Good News to Propel You Forward!

Good-News

I promise – the world is not falling apart! I know it can feel that way with the abundance of bad news! Honestly, I don’t think things are any worse than they’ve been in the past, but, thanks to social media, there are just more avenues for the bad news to travel. And with fewer people buying newspapers or tuning into the news on TV, the media often presents news stories in dramatic ways in an attempt to grab your attention and increase the number of viewers.

Being bombarded with bad news does nothing good for you! In fact, it can actually have physical and psychological consequences. Did you know that, according to Graham C.L. Davey Ph. D. steady stream of negative news contributes to…

  • Stress
  • Anxiety
  • Sadness
  • Worry
  • Negative moods
  • PSTD in vulnerable individuals

All of the above also take a toll on your health!

It takes a whole lot of positive news to compensate for all the negative news! That’s why today I want to share some GOOD NEWS with you! After all, focusing on the good stuff lessens stress, anxiety, and worry, while brightening your mood!

Let’s get to it! Here’s some great news to help you live and lead more effectively today:

1. You are IMPERFECT

This might not seem like good news or new news! Sadly, none of us have yet to achieve perfection! What you may not know is why that’s a wonderful thing.

Here’s the GOOD NEWS: God chooses to use imperfect people to do His work! Yep! Think about it, God uses the most unlikely people – here are just a few examples…

  • Moses, who struggled to speak .(Exodus 4:10)
  • Rahab, a prostitute. Ordinarily, women are not mentioned in genealogies, yet in Matthew 1:5 Rahab, a non-Hebrew, is mentioned despite her questionable background in the lineage of Christ.
  • David – a mere youngster when God chose him to be king, even though God was not confused about the fact that he would have an affair with Bathsheba and have her husband murdered. (I Samuel 16/2 Samuel 11)
  • Peter – an impulsive guy who thought more highly of himself that he should have. Even though he denied knowing Jesus three times just like Jesus said he would, God still chose to use him in an integral way in building the church! (Mark 14:28-31, 66-72, & John 21:15-19, Acts 1:14-47)

When imperfect people do unexpectedly great things, it allows God to truly shine. It’s not hard to figure out that God had to be involved.

No doubt there’s that weakness in your life that you feel certain has disqualified you or will keep you from successfully pulling off whatever God’s given you to do. And that’s why knowing that God loves to use imperfect people is GOOD NEWS!

What imperfections does God want to shine through in you?

2. You have a PURPOSE

Having a purpose is a big deal! It goes a long way towards guiding your choices. You might be surprised to learn that purpose is less about lofty goals like becoming the next Billy Graham or Mother Teresa and much more about being who God created you to BE right here, right now. Your purpose is to reflect Him in your unique way.

More often than not, your way of reflecting Him will take you places you never dreamed, but the GOOD NEWS is that you can walk in your purpose today!

Helping people like you hone in on their purpose – that’s just one of the aspects of coaching that tickles my fancy! How about you – have you zeroed in on your purpose; your way of being that reflects Him?

3. You have the power of PRAYER

Years ago when my oldest two children were small, my then two and a half year-old daughter suddenly went missing in a department store. My husband and I frantically searched, but were unable to find her. We enlisted the help of store employees and continued the search for what felt like hours. A missing child is troubling, but this missing child also suffered from a chronic immune disorder compounding our concern.

After searching for about a half hour, we finally located our daughter in the dressing room gazing into the mirror and repeating over and over again “I’m pretty” utterly unaware of the panic she’d caused.

Sometimes you and I are like my daughter – completely confident and utterly unaware of our vulnerabilities. When self-assured I am prone to wander off thinking I’ve got life, work, business, and ministry. Nothing could be further from the truth! I desperately need God help, guidance, protection, and more in all areas of my life including leading – it’s no simple task!

And wherever you lead, you need all the help you can get as well. God longs to care for, protect, and participate with you like my husband and I yearned to care for my daughter.

God wants you to share your challenges with Him as well as your dreams and desires. He’s eager to work on your behalf if you will allow Him to and you are flexible about what that might look like.

That’s why the power of prayer is GOOD NEWS! What a blessing it is to be able to converse with God no matter how things are going. In fact, God loves it when we include Him in the conversation from the beginning, rather than waiting to invite Him into the process when you’re challenged, desperate, and have tried everything else.

Prayer is not an easy way to get what you want; it’s about getting to know God better so that you trust Him to care for you even in the worst situations. Prayer is about changing you, so that you can then make a difference as you make changes.

How can you prayerfully include Him daily in your life and leadership – not just when challenges arise? And what if including Him made it possible for you to stop stressing and striving? Wouldn’t that be more GOOD NEWS?

Sometimes the craziest thing about GOOD NEWS is how easily we let bad news overshadow it and capture our attention. And whatever you give attention to… that’s what grows!

What GOOD NEWS do you want to focus on?

 

© Can Stock Photo / yupiramos

Marvae Eikanas

Marvae Eikanas is an author, entrepreneur, ICF certified coach, Career Direct Consultant, DISC consultant, and HBDI practitioner. She helps her coaching clients sharpen their skills, face their fears, eliminate funky mindsets, hone their habits, and cultivate clarity so they can THRIVE personally and professionally. Schedule a consultation with Marvae here.

4 Comments

  1. April on November 1, 2017 at 8:12 am

    I like your reminder that God used (and continues to use!) people with blatant weaknesses. Sometimes I’ve wondered how my life and service would be different if I were a perfect instrument in God’s hand. It is reassuring to realize God will use a willing heart, whatever our state of imperfection. Thanks for pointing out the good news!

    • Marvae on November 1, 2017 at 9:43 am

      I am so glad that God uses people with blatant weaknesses since I have no chance of being a perfect instrument. your are right! He cares so much more about the state of our heart and out willingness. That’s very good news!

  2. Miriam on November 14, 2017 at 8:09 pm

    I think sometimes we forget we are to be Christ like, not Christ. We were not designed to be perfect. In light of the resent tragic events, I have started focusing on the goodness that comes from them. Yes there have been many hurt, wounded and even murdered, but I watch for those hugging, praying together, helping each other, reaching out in love.

    • Marvae on November 14, 2017 at 8:58 pm

      Thanks for sharing how you keep your focus on the goodness that comes from tragic events Miriam. It’s there is we choose to see it!

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