Finding your edge…

“If the axe is dull and its edge unsharpened, more strength is needed, but skill will bring success .” –Ecclesiastes 10:10

Success and God Do we expect God to give us success? Do you believe that God wants to bring you success? Sometimes we expect God to draw the plans for success before we begin, rather than provide an opportunity and the tools for success. Other times we are fearful of what success will bring or the cost of success.

3 Fundamental Questions…

1.What is your axe?

1. What is your axe? The axe is essential in the success of cutting down a tree. Without the tool, the goal will remain unaccomplished. God has given you many tools for success. What has God placed in your hands that you can become best at? What has God called you into? What has been entrusted to you? What is your axe?

1. What is your axe? Occupation Innovation Communication Pastoral care Wealth Creativity Relationships

1. What is your axe? Work with God to identify the axe, the tool for success. Once you identify the axe the next question you have to ask is, how sharp is it? Often we want success to happen in an instant. We want the outcome of a great skill rather than the journey of acquiring the great skill. What is one thing you can not do to the axe whilst cutting down a tree?

2. How sharp is your axe?

How sharp is your axe? “If the axe is dull and its edge unsharpened, more strength is needed.” We can cut the tree down with a blunt axe, but what is the cost? - More strength is needed, potentially too much strength will be required. To sharpen your axe you need to stop cutting down trees. We need to stop!!! Give time for God to work with us. We must develop the skill of sharpening the axe.

How sharp is your axe? God is the great craftsman, He is not interested in instant success, but eternally invested in making us successful through the journey. “For I know the plans I have for you…” The word plans indicate that success is a process. The axe does not sharpen itself, nor will it happen by accident. Overtime we learn how to sharpen the axe, and in doing so bring skill to the job, which means less strength is required.

“skill will bring success” How sharp is your axe? What are the ways in which we sharpen our axe? Learn from one another. Learn from Scripture. Learn from God. Be intentional, make a plan and commit to the process. “skill will bring success”

3. What is your tree?

3. What is your tree? What is the big task or mission that you have been called into? What obstacles stop your success? (perfectionism, fear, commitments, time, age, experience…) A framework for failure or a mindset of Christ.

3. What is your tree? It takes time to cut down a tree. It takes even more time to learn to do it with skill and precision. God has given all of us an axe, He will teach you to sharpen it and undoubtedly will also provide you with the tree. We can look at this in one of two ways… The axe is too small and the tree too big. Or no tree is too big when God gives you an axe to sharpen.

Finding your edge…

Finding your edge… The edge of the axe is where everything comes together. When you have found your edge you are ready for success. Success will only come when we allow God to work in us, developing us over time so that our edge becomes sharp. Be prepared for the next big tree…