Risk Taking in My Life

By Doug Franklin July 14, 2009

For the past few weeks I have been thinking a lot about risk taking. I am at a time in my life where I feel like I need to take some new risks to allow God to continue to grow me. When I am not taking risks I am usually not growing.  As I have been considering the next risk I have indentified three mindsets I must have.

1. Faith
I must believe for God to work. I have to take steps of faith. How can God work when I live in my own strength or do what I know I can already do? I must believe God wants to work through his people.  I tell students all the time; God has a plan to change the world and it’s YOU. When I take a risk he has room to work and when he works cool things happen.

2. The ability to see the invisible
This means just because I can’t make a clear plan or know how I am going to pay for my risk doesn’t mean I don’t have to do it; actually that’s what makes it a risk. Common sense says, a man without a plan will for sure fail but does that apply to a man who takes a risk with God? I want to see what God sees; I want to have a heart for people who need help. To do this I must see the invisible.

3. Crave change
In my heart I must believe there is something better. A better way to do church, a better way to do youth ministry, a better way to serve others and a much better way to develop leaders. Without discontent I will not risk. This one is tough; everything in me wants to say we are doing OK. It’s easy to say everything at LeaderTreks is good or everything in my spiritual life is good but this kind of thinking doesn’t see growth as a process. Yes these things may be good but it doesn’t mean there isn’t more God has for me. I must want more.