Key 10 - Building a Winning Team

Winning teams don’t just happen. They are built. There is a boss or head coach that orchestrates the team building process. You have to be the one who purposely builds a winning team to help you win in life. Many people go through life without ever thinking about the importance of surrounding themselves with as many great people as possible. I have also met individuals who think they can make it without the help of others.

There is a saying that “the banana that is away from the bunch is the first one to get peeled.” This saying is letting us know that we are safer when we are surrounded by others than when we are by ourselves. The reason that fish swim in schools is that they are less likely to be eaten when they are with others. In the same way, it is wise to surround ourselves with family, friends and church members who love us and are there to help us. Even the Lone Ranger had Tonto! The Bible also teaches us that we will have victory when we have many wise counselors: “Plans fail for lack of counsel, but with many advisers they succeed” (Proverbs 15:22). Wounded Heart pg. 87

Over the years, I have had to learn the importance of connecting and surrounding myself with good people. Whether you are talking about personal friends, fellow workers or business relationships, we need to connect with good people. The older I get, the more I realize I need more advice not less and more support not more independence!

God has created us for relationships and our relationships determine our direction and quality of life. The more diligent we are with surrounding ourselves with great, positive people the better our lives will be. This is also one of the keys to protecting our hearts, choices and overall direction of our life. When we get weak, confused or just tired we need our team even more. Our team should consist of friends, family and our church. If we get the right people in our lives this will go a long way in living a great life!

Prayer: Lord, I pray that you will help guide and teach me to build relationship with people who will help me win in life. Help me take responsibility for my friends, relationships and acquaintances that they would be healthy and life giving. I pray this in Jesus name - amen!

Let Go and Let God

When we hold on to things it is because we are trying to fix our own problems. When we do that we are basically telling God that we can handle it and don’t need Him to help us. Since God has given us a free will to make choices in life, He respects our decision to handle it ourselves. The reality is that we can use all the help we can get. When we intentionally let go of something we can then invite God to enter into the situation and begin to change it, transform our minds and heal our wounds. These are the times when we learn how to experience the power and presence of God in our daily lives. It is also what He wants to do. My prayer is that you choose today by your free will to let go of that painful thing and let God come into your situation. I have also learned that when I follow His direction in my life, I learn a whole lot of things along the way. Wounded Heart p. 85

I have had to learn over time that I can't solve all of my problems and change the people who cause me stress! I have learned to invite God into my circumstances and let Him deal with some folks! He gives us a peace greater than we can understand if we will trust Him and rest in Him.

Holding onto the thing that caused us pain is like getting dirty or stepping in some smelly stuff and not cleaning off ourselves or our shoes! We wouldn't walk around smelly or dirty if we didn't have to. We also carry along a lot of stinky baggage that we don't have to. You can let it go or carry it around - what's your choice?

Prayer - Jesus, today I surrender my pain to you, my memories to you and my rotten emotions to you! Take them from me and help me to not walk in the pain of yesterday. I choose to let them go right now! I pray this in Jesus name! Amen