Have you ever struggled between knowing if what you are doing comes primarily from your own efforts or from God working in and through you, and how best to balance that? This has been a challenge for me as I have explored stepping into more of heaven in the marketplace.
It seems like I’ve gone back and forth from using my own experience and effort, and then thinking that I should let God do the work and waiting for Him to act. I’d just hold on and rely on God’s promises, and people’s words over my life, waiting for promises to be fulfilled. However, this did not always work well either. What seemed to work best was finding the right balance between pushing hard using my own skills and abilities, and letting God do what only He can do. The result of this balance was usually pretty good.
However, somewhere, deep in my spirit I knew that there must be something that wasn’t just good, but was better – or even best – and I wanted that. Here is what I learned.
The Bible frequently addresses partnering with God, and I’d like to highlight two instances here. At the end of the first chapter of Ephesians, there is an incredible truth that tells us that we have the fullness of Jesus in us. Wow! That’s hard for my mind to fully grasp, but it’s transformative. The other truth is found in John 15:4. Jesus says that as we remain in Him, He remains in us. Neither of these scriptures sounds like the balance that I was searching for, but something much more profound and life-altering.
I believe that the application of these Biblical truths is key. I am a results-oriented business person and need real answers, not just happy sounding spiritual advice. So that’s what I’ll give here – a radical statement and then two applications.
First, the radical statement. We can’t balance our abilities and efforts and God’s supernatural work in our life. It doesn’t work, so don’t even try.
What actually works is so much better. We put 100% of God’s supernatural work in our life right along-side 100% of us. There is no balance between the two. It’s the fullness of Christ along with the fullness of us. He has created us to be His representation in the unique way that only we can be. Notice that I did not say 100% of our experience, hard work, and wisdom, but us – exactly who we are created to be. It’s a powerful combination. The result is becoming fully our true self, not just an improved version of our current self.
Now the practical applications.
First, we need to discover who we are. I don’t believe we can partner with heaven well unless we know who we really are. To know this, it’s helpful to spend a lot of time with Jesus. This is not about asking Him for wisdom, worshipping Him, or doing a Bible study (all good things), but spending lots of time simply asking Him what’s on His mind, instead of telling Him what’s on ours. In my experience, whenever I did that He started talking to me about me. I was on His mind and I’m sure you are too. It can be hard to fathom, but the King of the universe wants you to know how much He loves you and values both who you are and what you do, and that He has created you for a purpose. That purpose is the best thing ever – to hang out with him all the time
Second, every morning before your day starts, make a list of the three most important things you need to do that day. Then tell Jesus what they are, and ask Him what His heart is for those things – not what you are supposed to do, but for His heart, and what He wants to do. Once you understand His heart for what is in front of you, the rest is easy. You will find yourself naturally operating in a new and powerful place, and partnering with the peace, presence
So how do we balance our own initiatives with God’s on a day-to-day basis? It’s not a question of balance, it’s all of us and all of Jesus. Will you join me in going all-in?
Gary Klopfenstein is Chairman of GK Investment Management, a private asset management company established as a family office. In previous roles, Gary has served as Chief Executive Officer and member of the Board of Directors of Berenberg Asset Management, the U.S. asset management arm of a 400-year-old German financial institution, and as Senior Managing Director, member of the Board of Directors and Head of Direct Alternative Investment Strategies for Mesirow Financial, a Chicago based diversified financial services firm. At Mesirow Financial he was responsible for business growth from $1 billion to over $50 billion in less than ten years. Gary has a wealth of global expertise including successful client relationships in the U.S., Canada, Europe, the Middle East, Asia, and Australia.
Gary has written one book, Trading Currency Cross Rates, and edited two others, FX: Managing Global Currency Risk and Strategic Trading in the Foreign Exchange Markets. He is a frequent speaker at leading conferences and a regular publisher of thought leading papers for global publications. He is considered to be one of the industry founders in the specialist management of global currency risk.
Gary and his wife Candice live in Chicago, have been married for over thirty years and have two adult children. (Find more info at http://www.gkinvestmentmanagement.us/index.html)
This is great! I love how simple and practical it is – definitely want to do this.
Brian – I am glad you found this helpful. let me know how it goes. Gary
Gary, your words here are timely and a powerful confirmation to my recent prayers.
I’ve gone from being in business for my own selfish gain, to being in business for my client’s gain, but when I stepped into my work as God’s masterpiece created to do the work he has set up in advance, which glorifies him, I saw breakthrough (Ephesians 2:10 & Matthew 5:16).
Since that time (September 2017), I’ve been on a journey to simply rest in who I am… who he has created me to be… and what he has given me to steward each day.
I have two takeaways: First, I’m taking your 60-minutes a day for 30 days challenge. Second, I love your approach to starting the day asking for his heart for the top 3 things you have to do for the day.
Both of these have been installed into my daily morning ritual. Thank you!
David
David – I am glad this was timely. Let me know how it works for you after the 30 days.
I found that initially taking this much time seemed difficult, but in practice the results made it worth it and it then becomes a regular part of the day. I have also found that the “easy” route of 5 or 10 minutes is not enough – at least it wasn’t for me. It’s not because we need to earn God’s favor by spending more time, but because we learn to focus our mind on Him by spending significant time there. It becomes a natural place for our mind to settle. Once I trained my mind to be still in His presence, I could more easily get back to that spot throughout my day when things got hectic.
Blessings – Gary
I love this!!!! It is so timely! My business partner’s and so were having a meeting yesterday and brainstorming about our next steps. We are resetting our buttons and re engaging in our business.
This is exactly what Ineed to hear!
Thanks!
I’m glad the post was an encouragement. I love to hear you are resetting and re engaging.
Well-said and revolutionary! This really helps me to piece together some things the Lord has been teaching me. Thanks for sharing this, Gary!
Thanks for the encouragement, Joel.
I bring this kingdom principal of the tension between the two to the Lord Often. Have learned that stepping out in faith activates my faith where He joins me. I step out, He shows up! A foundational scripture for me recently is “Prov 22:29. Do you see (Jan) skilled in her work? She will stand before Kings. She will not stand before obscure men. I am skilled but limit myself to the types of businesses I am comfortable with. The Lord is nudging me that He wants to bring my skills to larger companies. That sometimes smaller companies don’t recognize or appreciate the kingdom skills we bring… Larger companies tend to connect to our kingdom skills.
Thank you for this insight Gary. I will join you in going all in.
Even today Father was affirming how much I have as His son – authority, favor, courage…
Jan, I love you shared Prov 22:29 — I’ve used that many times to encourage people in their work being as powerful and anointed as what is traditionally called ‘ministry.’ I also am intrigued by your comments about small versus large companies because I’ve worked for a small-ish company for over 18 years and have recently begun searching out into “bigger waters” to pursue a dream of leadership development.
Peter – I love the way God brings things together as we spend time with him. Let me know how this goes for you.
That’s a good word, Jan. Thanks for sharing.
Thank you just what I needed!
Having walked this way for years I didn’t realise God was partneeing with me. The realisation came when leasing a new building I talked to Him about layout. He gave me position for one machine and changed the dynamic. I love the ‘I go and He shows!’ I’d rather be in that place constantly for His wisdom directions revealings and creations to healings and miracles just continually astound.
Thank you for going all in, and confirming – This is the way to live! This is what our hearts long for (and his too) but sometimes it’s almost easier to bank on skills and experiences than leaning into the unknown that is the power and peace of the Holy Spirit that goes beyond our thinking or understanding.
I want to be the truest form of me, with God fully alive in me and with me.
I don’t want to be my list of credentials.
Thanks for writing!
It is a humbling experience for me to read it. I’ve been doing that for a couple of years now. Those everyday morning conversations (or just listening) have changed my personal life, my marriage and my family as well.
I was hoping never to be a businessman but I started to follow the business matters after receiving a prophetic word. And now I recognise in your writing the same taste of His gentle voice I have heard privately and I see He leads you that way in business. It might sound silly but I wasn’t expecting that in business. Change me, Father. Thank you, Gary, I appreciate that you wanted to share it with us.