INITIATIVE

Genesis chapter 1




Today we are walking in: Initiative






Today we look to the word-LEADER- H5057 nagiyd-- leader, ruler, captain, prince; excellent thing, (chief) governor, leader, noble, prince, (chief) ruler.



The Torah Testifies.............................

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The prophets proclaim...............



Isaiah 55:4 - Behold, I have given him for a witness to the people, a leader H5057 and commander to the people.








The writings bear witness.............



2Chronicles 32:21 - And the LORD sent an angel, which cut off all the mighty men of valour, and the leaders H5057 and captains in the camp of the king of Assyria. So he returned with shame of face to his own land. And when he was come into the house of his god, they that came forth of his own bowels slew him there with the sword



CHAPTER ELEVEN
Attitude #2 Initiative


The greatest value you can possess is a good attitude.


The attitude of initiative is one the most important attributes of true leaders that distinguishes them from perpetual followers. Leaders don’t wait for the future to come; they create it. They don’t wait for others to do what they know they should or could do. This is the distinction of leaders.


The inspiration of leadership is vision. A vision is a picture of what you want to accomplish. Yet the attitude of initiative makes the difference between a plan and an actual result. In other words, vision is a desire, while initiative gets it accomplished.


Let’s look at some descriptions of initiative:


• Initiative is a catalyst.


• Initiative is taking action.


• Initiative springs from self-motivation.




• Initiators are self-starters who don’t need outside urging to do something.


• Initiators make specific decisions to begin things.


The Creator is our primary example of the leadership attitude of initiative. The account of creation in the first book by Moses starts with, “In the beginning Yah created the heavens and the earth. Now the earth was formless and empty, darkness was over the surface of the deep, and the Spirit of Yah was hovering over the waters. And Yah said, ‘Let there be light,’ and there was light.”


VISION IS A DESIRE; INITIATIVE GETS IT ACCOMPLISHED.


Before Yah spoke, the earth was formless, empty, and dark. It would have remained that way if he hadn’t initiated the process of creation. He saw the potential of the earth and transformed it into something that had form, was teeming with created beings, and was filled with light. The most important lesson here is hidden in the words, “In the beginning Yah created.” Here we see that the spirit of leadership initiates activity and activates change. This is the spirit of a leader. Leaders don’t just dream; they awaken and act on their dreams.


THE PRINCIPLES OF INITIATIVE


1. Initiative is the key to accomplishment.


There are numerous examples of inventors, composers, and others who initiated works out of their imaginations that otherwise would have remained mere potential. As you develop the attitudes of leadership, consider what ideas and desires you want to bring to reality and how taking initiative would be the catalyst for their manifestation.


2. Initiative is the power of momentum.


Merriam-Webster’s 11th Collegiate Dictionary describes inertia as an “indisposition to motion, exertion, or change.” Inertia is a fact of life. Things don’t get started, progress, or get back on track once they’ve stalled unless someone takes action to set them on the right course again.


At a baseball game, a base coach urges on the runners to round the bases and make it to home before they are thrown out. He helps them to keep their momentum. Similarly, the attitude of initiative enables you to be your own coach so that you maintain momentum in pursuit of your life’s purpose.


3. Initiative is the manifestation of decision.




Nothing can be accomplished unless a decision has been made concerning it. In our everyday lives, we don’t buy a house, choose a dress, or select one form of insurance over another unless we specifically decide to take one thing and put aside all other options. This principle holds true as we exercise our gift of leadership. Effective leadership involves a number of decisions and choices, which can lead many people to resist and forsake procrastination. Initiative enables us to make choices that help us to move forward in our goals.


4. Initiative is the key to pleasing leadership.


Both leaders and followers appreciate the attitude of initiative in their fellow workers. When a leader is indecisive or a follower continually has to be told what to do, it is not only draining on those affected, but it is also inefficient. Leadership growth comes as a result of enthusiastically embracing and moving forward in our purposes.


INITIATIVE ENABLES US TO MOVE FORWARD IN OUR GOALS.


5. Initiative is the manifestation of the spirit of confidence and faith.


We often hesitate to take initiative because we are afraid of responsibility or the consequences of our actions. The writer of Hebrews said, “But my righteous one will live by faith. And if he shrinks back, I will not be pleased with him.” When we exhibit the attitude of initiative, it shows that we are operating in faith and the confidence that Yah will see us through as we pursue the purposes that he has for us.


6. Initiative is the spirit of creativity.


Inventors have the habit of doing multiple experiments. They keep trying until something works. Initiative often works in a similar way. A willingness to keep starting and trying things as we pursue our purposes sparks the spirit of creativity and yields good results for those who delight in trying “one more thing.”


7. Initiative is the key to obedience.


When we know that we’re supposed to do something, that is when we should begin to do it. Holding back until we feel like it or the circumstances are better is not conducive to the practice of doing what we need to do at the time that we need to do it in order to accomplish our goals.


UTILIZING THE POWER OF INITIATIVE


How is the attitude of initiative affected by your beliefs about yourself, your purpose, and your Yah? Leaders utilize the power of initiative because they—


• believe in the integrity and faithfulness of their Creator.


• believe in their causes.


• believe in the rightness of their dreams.


• believe in their competence.


• are not afraid to fail.


To become the leader that you were born to be, you must cultivate the spirit of initiative. Don’t wait for others to do what you know you could and should do. Be a leader— initiate.