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Waiting for Promotion?

Waiting for a promotion? There are kingdom principles that can make this time precious as the days tick by. Perhaps, you have been in your position for quite some time and are long overdue for a deserved and much needed promotion. Or, in this time of high unemployment, you may even be waiting to be promoted to getting a job! Just know there is never wasted time in God's economics.

Stay focused on Him!

Recently, I heard a minister tell a story about his less than courageous bulldog, Chloe. He related several instances of trauma in his dog's life span that had not been conducive for developing confidence. But one day as they were out for a walk together, Chloe seemed to be feeling self-assured and alert. Suddenly, a large trash truck began coming their direction, making deafening noises as it picked up the trash along the street. To Chloe it appeared to be a vicious monster ready to snatch her off the sidewalk and she froze in her tracks. The owner looked down at his terrified pet and said reassuringly, "It's ok, Chloe. I'm right here and I won't let anything hurt you." Then as he gently coaxed his pet to continue walking, Chloe looked up at her owner and never took her eyes off her master's face as they passed by the boisterous truck. That eye contact gave her the courage to walk right past something that seemed overwhelmingly huge and scary. The same is true for us. Our Master has a sure-footed perspective and absolute love for His children. If we keep gazing into His eyes, we will pass by on the other side.

Develop your skills and learn new skills

Using this time to develop your skill sets and even learn new skills is wise. Perhaps you've been laid off (or made redundant as our English friends say) from a good paying job. If it wasn't the job you had originally dreamed you would be pursuing, it could be time to dust off those old dreams in your heart and hone new skills for the next adventure.

I read a story in Reader's Digest this week about a single mom who was juggling three jobs and raising two children. One day it occurred to her that life's obligations had overshadowed her dreams of writing a novel. So, during her hectic daily routines, she began finding time slots to start writing her dream novel on a yellow pad. Her first book sold to a small publisher. Her second book landed a contract worth 15 times more than her three "jobs." Since then, she has supported herself full-time as a writer and one of her novels, Must Love Dogs, became the basis of a 2005 movie that has put her children through college.

Allow His patience to develop inside of you

Allowing His patience to develop inside of you will produce an awesome attitude, a plus that cannot be experienced in perfect circumstances.

Instead of nursing feelings of rejection and fear during this waiting time, read James 1:3-4 "Be assured and understand that the trial and proving of your faith bring out endurance and steadfastness and patience. But let endurance and stead-fastness and patience have full play and do a thorough work, so that you may be [people] perfectly and fully developed [with no defects], lacking in nothing."

Wow, no defects! Lacking in nothing. And heirs to a great positive attitude and confidence the world can't take away!

Count your blessings

Gratitude is a key to surviving days of waiting for circumstances to improve. There is even scientific evidence that practicing gratitude has positive effects on your body...and circumstances!

In her book, Thank You Power, Deborah Norville noted that seventy-two percent of Americans were depressed post 9/11. Researchers sought out people who had scored high on resilience tests before the incident and found they were not only handling it better but many had more positive emotions than before! Deborah writes, "The ability to find positive meaning even during those frightening days following the attack is what seemed to make the difference. Rather than focus on the horror of the lives lost and shock that America was under siege, resilient people focused on the nations renewed patriotism, the outpouring of charity, and the concern for one another that was widely expressed at the time."

In other words, those who met the crisis with thanksgiving and without anxiety, found a powerful peace and resilience that boosted their energy, morale and hope in the future.

Phillipians 4:6-7 "Do not fret or have any anxiety about anything, but in every circumstance and in everything, by prayer and petition (definite requests), with thanksgiving, continue to make your wants known to God. And God's peace [shall be yours, that tranquil state of a soul assured of its salvation through Christ, and so fearing nothing from God and being content with its earthly lot of whatever sort that is, that peace] which transcends all understanding shall garrison and mount guard over your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus."

Waiting for a promotion? You have plenty to do! Keep looking up. Tackle a new skill or hone current ones. Let His patience grow on the inside of you. And grab that pen and paper and begin making a list of all you have to be grateful for!

And remember,"Do not, therefore, fling away your fearless confidence, for it carries a great and glorious compensation of reward...promotion!" (Hebrews 10:35)

Ellene Meece lives in Meeker, Colorado and works with her husband in their natural resource company while running her own online store, http://www.Grandmastreasuresonline.com. Currently, she oversees the marketing for the FMIN Workplace Leaders Network.

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