By Dr. Sheila Schuller Coleman
I had only been in my role as Crystal Cathedral Ministries' new leader for about a month. My first days were filled with new and exciting challenges that I had to trust God to help me navigate. I went before God and asked him daily, "What is it you want me to do? How do you want me to lead this ministry?" One evening as I was sitting down by the ocean, my feet dangling in the salty water, enjoying the light breeze and the dazzling sunset, I prayed my daily prayer of guidance from the Lord. But this night, a voice I recognized as that of my Heavenly Father penetrated my tranquil reverie and rang in my mind, "Sheila, I want you to be a strong leader!" I cringed at the words. My style of leadership is more of a team mom than a drill sergeant. But God continued, "I want you to Love Strong! Believe Strong! And Forgive Strong!" Oh! That I could do!
The more I thought about God's words - the course he had charted for the direction of my leadership - the more depth, the more wisdom I saw in these three mandates.
When praying with someone who is in the midst of enduring the pain of an estranged relationship, I have said, "Love Strong! Even though your love isn't returned. Believe Strong! That God will heal this relationship in his time. Forgive Strong! For the hurtful words and actions."
I share God's power-full words with you at the start of a new year:
- If you are lonely, feel estranged - Love Strong! "...Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind....And love your neighbor as yourself" (MATTHEW 22:37-30).
- If you are afraid, worried, don't know where to turn - Believe Strong! "Faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see" (HEBREWS 11:1).
- If you've been hurt - Forgive Strong! "Forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors" (MATTHEW 6:12). Now that's a recipe for a power-full New Year!
