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I Samuel 16:7 “But the LORD said to Samuel, “Do not consider his appearance or his height, for I have rejected him. The LORD does not look at the things people look at. People look at the outward appearance, but the LORD looks at the heart.”
Kelly Clark a 4 time Olympic medal holder in snowboarding says, “As an athlete, you can’t let external circumstances determine your choices.” She goes on to say, “People compromise what they know to be true to get their needs met.” Finally she is quoted as saying, “There is a big difference between having potential and being prepared.”
I really enjoyed listening to this woman of God speak, for the Lord told her she is called to be an inspiration and when you listen to her speak, you realize that is exactly what she is. As a professional athlete she has learned some life lessons that are so biblically based, they change the way you think and give you hope for what you are going through. This woman, who is currently 30 years old and is preparing to go to her 5th Olympic games in snowboarding, trains for 4 years to spend 30 seconds on a half-pipe in the Olympics.
Many frontline leaders have been training for 5, 10, 15, 20, 25, 30 or more years for what God is going to use them for in the kingdom of God on earth. As the years go by, the training intensifies and the external choices and voices increase, only someone who is inside strong can stay the course, continue to run the race, knowing that even if it is only for a short period of time, they want to be prepared for their time in advancing the kingdom of God on earth. So, how do they do and why do they do it? With younger people coming on the scene fast and furious; with others around us wondering what we are waiting for; and still with other building ministries, companies and buildings “for the kingdom”, why are the frontline leaders still in hiding?
Bill Johnson of Bethel Church in Redding, CA says, “We must become comfortable living in mystery, for He is God and we are not, so much of our life is a mystery.” To many it is a mystery of what is going on, but to those who have moved from potential to preparation, they know what they have seen and they are preparing for the day when they and God come on the scene. People that are not inside strong, cannot handle being in hiding; they struggle to not be seen, so they come out for others to see. People that are inside strong have an internal compass that directs them in the way they should go (Proverbs 22:6). They are enjoying the journey knowing they are doing life with the King of Kings; they have seen the kingdom; they know the price of obtaining it and they have decided they are willing to pay it.
The church has lost influence because people look at the outward appearance, but one storm will reveal if you are inside strong or not. The Bride is making herself ready; the 5 virgins are gathering extra oil; the runners are running in such a way as to get the prize. It may not look like the front line leaders are advancing the kingdom, but just as the woman hid the yeast in the dough, God has hidden His front line leaders in places all over this nation and the world and when He gives the word, they will arise and go forth with their identity in the Lord; revelation in their mouth; love in their eyes; and the King of Kings as their leader and lover. When they arise, you will know that they were not being lazy, they were in preparation, because the battle is for the mind of people and these front line leaders are inside strong, so they will be unstoppable and the church will become the Bride and Jesus will get the reward of His suffering. One day many will value being inside strong.
