GREG SIMAS

Important Questions for Your Growth in 2012

Greg — Tue, 27 Dec 2011 19:40:51 +0000

As the Christmas aftermath closes and the New Year is rising upon us let’s be thinking about how we can grow ourselves heading into 2012.

Each year I reflect on 2011 and anchor down on a few things to go after in 2012.

Here are a few things I am considering.

How will I grow in my Prayer Life?

Prayer is simply communicating with God. Each year I focus on increasing the depth of communion with the Lord not merely my time with the Lord. I would encourage you to do the same. When the depth of the communion comes, time will take care of itself.

How will I grow in the Word?

Each year I choose to go through the entire Bible. I know that some argue that it is better to take a few verses and really meditate on them instead of reading the entire Bible in a year. If I choose to only look at a few verses a day (or a week) I then loose the context of the whole Bible. That’s not a win for me. I need to have this perspective throughout each and every year.

So I read through the Bible AND regularly meditate on certain scriptures throughout the year. It’s not one or the other but both. I encourage you to figure out which One-Year Bible reading plan you are going to follow and go for it. I will go into greater depth at M1P blog post in a few days.

How will I grow in my Calling?

It’s important to determine how you will grow professionally. I like to pick about 2 or 3 books I want to read in the next year that help me grow in my ministry calling and anointing. For me books on leadership, vision and supernatural ministry are essential for greater faithfulness in my gift-mix.

How will I grow in my Personal Life?

Family, finances, health, etc. are worth the pursuit of excellence in. Come up with reasonable goals for each. What’s important here is execution of the goals so make them reachable.

Lastly, I would recommend that you keep your goals for 2012 short. Really go after a few and maintain the rest. To many goals will put you on overload and eventually you wind up not doing well on any.

Jordan Made It On An iHOP-KC LE Album

Greg — Tue, 01 Nov 2011 14:53:32 +0000

For some reason this has taken some time to get up on the blog.

While at iHOPU this past year, Jordan was on Audra Lynn’s Worship Team and got in on a recording from iHOP’s Limited Edition Series. The Current Volume features 7 Songs from various artists recorded live in the Prayer Room.

Listen to it and let me know your thoughts! Just click the PLAY arrow.

The title of this song that Jordan is playing drums on is “Voice of the Lord”. It comes out of the Song of Solomon. Super anointed song.

I think we have amazing gifting and anointing at cHOP. This is only a little taste of what I would love to do at Convergence.

Fear Will Keep You From Your Best

Greg — Thu, 13 Oct 2011 21:51:12 +0000

It is much harder to live with regret then to live with excuses. Excuses can often disguise themselves as wisdom but in the end they are usually fear-based reasons for not fulfilling our purpose.

Even more dangerous is intentionally holding back from completely giving all to protect ourselves from feeling like a failure if things somehow don’t quite work out. Strange isn’t it, but true! This can happen in any area of life.

I first realized this when I was playing basketball for Bethany Bible College. I found myself intentionally not giving my all on the court so I would stay protected from feeling like a failure if I was not successful on it. I hid my fear behind my lack of effort.

I have seen this in many people (especially men) over the years. It’s not that they don’t participate, it’s that they don’t take part FULLY, leaving enough space to reason that something was not done successfully because their “all” was not given.

If we don’t break out of this mindset, we will have lived life giving less then 100%. Worse yet, we will have been unfaithful with the talents the Lord has entrusted to us. If we stay in this pattern we will ultimately look at the years we wasted and regret what could have been.

Here is a few simple things I have learned in making sure I don’t fall into this trap.

1. Pray. It is surprising how many people need to be reminded of this. Be convinced that God wants you to do whatever it is in front of you. This needs to be a fairly rock-solid conviction.

2. Put yourself at the end of your life. Ask this, “Will I regret not putting in the full effort in taking on this assignment?” Maybe this is a strange question, but I do think it needs to be asked. Do not, I repeat, do not disqualify yourself based on not feeling adequate? Never let the fear of failure weaken the voice of the Lord and the direction He wants to take you in.

3. If you are struggling, honestly look inside and ask what it is that is really holding you back. Don’t negotiate with fear. Don’t partner with your feeling of lack. Don’t let pride get the best of you. Don’t let the cost overwhelm you. Refuse to let these things keep you from FULLY engaging.

4. Activate faith and picture yourself being successful in whatever you are deciding on doing. You have God’s blessing and power! Look into the Word and study men like, Joshua, Moses, Paul, Peter, Abraham and the Apostles. In the natural, they did not have what it took, they just had God. These guys will encourage you!

5. Do it at 110%. Refuse to hold back. Put yourself out there. Bury your pride and squash your fears. Depend on the Lord. Watch how He will empower you. Refuse to hide any fear with a lack of effort.

6. You will be pleasantly surprised at the results and the number of times you will succeed! Really!

7. If it doesn’t pan out like you wanted it to, focus on what you have learned about yourself, God and the assignment given. Learn, grow and keep going. God loves this and He is waiting to give you another assignment based on what you have just learned in the previous one.

God is with you. And if God is with you who can be against you (Romans 8:31). Refuse to let YOU be against you. Put your all in ALL you do.