SELDI Podcast with Tony Williams Tony Williams

Greetings, Leaders.Every great accomplishment, especially those of eternal value, starts with one small step in faith. When we walk with God, where we are now is a result of what we are willing to believe God can accomplish in and through us.Faith is trusting that God will honor His promises to those who believe.What do you sense God calling you to do?Listen to what He says, follow His instructions, and see the beautiful things He will do through you.Take the first step in faith. His promises always succeed."Trust in the LORD with all your heart, lean not to your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him and He will make your paths straight." Proverbs 3:5-6God's power flows through us when we, in faith, commit to His leading and take the first step.You are pleasing to God when you trust Him."And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him." Hebrews 11:6Consider and apply these four steps.Request from God for His purpose and calling you to great things.Record what He is giving you as your vision. "Then the LORD answered me and said, 'Write down the vision and inscribe it clearly on tablets so that those who read it may run.'" Habakkuk 2:2Writing down what comes from hearing God ignites us with courage and confidence to go forward so that those who read it may run.Rehearse and memorize God's promises to all who trust in Him.The LORD says, "I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go. I will guide you along the best pathway for your life. I will advise you and watch over you." Psalm 32:8Resolve to follow His instructions given step by step, keep going, and trust that He will accomplish more incredible things than we can imagine.Communicate what He has done for you to others so they will also trust God for greater things.Be encouraged by the outcome; King David records to inspire us."I waited patiently for the Lord to help me,    and he turned to me and heard my cry.2 He lifted me out of the pit of despair,    out of the mud and the mire.He set my feet on solid ground    and steadied me as I walked along.3 He has given me a new song to sing,    a hymn of praise to our God.Many will see what he has done and be amazed.    They will put their trust in the Lord." King David - Psalm 40:1-4 NLTVictory! 

Greetings, Leaders. The leader you aspire to be and the thoughts you allow to shape your mind are pivotal in defining your leadership. Engaging in self-reflection and understanding why you react and the statements you make are critical steps in this journey. From ancient times, leaders were encouraged to guard their thinking. "For as you think, so you are!"  "Be careful how you think; your life is shaped by your thoughts." Proverbs 4:23 GNT Why is this so important? What we focus on tends to shape our thought processes and influence our emotions. Our hearts, the deep part of us, are reflected in our speech.    "The good person out of the good treasure of his heart produces good, and the evil person out of his evil treasure produces evil, for out of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaks." Luke 6:45 Have you reacted to a situation and made hasty statements you wish you could retract? Sometimes, we want to justify our behaviors with statements like, "That is just how I am. I had to speak what was on my mind." This thinking needs to be corrected!  We can radically affect our thought lives by focusing our thinking and guarding our speech. Here are three actions we can take. First, ask God to help you change your thinking and your heart. With God, all things are possible to the believer.Second, seek Godly counsel from others who demonstrate by their actions that they are walking with God.Third, practice pausing and thinking before you speak or act. These steps are the beginning of becoming the new you, and the leader God wants you to become. The process of changing our thinking is lifelong and challenging. Thomas J. Watson, Sr., once profoundly stated,  "All the problems of the world could be settled easily if men were only willing to think. The trouble is that men very often resort to all sorts of devices in order not to think, because thinking is such hard work."Thomas J. Watson, Sr.  "My dear friends, you should be quick to listen and slow to speak or to get angry. If you are angry, you cannot do any of the good things God wants done." James 1: 19-20 CEV  Here is an insight I gained from King David. Begin every day with this request to God. "Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in your sight, O LORD, my rock and my redeemer." - King David, Psalm 19:14 ESV. Remember and reflect on the things that lift your thinking. You can experience peace.  "And now, dear brothers and sisters, one final thing. Fix your thoughts on what is true, and honorable, and right, and pure, and lovely, and admirable. Think about things that are excellent and worthy of praise." Philippians 4:8 NLT Victory is in store for you. Ask God, and He will provide for you at the right time. "The eyes of the LORD search the whole earth in order to strengthen those whose hearts are fully committed to him. " 2 Chronicles 16:9a Victory!   

Greetings, Leaders! Be encouraged that whatever God calls you to accomplish will come to fruition. For with God, all things are possible. Remember, God's calling and gifts are irrevocable.  No matter the task He assigns us, He guarantees our triumph, no matter how daunting it may seem. Think about what He calls you to do or believe. Please continue believing Him for fulfillment when facing the enemies of discouragement, circumstances, and delays in fulfilling God's vision. "Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time, we will reap a harvest if we do not give up." Galatians 6:9 Consider three things God is doing for us as we believe in Him and His vision for our lives. First, God assures us of the victory. Second, God gives us evidence of His working to encourage us.Third, God graciously provides all we need and, ultimately, the victory! Gideon was a great leader and a farmer in ancient times whom God called to an impossible assignment—to deliver his nation from the oppression of a mighty nation. First, God speaks to Gideon while he is winnowing wheat in a pit so that the enemy will not see him or take his grain, as they did repeatedly every year at harvest time, leaving the people in starvation. When the angel of the LORD appeared to Gideon, he said, "The LORD is with you, mighty warrior." Judges 6:12 Gideon, a farmer, did not see himself as a mighty warrior, but God did. "Sir," Gideon replied, "if the LORD is with us, why has all this happened to us? And where are all the miracles our ancestors told us about?... But now the LORD has abandoned and handed us to the Midianites." Judges 6:13 God encourages us at this moment, just as he encouraged Gideon by saying,  Then the LORD turned to him and said, "Go with the strength you have and rescue Israel. I am sending you!" Judges 6:14 With a new identity from God and belief in God, Gideon takes action and amasses an army of 32,000 men. Even this number was no match for the multitudes of the enemy. God tests Gideon's faith, tells him to reduce his army, and helps him select only 300 warriors!   The LORD told Gideon, "With these 300 men, I will rescue you and give you victory over the Midianites. Send all the others home." "Judges 7:7 God assures you and me that when He calls us, He is faithful to give us victory, which is precisely what happens! "That night, the LORD said, "Get up! Go down into the Midianite camp, for I have given you victory over them!" Judges 7:9 "Listen to what the enemy is saying, and you will be greatly encouraged. Then you will be eager to attack."  God guided Gideon's steps that night, and he arrived at just the right time to hear the enemy speaking of their defeat at the hands of Gideon and his army! Greatly encouraged, Gideon returns to his men and gives them instructions from God. They take action, and God graciously does all the rest. The outcome—a fantastic victory for them and an example for us! Remember, "with God all things are possible." Jesus, Matthew 19:26 Victory!    

Greetings, Leaders. Rejoice! Again, I say rejoice. If you feel rushed, hurried, time-pressured, and experiencing task overload, God's promise of stillness is yours and mine.  "Be still and know that I am God." - Psalm 46:10 We live in a hurry and keep going in life and career. We can benefit from the instructions and examples seen in the lives of three great leaders to manage the stress of speed.   First, remind yourself to take time to consider what great things God has done in your life. Gratitude allows us to focus on God's goodness and strengthens our faith.  Life and career goals can make us so progress and future-oriented that we forget the good things God has already done. Remembering God's help in accomplishments strengthens us to move ahead with confidence. Here are three benefits of stillness and situations to consider. First, stillness calms our fretting souls - our minds, will, and emotions. As we get alone and remain silent before God, we experience our fragmented emotions becoming whole.  King David wrote about his experience when he was still before God. "The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want.He makes me lie down in green pastures: he leadeth me beside the still waters. He restoreth my soul: he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name's sake." Psalm 23:1-3 Second, God desires to encourage us on our journey when we become overwhelmed by activity, stress, and fatigue.Elijah, a great leader who had recently won a significant victory, became fearful and retreated to a cave.  But God spoke to him there."The Lord said, "Go out and stand on the mountain in the presence of the Lord, for the Lord is about to pass by."Then, a great and powerful wind tore the mountains apart and shattered the rocks before the Lord, but the Lord was not in the wind. After the wind, there was an earthquake, but the Lord was not in the earthquake. After the earthquake came a fire, but the Lord was not in the fire. After the fire came a gentle whisper. When Elijah heard it, he pulled his cloak over his face and stood at the cave's mouth." Then a voice said to him, "What are you doing here, Elijah?" 1 Kings 19:11-13 Third, when we know God, we can be confident and help others during significant conflicts.  Moses, a great leader who knew God, spoke peace and encouragement to a group of frightened and panicked people when facing the Red Sea behind them and the enemy army rapidly approaching to destroy them. "Moses answered the people, "Do not be afraid. Stand firm, and you will see the deliverance the LORD will bring you today. The Egyptians you see today you will never see again. The LORD will fight for you; you need only to be still." Exodus 14:14 Their stillness and trust in God provided the victory that day! My friends, make it your practice to be still and listen to God's words of encouragement, instruction, and assurance of victory.You will discover His peace, energy, instructions, and awareness of His presence to gain new victories. Victory!     

 Greetings, Leaders. Recall the person who spoke encouraging words to you at the right time in your life.   Their words spoke life to you. Now, you and I can build up and encourage ourselves and others with our words. Words Matter!   Use your words wisely. "Death and life are in the power of the tongue, And those who love it will eat its fruit." Proverbs 18:21 What we say to ourselves and others produces effects. Words are powerful! Begin to monitor your words. Are they affirming or negative? Are they uplifting or critical? Are they expressing faith and unbelief? Are you expressing gratitude or complaining? This insight made me effective in my life and career. Once I understood the power of my words, I began to grow as a person and a leader. I became aware of my ability to give life to a person or situation through understanding. I became sensitive to how our words can also kill or destroy a person, situation, or opportunity. We need God's wisdom in what to speak for, building up instead of pulling down. Let's begin a 15-day challenge. Could you think twice before we speak? "There is one who speaks rashly like the thrusts of a sword. But the tongue of the wise brings healing. Truthful lips will be established forever. But a lying tongue is only for a moment." Proverbs 12: 18-19 Again, recall the person who encouraged and taught you the truth and pray that God makes you that kind of person and leader. King David is called "a man after God's heart." He prays "God, create a pure heart in me.    Give me a new spirit that is faithful to you." Psalm 51:10 NIRV Why? Because David knew that the mouth speaks out of the abundance of the heart.  How can we begin developing the mindset of "My words matter! in life and career?" Begin now. Follow King David's example. Ask God to create a clean heart and renew your right spirit.Seek to practice and use your words wisely in every situation. "May my spoken words and unspoken thoughts be pleasing even to you, O Lord my Rock and my Redeemer." Psalm 19:14 TLBKnock - Keep practicing believing that with God, you can transform your speech and impact everything you do for something beautiful.You will then see the truth about the power of the tongue and eat the fruit your words fitly spoken will provide. You will know the truth, freeing you to enjoy and talk about abundant life to all you serve. "The right word at the right time    is like a custom-made piece of jewelry,And a wise friend's timely reprimand    is like a gold ring slipped on your finger." Proverbs 25:11 The MSG Victory!   

Greetings, Leaders. What would you say is the most significant attribute of a leader?When you list your five top attributes, does love appear on the list?When I discovered God's love, it changed everything in my life and career. What an empowering revelation to know that God loves you unconditionally and eternally! "Yes, I have loved you with an everlasting love; Therefore, with lovingkindness I have drawn you." Jeremiah 31:3 My discovery changed my relationships, my service to others, and my engagements with clients, colleagues, family, and friends, and everyone was affected positively. I wondered what caused this dynamic change in me and us. How could a shy, introverted, insecure, angry, bitter and fearful person with low self-esteem be transformed? What if all the things I had believed about myself were lies like shackles were holding me captive?  When I experienced love, God ignited my true identity within me! For the first time in over thirty years, I began to see myself the way God sees me—Identity Matters! The outcome was discovering the truth, and my shackles fell way, liberating me to soar like an eagle! "And you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free." John 8:32 NLT Love. Love never fails. What does love in action look like in a leader?If a leader's actions do not reflect the love of God, they will have no power and certainly not last. Who is the source of love? God is love. What are the manifestations of love? Here is an insight on the most empowering attribute. "Love is patient and kind. Love is not jealous or boastful or proud 5 or rude. It does not demand its own way. It is not irritable, and it keeps no record of being wronged. 6 It does not rejoice about injustice but rejoices whenever the truth wins out. 7 Love never gives up, never loses faith, is always hopeful, and endures through every circumstance." 1 Corinthians 13: 4-7 Love never fails. The key is this: God is love. Love drives out fear from us. There is no fear in love, but perfect love casts out fear. Consider and reflect on the qualities and outcomes of love.Ask God to reveal His love to you. Picture, ponder, and personalize experiencing His love for you. Love changes everything and is the most significant attribute anyone can possess. "Three things will last forever—faith, hope, and love—and the greatest of these is love." 1 Corinthians 13:13 NLT   "And you must love the Lord your God with all your heart, soul, mind, and strength.' 31 The second is equally important: 'Love your neighbor as yourself.' No other commandment is greater than these." Jesus Mark 12: 30-31 My friends, I pray that love abounds and overflows into everything you do and experience in life and your career. "For this is how God loved the world: He gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life." John 3:16  Remember, love never fails! Victory!