GOD's Coach

I pray you are off to a great start to become all God intends you to become in 2009. I start off the New Year by thanking you for allowing me the opportunity to speak into your life in 2008. I'm grateful and honored for such an opportunity.

Well, it's a new beginning and a great time to take a look at the people in our lives. It is often said, if you want to see how far a person will go/where a leader is going, look at those around them. So this month's article challenges you to answer the question, "Who are the players in my life?"

What plays are the hireling and thief calling in your life without your awareness? Use this chart as a way to learn to discern the purpose of people in your life.

Player	Role
1. Shepherd	Lead Sheep. Who is leading you into a straight, obstacle free path? This is someone who is making the way easier and more graceful for you to travel down. As they go before you, they reach back and impart lessons learned.
2. Sheep	Listen to the voice of the shepherd, be led/follow, will not follow strangers. Who is speaking strange tales, fables, and intellectual fluff in your ear? Don't listen.
3. Watchman	Opens the door for the shepherd. Who is a door opener in your life? Every time you are around them, doors miraculously open on your behalf.
4. Good Shepherd	Gives up His life for the sheep. Who, in your life, is willing to give up their life for you?
5. Thief, Robber	Comes in through the door, but not in the right way. He climbs in some other way and his/her purpose is to steal, kill, rob, destroy. What do they rob and steal? Your time, joy, peace, fruit, as well as the spoils of your victory, your ideas, witty inventions, your good reputation, credibility of ministry/motives. The beautiful thing about it is God sees it all, especially what we aren't seeing. Truth of it is, they are stealing from Him, not you. See Joshua 7 on how to deal with the repercussions of the thief in your midst. Point to ponder: One steals because they have broken/lost faith. It's a fear-based action, not a faith based action (Joshua 7:11b Tanakh).
6. Hireling	Operates in the spirit of the thief, fleeces sheep, will allow harm to come to sheep and flees after the watchman's warning. Who's in your life that runs when trouble, hardship, and difficulty comes? They see it coming and don't say a word. After you suffer a while, they say, “God showed me blah, bluh, blah, this and that.” They always need something from you . . . they take, borrow and never return or repay. They rob you of enjoying the true leadership of a shepherd and pull you away from God-ordained leadership in your life.

Bench the players in your life that aren't leading you closer to your God-given goals and dreams. Look for fruit that is in line with the free goodness and kindness of the Good Shepherd, the Watchman, and the Shepherd without any agenda. Word of Warning here: I'm not talking about a good title that is thrown around or was earned . I'm saying look past the title to the essence of the actions and the character of the person. I admonish you to pay little attention to the promises they make. You know the things they say, “I'll help you.” OR “We can help one another.” I encourage you to pay much attention to the action, the words, and the fruit.

What does their being/existence in your life produce? What do their words produce, if anything?

• You will tuck your tail and run from them in an area you may have been able to gain victory in before.

• Allow the LORD to deal with him/her through you as the leader. The Old Testament leadership style of dealing with a thief was fire and stoning – Joshua 7. I strongly suggest you ask God to show you your New Testament strategy for dealing with those who have stolen from Him.

The word of the LORD comes to you saying I have sworn by My right hand, By My Mighty Arm no more will I give your new grain to your enemies for food. Nor shall foreigners drink the new wine for which you have labored. But those who harvest it shall eat it and give praise to the LORD; and those who gather it shall drink it in My sacred courts. Pass through, pass through the gates! The road is clear for You, My people. Build up, build up the highway, remove the rocks! I raise a victory flag over My people! I see the LORD proclaiming it to the end of the earth.

I announce to Zion Your Deliverer is coming on your behalf! See His reward is with Him and recompense before Him. And you shall be called, “The Holy People, The Redeemed of the LORD,” and you shall be called “Sought Out, A City Not Forsaken.” (Isaiah 62:8-12 Tanakh)

God has given my husband and I great discernment regarding the purpose of people in our life. I pray He imparts this same wisdom to you throughout this year.

©2009 All Rights Reserved. This article may be reprinted and copied in full without special permission, provided it is used for non-profit purposes and full attribution, copyright notice, and About The Author information remain intact. Send a courtesy e-mail to kpina@godscoach.com and let us know where the article will appear. For all other purposes, please contact Gifts Ordained by Direction, PO Box 110022 , Trumbull , CT 06611 , www.godscoach.com .

Karen M. Pina is a leadership coach and the CEO of Gifts Ordained by Direction www.godscoach.com , a coaching practice that addresses everyday leadership issues. Pick up a copy of Karen's book “ Leadership FITness ” and get FIT physically, financially, and spiritually.

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Kingdom greetings and Happy New Year Heartbeat readers,

Player

Role