That’s Not My Job

Have you ever gone into an establishment, maybe a grocery store or department store asked for assistance only to have someone reply that’s not my job? What was your reaction? Did you ask if the person could point you in the direction of someone that could assist you? Perhaps you became angry. Maybe you left the establishment.

There are people that are assigned certain tasks or jobs that only want to perform the tasks or jobs they have been assigned, are trained on and equipped to perform.

Then there are people that are trying to do tasks that have not been assigned to them. They have not been trained nor are they able to perform the tasks.

Many people try to perform the tasks or the job of the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit was sent to be our comforter, our teacher, our guide, our protector.

How many times have you tried to perform the tasks of the Holy Spirit? How many times have you tried to carry burdens that you could not bear? How many times have you tried to fix a circumstance or situation only to end up with less than desirable results?

The Word of God is very specific when it comes to what we are and are not capable of handling. We read in Ephesians 6:12 for we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.

This scripture has a twofold meaning. 1.) Don’t wrestle with your own flesh. Your flesh is enmity against your spirit. The two don’t and won’t agree. Your flesh will lead you to do one thing while your spirit may tell you to do something completely different. 2.) You should not wrestle or fight physically or verbally with others. The battle is not physical it is spiritual.

Oftentimes our desire for change within our own lives or in the lives of others will put us in a place where we become engaged in situations over which we have no control. Try as we may without the Holy Spirit we cannot change anything as we read in John 5:30 I can of mine own self do nothing, and we certainly can’t change anyone.

Several years ago I was in a no win situation. I couldn’t fix what I wanted changed. I talked until I didn’t know what else to say. I cried until not another tear would fall and I prayed until I couldn’t think of anything else to pray. My final prayer was God I can’t do this anymore. I give it to you. I gave it to God and didn’t take it back. In His time and in His way He fixed it.

Many of us are trying to do a job that we have not been trained nor are we capable of performing. The next time the enemy interjects thoughts into your mind of a situation that you know you can neither control, change or should even get involved in remind yourself as well as the enemy that’s not my job! Give whatever it is to God and allow Him to take care of it.

 

Change

We have all heard the only thing that is constant is change. Change occurs all around us. Sometimes we are forced to change. When there are changes in our workplace whether we agree or disagree, whether we resist or embrace them they still occur. We determine our reaction.

But what about self-initiated changes. Have you ever wondered why when change is forced on us we adapt because we have to but when the change is self-initiated it may not occur?

Let’s take a look at a couple of examples. In today’s economy many companies are requiring mandatory furloughs. Employees take unpaid or partially paid time off. Furloughs are implemented as a cost saving measure for the company. Although the impacted employees do not agree they do not have a choice. They are not allowed to work and will not be paid.

Although forced upon an employee, whenever possible the employee should try and use this time off to their advantage. It can be used for personal appointments which may prevent them from having to take time off of work in the future. It can be used for volunteer work if desired. It can also be used to work on a personal business venture or project they may have been putting off.

Not let’s take a look at a self-initiated change. A change that has crossed the mind of a great majority of people is weight loss. We hear weight lost mentioned as New Year’s resolutions, in preparation for vacations, class reunions, weddings, special events or a life style change.

This is a self-initiated change and involves our will. It’s not forced upon us. We can go through with it or we can decide not to. It’s our choice.  Unfortunately for some of us we do not move forward with our change. We have one excuse or another, whatever the reason because it is not being forced upon us, and it is not required but a choice, it may not occur.

A self-initiated change starts as an idea. In the weight loss example. A person may look in the mirror or try on an article of clothing that fit’s a little snugly and think about losing weight. Sometimes the thought goes no further. If it does it becomes a desire. Once the idea or thought becomes a desire implementation will begin. A person may start exercising or change their eating plan but before reaching their goal they may quit. This is where it ends for many people. You have an idea. Your idea becomes a desire. You implement a plan, then for one reason or another the plan comes to an end before reaching your goal.

Why is it so difficult make a self-initiated change? It’s because you have a choice, so the question becomes how do you stick with your choice? How do you prevent yourself from quitting? Think back to the company mandated change. It may have been uncomfortable but it was necessary so you complied. Your job may have been at stake. Even if you resisted in the beginning you accepted the change, and it became part of your lifestyle.

A self-initiated change may be uncomfortable. You are doing something you have never done before. Is it necessary? It is if it is your desire, and you want to succeed. What do you do? You act as though it is required just as the mandated change is required. You act as though you don’t have a choice. You commit yourself to it. You do whatever it takes. Hold yourself accountable, or if you are challenged with accountability ask a friend that believes in your success to be your accountability partner if you do not have a Life Coach.

Record and report your progress. Do something every day towards your goal. Celebrate your progress as encouragement. You can make a change but you must be committed. It’s your choice. Choose to succeed.