Submit Your Trust to God Are you responsible for the work of others? Do you feel like you have huge responsibilities? Are you feeling the pressure? Take a deep breath and then...exhale. You have a team supporting you with efforts toward the goal. So, ease up a little and trust them to do just what they were hired to do. But more importantly, submit your entire trust to God. At some point in leadership, you have to know that faith is an important ingredient to success. You can do all that you can, lead your team in the direction that they need to go and from there release them to the faith that you have in them to get the necessary work done. As a believer who has been called to leadership, it is vital to your reputation and development that you also display your submission of your trust to God. He is a sure foundation that you can build upon (Isaiah 26:4). Don't be that leader that micromanages. After all, that behavior only fosters an environment of distrust, hostility, and low morale, all which lead to negatively impacting productivity. Search within yourself to determine what causes you to behave this way. Have you ever thought to yourself or said aloud, "If you want something done the right way, do it yourself"? This kind of thinking or stance is damaging and exposes the distrust that you possess. Could it be greed? It's possible to be results-driven for your personal gain instead of the positive results it produces on a bigger scale. Get to the root of why you think you need to be in control. This could expose why there is a lingering theme of conflict around you. Prayer Lord, thank you for this helpful reminder as a leader to trust my team more. I release the stress and selfish motivators associated with wanting to be in control. Please guide me and groom me into the leader that you want me to be. In Jesus' name. Amen.

Day 3 - The Distraction of Debris Walking along the Florida Panhandle shoreline at low tide following a storm isn’t always the most picturesque time to enjoy the beach. Instead of leisurely hiking along the white sand, welcoming the foaming waves of the surf, I found myself meandering around driftwood, broken shells, krill, and even washed up jellyfish. For me, the piles of debris were an eyesore. I was disappointed because I had brought my camera and hoped to capture the beauty of the seashore. But when the birds descended upon the piles of wood and seaweed and scampered around finding delicious morsels hidden in the nooks and crannies, I discovered that there were treasures in the midst of this unpleasant debris. Their antics were entertaining and I was reminded of how God cares for the birds. The food certainly wasn’t a Pinterest presentation, but the birds were more than satisfied. I realized that the Lord often meets my needs when I pray, but because it isn’t delivered the way I think it should be, I miss His providence. When I saw people with bags sifting through the debris as if hunting for gold, I looked closer for the hidden treasures. There were shark eyes, olives, and angel wings shells, along with sand dollars mixed in with the debris. One woman found a perfect conch shell buried deep in the sand, underneath the tangles and piles of broken shells and twigs. This was another reminder that God’s promises and answers to prayers may not always be easy to discern. Sometimes it requires me to dig down deep and sift through the rubble to discover God’s treasures and lessons. In Psalm 139, the Psalmist writes that the Lord searches us and knows our every movement. Sometimes I need to search for Him with the same passion. Prayer: Dear Lord, When I make a mess of things and can’t seem to find you, thank you for revealing your promises to me, even though they may be camouflaged in the debris. Help me realize that You are always there even in the mess! Amen Discussion and Journaling Question:

Day 2 - The Distraction of Digital Devices It’s a wild, wonderful world filled with gadgets and gizmos to make our lives easier. Our smartphones give us immediate access to information anytime and almost anywhere. We can even program sounds to immediately notify us when something occurs so we can live informed and be able to respond. As a result, people of all ages spend most of their time focused on digital devices, living their lives through the cyberworld rather than in person. I have to admit, I can be guilty of this, too. When I got my first smartphone, I thought it was great to know when a new picture was posted, a text or email came in, or even to be reminded to read my devotion for the day. However, these notifications started disrupting my life by interrupting meals, time with family and friends, and even my sleep. When I realized that I was allowing these digital reminders to take priority in my day, I knew I needed to establish some parameters. I began to remove the notifications from almost every app on my phone. Oh, don’t get me wrong. I think there are many wonderful aspects that can keep my life organized and more efficient. However, even without the notification disruptions, I can still get lost in checking out vacation opportunities, searching for a new recipe, or even playing a game. I needed to determine if my digital device was enhancing my life or distracting from it. So I asked myself: - Am I being a good steward of my time? - If I were to graph out my time, would it reflect my desired priorities? - What relationships am I valuing?  I have heard of people going on digital fasts. I’m not sure I need a complete fast, but I could start by being intentional and disciplined about the use of my device if I want to live a life pleasing to God. Prayer: Dear Lord, With so much going on, help me to focus on the priorities and the blessings You have given me. This world is filled with many challenges and many joys. Guide my decisions and time as I work towards putting away the things of this world Help me to use these man-made conveniences to enhance my relationships, my personal growth, and my witness for You. It is my desire to not conform to the things of this world, but to be transformed by renewing my mind in You.

https://www.odbm.org/en/devotionals/devotional-category/god-of-my-sister?ts=1774137600000