TAKE INITIATIVE

Luke 12:57 TLB

Why do you refuse to see for yourselves what is right?

 

Initiative is the power or opportunity to act or take charge before others do and the ability to assess and start things independently. 

Judging for yourself what is right is taking the initiative to act and speak by your own initiative, independent of any external influence. 

We often hear things like, “Use your initiative, don’t you know how to do things by yourself? Why can’t you do things without being told?” and many more. 

At some point in life, we are expected—as we expect others too—to know what to do and get on with doing it without another person fact-checking us. 

James 4:17 declares that it is sinful if we know what to do but fail to do it. That means the sin of omission is as sinful as the sin of commission. “I don’t know” is never an excuse! 

We take initiative in every area of our lives except, it seems, in the spiritual. We seek and need someone else to tell us how to run our spiritual race, often to the detriment of our destinies and the will of the Father. 

“What shall I do?” is an everyday question we all ask ourselves or others, either because we are confused or looking for information, instead of going straight to God for direction and then carrying it out by divine wisdom, as Paul did in Acts 22:10. We can also get information and directions from the Lord just as Paul did by asking what to do. 

Taking initiative is deliberately taking a step to intentionally do something outside the expected, like the Gibeonites in Joshua 9:4, who took the initiative (albeit a foolish one) to seek self-preservation from Israel by cunning calculation. Their initiative was a good step but leaned too much on the wrong idea and action. 

Do you take initiative in your spiritual walk according to Philippians 2:12? We must take the initiative to be intentional in the things of the kingdom; otherwise, there will always be a reason and excuse why we can’t walk according to the doctrines of Scripture. Initiative was what set Joseph apart from others in Potiphar's house in Genesis 39:5. 

Circumstances and challenges will sometimes tempt us to ignore the basic principles of Scripture like Proverbs 3:27-28, which shows that we must take initiative in quickly fulfilling responsibilities of justice and charity as prescribed by the Lord. 

The book of Proverbs is a gold mine on how to exercise initiative, especially in godly ways that flow into our daily lives. 

As Matthew 5:16 says, let your light shine wherever you are. The initiative we exhibit is what makes the light shine brighter and be noticed. It is that initiative—even in the face of pain and challenges—that leads us to offer a shoulder for others to lean on and an ear for someone hurting to pour out to. 

They say it takes initiative to get ahead in life. That means when opportunity presents itself, we have the choice to act however we choose—initiative! As believers, we must discern if the initiative we take is right, wrong, godly, or moral, which is why we must, according to Ezekiel 36:27, allow the Spirit of the Lord within us to guide and help us take godly initiatives. 

Will you take the initiative to do the work of the kingdom while there is time? 

REFLECTION QUESTIONS 

- Am I proactive in my spiritual life, or do I wait for others to show me what to do? 

- How can I discern whether my initiatives align with God’s will? 

- What specific action can I take today to demonstrate initiative in serving God and others? 

- Do I allow the Holy Spirit to guide me before I take steps on my own? 

PRAYER: Lord, may I realise the significance of the day in which we live, and take the initiative by Your Spirit to put my faith in You always. In Jesus’ name, Amen. 

https://creators.spotify.com/pod/profile/womenoflight/episodes/TAKE-INITIATIVE-e381jlm

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