Side by Side

Supernova or Divine Design

by Karen Yancey

Supernovas are huge stars that have so much pressure building up inside of them that they finally “implode,” disintegrating internally. Occasionally, I will run into someone in ministry who feels overloaded, worn out and uncertain of what step to take next. Not only is their “plate” overloaded, but they are facing challenging situations with relationships and dilemmas in their church and family setting. These women, without intervention, may experience an overwhelming, “supernova” type of internal stress.

During the past 25 years of full-time ministry, these 10 non-negotiable mottos have empowered my husband and me to function in our divine design and, in some instances, have kept us from imploding like a supernova.

The top 10 include:

10. Take the High Road

Ministry life is filled with multiple choices. Almost daily we will have an opportunity to choose self-preservation or self-denial. Will we choose stepping below the line of integrity or stepping above the circumstances? At times in ministry, we are wounded by a false word said against us. Immediately, we are faced with a choice. Do we build up a case against another or diffuse potential conflict? When I’ve been wounded, God often challenges me: “Take the low road and try to work it out yourself or take the high road and invite Me to display My glory in this situation.” God’s ways are always best.

9. Nurture a Risk-Taking, Optimistic Attitude!

What do risk takers have in common?

They create an atmosphere for things to happen.
They ask “what would I attempt if it isn’t about me?”
They don’t live in the land of predictability.
They seek out assessments that will enable them to “fit” their dreams with their strengths.

There’s a sign along the Alaskan Highway that reads, "Choose your rut carefully, you’ll be in it for the next 200 miles." Could it be that some women “implode’ because they are “stuck in a rut” that doesn’t mesh with their dreams and giftedness?

8. Cultivate the Passion of Your Calling

“And I thank Christ Jesus our Lord who has enabled me, because he counted me faithful, putting me into the ministry” (1 Timothy 1:12, NKJV).

In busy seasons, we easily become de-energized by program planning and event execution. During those times it’s essential to purposefully remember the bottom line: our God-ordained calling.
What should we remember?

Remember, it’s all about God and bringing glory to His name!

Remember who and whose you are! This defines our calling and defines the kind of person we are becoming.
Remember to consistently live in the presence of God.
Remember your purpose! Purpose will always center on loving God and loving people (Matthew 22).

7. Above All Else, Guard Your Heart

Ephesians 6:11: “Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil” (NKJV). The word wiles comes from the Greek word methodia, from which we derive the word method! The enemy is not haphazard in his approach, and we must not be haphazard in our approach to him!

Keep guard over your conversations; remember, silence can’t be quoted! Turn away from godless chatter.
Keep guard over becoming emotionally entangled with attractive or mysterious men. Secrets have power.

If you are living with one, confess it, and see how its energy and strength will dissipate!

Keep guard over your husband! Maintain a non-jealous balanced vigilance over him. Pray for your husband. Red flags should be considered a protective gift of intuition and discernment. They will be received as such if we offer our insights without any jealous overtones or accusing attitudes.
Keep guard over your children and grandchildren. We must be active in spiritual warfare for the sake of those we love!

6. Keep Your Identity in Christ

Many women struggle with their identity. We often measure ourselves against what others think we should be, or by our own faulty misconceptions of what we think we need to be. Dr. Neil Anderson in his book Victory Over the Darkness stated, "The more you reaffirm who you are in Christ, the more your behavior will begin to reflect your true identity!"

5. Our Inward Perspective Need not Reflect our Outward Circumstances

When Chuck Swindoll was pastoring, he told the story of receiving a note from a woman in his church. She was single and, though she desperately wanted to be married, she chose inward joy in her outward circumstances. In the note, the woman stated her trust was in God’s timing. She also explained that every night she would drape a pair of men’s trousers across the foot of her bed and pray this prayer:

“Father in heaven, hear my prayer, and grant it if you can. I’ve hung a pair of trousers here.
Please fill them with a man!”

4. Keep Developing Personally

1 Timothy 4:7 encourages us to train ourselves in godliness. Make a habit of asking yourself reflective questions like these:

“What will it take for me to go to the next level of effectiveness?”
“What needs to change in my life?”
“What resources do I need to make those changes?”
“What has God been speaking into my life lately?”

Find a friend to hold you accountable to your personal growth goals. Greater growth occurs when we share what we are learning with others!

3. Be Intentional with Horizontal Relationships

Prioritize your family!
Be a lover of people! Jesus always established ministry through relationships, not from the pulpit.

2. Purposefully Connect with the Lost

We must be careful to not become professional clerics. We work around Christians so much that we must purposefully engage in conversation with those who are pre-Christians.

1. Encounter Christ Daily

I appreciate what Bob Sorge states in his book Secrets of the Secret Place:

Daily time produces wonderful benefits:

We become sensitive to God manifesting himself anywhere, anytime!
Prayer is where we broaden and deepen our understanding of God.
A consistent devotional life aligns our thoughts with His!
Helps us maintain godly direction.
Brings definition to purpose.
An intense devotional life will open our eyes to see what we don’t presently see.

So what will it be? Supernova or divine design? Be encouraged—you are a Divine Design!