Foundations that lead to Success

You put in the time and energy to get good foundations in your career during your training. You probably took multiple classes, went to conferences, worked hard, and have spent many years perfecting your verbiage to be excellent at everything you do at work. We want to be excellent and have integrity with the work we do, working as if for the Lord, not just as for man (Colossians 3:23-24).

But it’s also crucial we remember that we need to build strong foundations in our spiritual lives as well. This requires sometimes that we take classes, go to conferences, study diligently in the word, and spend time with God. We want to be knowledgeable so that we can give an account for the things that we believe (1 Peter 3:15).

But more than that, our foundations are the crucial things that allow us to get through hard seasons and keep believing God has our best in mind. They are the things that give us security when we make tough decisions. They are the hope that keeps us believing for better things in the future.

You may know that I spent many years working part time as a pediatrician, and part time for my church planning medical missions trips. In getting ready to take this role, the church asked that I take some ministry classes at their School of Campus Ministry for two months. The problem was, I had one month of residency left to complete. So, I went to my program director, and asked for a special favor- if I could take the two months off for school, and complete the last month of my training afterwards. She replied that was ridiculous, my last month was an elective, so I could just complete the training at my church and count it as the last month of my medical training. I literally studied ministry, church history, sermon-writing, Holy Spirit empowerment, and practical evangelism as the last bit of my residency. When God wants you somewhere, He makes a way!

As unrelated as it felt at the time, it was a big part of my faith building, equipping, and healing after having been sick and after the exhaustion of residency. And as great as it was, those were foundations that I laid 15 years ago. Sometimes I have to fight my tendency to say “I’ve already done that,” and instead continue to prioritize making time for spiritual foundations now.

How that looks might be different depending on the season or year. Sometimes, it’s committing to a regular Bible study. Sometimes, it’s taking an additional class or stepping into a leadership role at your church. Sometimes, it’s committing to your quiet time better. This month, for me, it was attending a conference on Prophetic ministry. It was a great time of refreshing and being reminded of things I sometimes forget in the busyness of life. One speaker even pointed out the concept of illumination as the conference topic was so wise- things that illuminate reflect light from somewhere else. Unlike a computer screen, we don't naturally glow as humans, but if we take sufficient time in building a relationship with God, we can start to reflect His great character every where we go. My favorite quote was, “We are an ordinary people doing ordinary things with an extraordinary God.” It’s a great reminder as we go back into our workplaces next week that even when situations look dismal, God doesn’t always work in our limits and loves to bless us with his presence and supernatural abilities.

But the same way I regularly commit to stay up to date and continue learning medicine, I also commit to continue learning spiritual training. What will that look like this month for you?