set in order many proverbs" - Ecclesiastes 12:9.

The Teacher in this verse was not only a wise teacher, but he was also a good researcher and skilled organizer. God wants to expand your leadership and influence, but your lack of organization where time and things are concerned may be hindering your growth, and even cause your influence to shrink and be less than it could be. If you are spending large amounts of time going through work to get to work, or if you are resisting new opportunities because you don't know how to organize your world, then perhaps you are thwarting God's plan for your life -- all because you can't or won't organize.

LEADERSHIP STEP: Is your disorganization or inability to organize the 'more' that God sends you costing you your leadership effectiveness? Then it's time to change or you will increasingly miss opportunities for growth and promotion. Find someone in your world of relationships today and get their input on what you can do to restructure your time, your work tools, or your work schedule. Once you have talked to that person, look for another and another so you can structure your world of work or ministry.


Pearl 363: Big

TOPIC: Organization and Size

"All the men assigned to the camp of Judah,
according to their divisions, number 186,400.
They will set out first" - Numbers 2:9.

God is not initimidated by bigness. It is as easy for Him to lead, administer and provide for a million as it is a hundred. If God is not overwhelmed by size, then you should not be either. Yet at times it is possible to resist 'big' and even consider 'big' unspiritual. You don't want to be working toward 'small' when God has 'big' in mind, for then you are resisting God's plan for your family, ministry or business. Are you intimidated by the thoughts of overseeing something large? Are you actively working to keep your world small and manageable by your current skill? Can you understand why God may want 'big'?

Lord, I admit that I am biased against big at times because it will stretch my comfort zone beyone what I think is appropriate. Forgive me where I have limited Your work and my involvement in it. My vision and faith are too small, and that is why I work to shrink my world instead of expanding my capacity.


Pearl 358: A Man Named Nehemiah

TOPIC: Organization and Purpose

"The men of Jericho built the adjoining section,
and Zakkur son of Imri built next to them. The
Fish Gate was rebuilt by the sons of Hassenaah.
They laid its beams and put its doors and bolts
and bars in place" - Nehemiah 3:2-3.

Nehemiah's purpose was to rebuild Jerusalem, a big task involving many people, some friendly to his cause, some not. He had to give significant thought to how he was going to organize his effort and the efforts in these verses provide just a glimpse from God's inspired word of who did what to rebuild the wall, the first step in Nehemiah's purpose plan. What thought have you given to how you will achieve your purpose work? How are you organizing your life, things and world to make it happen? What changes do you need to make to be more effective and fruitful?

Lord, I have had big dreams and plans, but often they break down in the implementation process. In other words, I have not known how, and sometimes not wanted, to make the changes necessary to rearrange my world to fulfill my purpose. Help me to do so and help me to help others as well. Amen.


Pearl 354: Details

TOPIC: Organization and Productivity

"With this in mind, since I myself have carefully
investigated everything from the beginning, I
too decided to write an orderly account for you,
most excellent Theophilus, so that you may know
the certainty of the things you have been taught" - Luke 1:3-4.

Luke was a scientist of sorts, so he was accustomed to being meticulous in his work. So when he went to write a gospel, he organized his work carefully. First, he investigated thoroughly; then he decided to write his findings in an orderly, chronological format. Finally, he had so much material that he ended up writing his gospel and what we know to be the book of Acts. All throughout his work, Luke evidenced a profound ability to organize his work and thoughts. What about you? Do you invest the same attention to organizational detail in your work? What can you do to improve in the coming year?

Lord, I see that even when you use someone, there is no substitute for clear thought and organization. Success is never haphazard or an accident, but rather You work with and promote those who can keep Your call and work from being buried in confusion and disorder. Help me handle the details well.


Pearl 347: God Has a Plan

TOPIC: Organization and God's Help

“Set up the tabernacle according
to the plan shown you on the mountain" - Exodus 26:30.

Moses was not given creative license to set it up as he saw fit, for God had a plan for how this was to teach the Israelites and foreshadow Christ. Not only did the Lord direct Moses as to how he was to build the tabernacle, He also gave him directions how to set it up. If you need help witih organizing your life and work, then the place to go is to God and trust His Spirit to lead you in the way you should go. Are you drawing on all that God has for you as you organize your day, your work, your life? Where is your organizational plan the weakest? Why do you think that is so? Is it out of fear? Is there someone God has placed in your life who can help you with this deficiency?

Lord, I don't want to overspiritualize my work, expecting You to do what You have directed me to do. Yet I need Your help and input on how to organize my life! I trust You to send the right people and information into my world, and I will carry out Your plan down to the smallest detail.  Amen.


Pearl 345: The Pattern

TOPIC: Organizational Wisdom

"Make this tabernacle and all its furnishings
exactly like the pattern I will show you" - Exodus 25:9.

God is an excellent administrator and organizer. He knows the end from the beginning and is always on budget and on time. What's more, He is willing to share His 'expertise' with any and all who ask. Therefore you would be wise to draw on His expertise to organize your world, whatever that world involves, whether family, ministry or business, into whatever and wherever your purpose may take you. Do you need some organizational help? Can you humble yourself and admit today you need that help? How can you draw on God's wisdom - through others, His Word, or the example of historical figures?

Lord, I don't want my world to run itself because I have shrunk it to its most manageable size. I want to do and have all You intend for me and, no matter how large to me, it's all manageable to You. Give me wisdom for how to organize my world and I vow to apply what You show me, exactly like the pattern You reveal.


Pearl 336: Your Mark

TOPIC: Organization and Lifestyle

"Then Simon Peter came along behind him and went straight into the tomb. He saw the strips of linen lying there, as well as the cloth that had been wrapped around Jesus’  head. The cloth was still lying in its place, separate from the linen" - John 20:6-7.

There was something about the placement of Jesus' facecloth that caught Peter's attention. It was not discarded casually or thrown on the floor of the tomb. It was lying 'in its place.' Maybe this indicated that Jesus had not escaped in haste or perhaps it was a distinguishing mark unique to Jesus, something those close to Him would have known about his attention to detail or his tendency to organize a certain way. What is your organizing 'mark'? Is it sloppiness and haphazard work habits, or is there a pattern and rhythm to your work world that is distinctive to you so you can keep your commitments? What can you do to improve in this area of life?

Lord, You built organization into Your creation, for the sun rises and sets at a predictable time, with seasons starting and ending on a certain day. I want and need that kind of structure and routine if I am going to succeed in the work You gave me to do. Help me overcome my bad habits so I can organize. Let me be known for my order and not for my chaos.


Pearl 273: Rhythm

TOPIC: Organization and Worship

"Then he said to them, 'The Sabbath was made for man,
not man for the Sabbath. So the Son of Man is Lord
even of the Sabbath'" - Mark 2:27-28.

God directed man to organize work around some time to rest. The Jews made the Sabbath a special day filled with legalistic parameters, but Jesus tried to correct that attitude and received more than a little opposition. The Sabbath was to be a time of rest and a change of pace from the workaday world - along with a time to worship God. That will require that you establish a weekly rhythm to your schedule. Do you organize your world to include rest and refreshment? What do you do to refresh? With whom? Is worship part of your organizational strategy?

Lord, I don't want to be rigid and inflexible where organizing my life is concerned, but I don't want to be scattered and unfocused either. I need to make worship and rest part of my life's rhythm and that will require me to make and keep my priorities as I structure my life. Help me to have the focus I need.


Pearl 272: Fitting God In

TOPIC: Organization and Routine    

“Three times a year you are to
celebrate a festival to me" - Exodus 23:14.

Israel was not to fit God into their busy schedule. Rather, they were to arrange their schedule around God's priorities and make the trip to Jerusalem, no matter how inconvenient or costly. That is how your routine should be.  You don't fit in church worship service, for instance, but instead you schedule your week around church.  You don't work God into your professional schedule; you organize your professional schedule around God. Is this perspective correct? Is that possible in today's busy world? What would it cost you to do what is being suggested here? What changes would you have to make?

Lord, I confess that I have become so busy that I look to fit You into my schedule, whether that's fulfilling my purpose, serving others or contributing my gifts and time in my church. Help me, Lord, to change my perspective and then to have the courage to rearrange my world around Your priorities.


Pearl 271: Heavenly Order

TOPIC: Organization and Spirituality

“Dominion and awe belong to God;
    he establishes order in the heights of heaven" - Job 25:2.

When you think of it, heaven is an organized entity. There is rank among the angels, clarity of communication, assignments given, understood and carried out and punctuality (God is always on time). There is never confusion and everything is in its place and functioning properly. If God values order in heaven, He must also value it here on earth, for the Lord's prayer states, "Your will be done here as it is in heaven." Does your world reflect the order of heaven?  Do you place a high value on this kind of order? Does that fact that order if important to God make it more important to you?

Lord, organization must be a spiritual exercise, for You carry it out in the heights of heaven!  If it's that important to You, then I accept the fact that it's important here in my earthly world. Give me Your vision for the role of order and I vow to carry it out to the best of my ability in the world You have assigned me here.