Speaker 1: 0:53

Welcome to the Lion Within Us, a podcast serving Christian men who are hungry to be the leaders God intends you to be. I'm your host, chris Granger. Let's jump in. All right, fellas, spiritual kickoff time. Let's get right into it, okay? So the scripture of the week this week is in the book of Proverbs, 29th Proverbs, okay, 18th verse. So Proverbs 29, 18 says there is no vision. The people perish, but he that keepeth the law happy as he Love. That verse, fellas. I use the first part of that verse a lot, and just in meetings in general, trying to just as a reflection for me. So hopefully you'll enjoy this. We're going to see how we can simplify and apply this to our life. And remember, if you enjoy the spiritual kickoff episodes and we know lots of you guys do we do it Monday through Friday in our Lion Within us community. So head over to thelionwithinus, click on that daily Spiritual Kickoff. Join for free. It's a free way. We just try to serve, just to give you opportunities to connect with the ways that we serve you guys each and every day, monday through Friday. And, by the way, we don't put that content anywhere else. We're not posting it on YouTube. There's not a secret place on our website. We're doing it. Nope, it's all right there within our platform. So again, thelionwithinus, click on Daily Spiritual Kickoff and get started for free today.

Speaker 1: 2:15

So we need to first understand when we open up our Bible, where are the Proverbs? Okay, and then we don't take this for granted. So Proverbs are found in your Old Testament and they're found right after Psalms. So usually, if you just open up your Bible halfway, you're going to land in Psalm somewhere most of the time. Okay, then just flip a little bit to your right. You'll get to the Proverbs. There's 31 of them. Another tip we do within the Lion we always talk about for whatever day of the week it is, that's the Proverb that you read. So I'm recording this on the 22nd day of the month. Okay, so today I read Proverbs 22. Tomorrow I'll read Proverbs 23, and so on and so forth. On months that are short like you don't have 31 days in a month just stop wherever you stop. You can read the extra ones on the last day if you want, and then on the first day of the month, just start over. I tell you, it's a great way to grow. It's a spiritual muscle that you can exercise and flex every day.

Speaker 1: 3:07

Okay, now, the whole point of this proverb, when we start thinking about it, is vision. Because without vision, we drift, man. And we start thinking about it is vision Because without vision, we drift, man, we absolutely drift. And if you start thinking about it, the pace of life that we live these days, it's ridiculous, it is unreal. Just think about it. For me personally. I mean, we've got my primary job, I have the lion, which is another 40 to 50 hours a week. We have our farm, we have our four kids, church, all the different responsibilities. I'm telling you there's just never enough time.

Speaker 1: 3:44

It is very easy to lose your way, and it's not because we're being rebellious. Quite often, quite. Usually we lose our way because we're being reactive. Okay, we react. We have meetings, we got deadlines, you got errands, you constantly get notifications about emails and text messages that you have to respond to, you got obligations that just pile on and pile on and pile on and, before you know it, all you're doing is moving fast, without direction. Am I sounding familiar to somebody out there? Think about it. It's motion without direction, or activity without clarity, and that's why vision matters so doggone much.

Speaker 1: 4:29

And this proverb hits it right on the head. It tells us, if we don't have that vision, people will perish, not necessarily physically, but I'll tell you what spiritually, emotionally, mentally, relationally we check out, because if we don't have a clear direction, particularly from God, we're going to drift. And when we, as Christian men, drift, there's big time consequences. Families suffer, the workplace just doesn't get done what it needs to get done and communities they fall behind because the guys who are supposed to be standing up and lead aren't doing it. And so many of us operate out there with a loose target in mind. And when I say loose, just follow with me for a second.

Speaker 1: 5:20

We say stuff like hey, I just want to be a good husband, I just want to do better at work, I want to serve, I'm trying to be the best dad I can be right, all those things. On the surface, nothing wrong with them, but they're vague. And when you're vague in your aim, you very rarely are going to translate that into anything impactful. I'm telling you this is something we got to get straight as Christian guys, period. And from a biblical standpoint there's a better approach and you guys hear about this all the time in different leadership books and types of teachings. But think about where you want to end up. Begin with ending in mind right, and as Christian guys, you do that by asking all right, what's God calling you to do? And then, what are you doing? To be obedient to that? Because clarity has to start with God in asking him to show you Not asking culture, not asking for convenience, asking him and then, once you see it, communicate it well, articulate, to others. This means you have to tell people that you work with. You have to.

Speaker 1: 6:41

When I think about companies with turnover and churn, I immediately start looking at the leadership, the people that they report to, because people don't leave very rarely do they leave bad companies. They leave unclear, passive, visionless leaders. They just do. Same happens with churches, boys At home, our wives and our kids. They don't need perfection, they need direction. I mean, they just do. And it's up to us, because to be a leader requires a high level of stewardship and vision has to be the compass that we're guiding by.

Speaker 1: 7:29

And the cool part about all this is, guys, is that God isn't hiding his vision. He's revealing it to us through his word every day, through wise counsel of others, through that quiet time in prayer where you're just listening the trick, at least I've found for me, is not to slow down enough just to listen, just to hear him. You have to pause, you have to reflect, you have to seek his voice. Then, when he gives it to you, you know, for me I have to write stuff down. I got notes everywhere. I can't remember stuff. I write it down. Write it down, then start speaking it over your life and taking the steps of obedience to walk it out courageously. Okay, and that clarity is going to be so refreshing to the people around you. I promise it's going to be such a breath of relief when they actually hear what you're pursuing.

Speaker 1: 8:27

Because we don't just drift towards purpose. It doesn't just happen. You don't just all of a sudden one day, oh, I'm exactly where I wanted to be. Like, if I want to get up in the morning and go to the running trail, I don't just aimlessly just start walking in any direction. No, I know exactly where I need to go to get to the trailhead and if I don't do that, I'm not going to get there. So why would we treat anything in life Like we should just aimlessly just go about it and just hope? For? We have to make purposeful decisions towards what he's calling us and start taking a step. And we have to stop reacting. Guys, I get you have to react to some things, but if your day is full of reacting to stuff all 100% of the day, something's got to shift. It's going to burn you out. We have to start leading with his vision in every area of our life. So just think about it.

Speaker 1: 9:26

Question of the week this week and this may be helpful to reflect on is what area of your life right now feels most directionless. Like, where do you have the least amount of direction? Okay, and when I started thinking about it, there's several things that pop up. You know I'm trying to figure out how to raise my teenage daughters. You know that's been a tough one. Then trying to figure out for the lion Okay, where do we go next? How do we actually take this lion within us concept, this idea, the stuff that you guys seem to enjoy with the podcast or the Bible apps, and the community and all the different resources we do? How do we do the next thing God's calling us to do here with it, you know, and and make sure we get out the way. So there's things that I'm wrestling with and I feel directionless about right now and, uh, maybe you do too.

Speaker 1: 10:19

Take some time, talk to God about it. I guarantee he's ready to listen to you, guarantee you. It just takes some vulnerability, it takes some courage. Nobody ever wants to think that we ain't got it all figured out. We just don't. All the guys that I know, including me, want to feel like we got it all together, like everything's like you're doing, baby, it's good, it's gravy, baby, don't worry about me, I'm telling you that's a dangerous precedent to set. So just encourage you guys to think about that this week. Okay, all right, fellas. So look, if you're listening to the show and you haven't surrendered your life to the Lordship of Christ and you're here for the lion for some reason and you don't know why I'm just going to take just a minute here just to encourage you, because if you haven't surrendered your life to Christ, you're living on the edge. You're living very dangerously, because salvation is available for all of us if we submit to him as Lord and Savior.

Speaker 1: 11:25

And the cool part is like when you start thinking about the beginning of, of how he created us, how God made man. We were made in his image, and that was pretty awesome. It was a perfect design. There wasn't a flaw in it. Man whatsoever, no flaws, period, perfect. And when God created the first man, his name was Adam and he breathed the breath of life into Adam's nostrils. Adam set up. He was face to face with God. Man Like that's? That's mind blowing. It says we're made in the image of God. So whatever like lie you believe about yourself, like you're fat or you're dumb, or you're never going to be getting any good in business, or you're never going to be able to be a dad, or whatever that lie is, whatever whatever lie is that's it there. That's just exactly what it is. It's a lie. I'm going to pit a hill, okay, because we are made in his image.

Speaker 1: 12:16

Now the issue we have is that sin entered the world and when sin is anything that separates us from God, it's a simple definition of it and at that point it fractured the relationship we have with him. So God is holy and we are not. And the rest of the Bible, so much of the Bible, is just us trying to close that gap between a holy and righteous God and us as sinful human beings. Okay, and the reality is there's nothing we can do to close that gap on our own, there's nothing you can do. I mean so many guys I talk to they're like man, if I could just be a better person, if I could just do good, if I could, just if I could, just I could just like, over and over and over. You hear the I, I, I Doesn't work that way.

Speaker 1: 12:56

Reality is there is nothing that you can do to earn your salvation, so there's nothing you can do. What do? So there's nothing you can do? What do you have to like what? What options do we have? We need a savior to come in and do for you what you can't do for yourself, and that is jesus, our messiah, who came from heaven on a rescue mission for you, for me, for the entire world, born of a version fulfilled all the prophecies, did all the teachings, all the miraclescies, did all the teachings, all the miracles, and they did the ultimate sacrifice. When he went to the cross, willingly to pay the penalty for our sins. They strung him up, they crucified him and he died right there on the cross. His perfect blood ran for every single one of us.

Speaker 1: 13:46

And it's like for Christianity, what's next? Like Jesus just died, I'm like, yeah, he died, but we're not dressing like we're going to a funeral every time we go to church, are we? No? Why? Well? Because death couldn't hold him, quite frankly. And like we're going to a funeral every time we go to church, always no, why? Well? Because death couldn't hold him, quite frankly. They put him in a tomb. He was like this is an Airbnb for me, baby.

Speaker 1: 14:21

Three days later he rose and he showed us evidence after evidence after evidence of the resurrection, and then he ascended to the Father and we know that he is the way, the truth and the life, and no one comes to the Father except through him. There is no other name under heaven that has been given among men by which we must be saved Jesus, is it fellas? Tell me, that's it. There's no alternative paths, sorry, they just don't exist. So that means we have to make a cognitive decision while we're here on earth, and he gives us a chance to make this decision. You don't have to do this. No one's forcing you. We have. We have this, this ability to make a call.

Speaker 1: 15:04

Am I going to choose to surrender my life to the Lordship of Christ or am I going to keep doing things my way? That's the ultimate question you have to ask yourself. Many guys don't like to answer that question because you're doing things your way because it's fun, that's what you want to do. I'm just telling you there's a better path available and it starts by meeting at your're a sinner, first and foremost. Like yo, bro, I'm just not screwed. Like, I'm just not making these mistakes. Like, no, I'm legit a sinner 100% and I know I need a Savior.

Speaker 1: 15:37

You have to believe that Jesus Christ is the Messiah, he is the Son of God. So, alright, I'm a sinner and I'm going with that guy. I'm going with the guy who overcame death period and you confess him as Lord, confess him as Lord of your life, not over Sunday for an hour, no, every day, at all times. So if you're listening to me, you've never done that. You're in a really great position. Actually, you're in a position that you may not even recognize how awesome it is, because you're right on the cusp of eternity with him, or eternity separated from him, and I don't want that for you.

Speaker 1: 16:27

I want you to be in heaven. I want you to be with him, to find peace, the peace that passes all understanding. I want you to find that here, right now, and it only comes to the relationship with Christ. It ain't found in a new vehicle, in a new woman or a new house. I promise you Boom no. Or a bank account. I forgot about that. None of that stuff. Some of that stuff can be cool. You're never going to find peace of mind there. So if you've been struggling, it's like you know what my way is just not working. I'm going to choose to go His way. I'm here for you.

Speaker 1: 17:06

Let's pray right now. Accept Christ as your Lord and Savior. So, father, just thank you so much for this opportunity to share your word today and for the opportunity to share the gospel. I never know how these messages are received when they go out into the world, father, but I'm being diligent and obedient with what you've given me here with the lion, and I'm praying that you use it to multiply and just do incredible things. So for that one listener who's ready to surrender their life to you, pray. You hear their prayer. Pray. You just touch them in a meaningful way and if you put people around them, that will help them on their discipleship journey. We just love you, god. We want you to know that we pray everything according to your will In Jesus' name, amen.

Speaker 1: 17:48

All right, fellas, if you just accepted Christ as your Savior. I want to hear from you. Okay, I want to hear from you directly so I can hook you up with some free resources. So send me an email at chris at thelionwithinus, okay, chris, at the lion withinus, we'll hook you up. I want to have a conversation, find out where you're located as well, see if I can get you plugged into a good Bible, believing gospel, preaching church. That's going to help you stand up as well, just in this. Come alongside just to give you some encouragement, okay.

Speaker 1: 18:16

So, guys, come on back on for our Wednesday episodes a fun conversation that we already have ready and for our Wednesday episodes a fun conversation that we already have ready, and hopefully you guys are going to enjoy it. Looking forward to seeing you there at that. And then head over to thelionwithinus to find all our resources Again, that daily spiritual kickoff that we do for free, our community and also, if you want to apply for our leadership mastermind again, there's no guarantees you're going to be accepted, but if you want to apply for it, you can find all that at the lionwithinus, okay. So all that stuff, resources, are found there directly, all right. So, guys, have a great day.

Speaker 1: 18:49

Give us a rating and review. If you don't mind, that'd be helpful. If you want to support the show, the lionwithinus donate is a great way just to give to what we're doing. We're providing you with value each and every week at the Lion Within Us. We'd love to have your support. All right, so have a great day, guys. Thank you so much for listening. Get after it. Stay strong. Remember to keep unleashing the lion within. I've got something big to share.

Speaker 1: 19:18

We're making a major shift because we know the battle is real and it's time more men had access to the support they need. For too long, guys have been trying to carry the weight alone pressure at work, tension at home, wounds from the past in a world that demands strength but offers no place to rest. We see it, we've lived it, and that's exactly why we built our community. It's a stronghold, a place where warriors can find rest, truth and a band of brothers standing beside them. And starting now, we're making it easier than ever to step in.

Speaker 1: 19:47

We've lowered the barrier to just $15.99 a month. That means, for less than the cost of a drive-thru lunch, you can join a brotherhood that's centered on Christ and built for growth. Inside you'll find access to our daily spiritual kickoffs every Monday through Friday. Our Lion Lunches, our Bible Studies, our Friday Forge Gatherings all that and so much more. Every man needs a stronghold and you don't have to fight alone. If you've been waiting for the right time to jump in, this is it. Go to thelionwithinus and join the community and see for yourself what happens when iron truly sharpens iron.