Who doesn’t want to have power and influence? That’s why people rise through the ranks, store up wealth, connect with the right people, and change things around them. It’s a desire to attain some sort of power and influence. That’s not necessarily bad.
But people often overlook the two things that would make them most powerful and influential. Patience and self-control are the keys to power and influence.
Why patience and self-control? There are three reasons why patience and self-control are keys to power and influence…
- If you can master patience and self-control, everything else will seem easier by comparison. Developing patience and self-control are two of the most difficult thing you’ll ever do. In this world of instant communication, instant on-line ordering, and instant gratification, patience is a lost art. Also, with so many things calling to us from so many directions, self-control seems more elusive than ever before. Many can master careers, finances, and politics, but not as many can master patience and self control.
- Patience and self-control are foundational for true power and influence. Most every person of power and influence is a person who has learned to be patient and control themselves. They’ve learned to wait for the right thing and the right time. They’ve learned to discipline themselves to focus on what’s important. Whether you’re a concert violinist, NBA superstar, corporate CEO or a stay-at-home mom, patience and self-control are the steps that lead to power and influence.
- People of power and influence tend to lose that power an influence when they let patience and self-control slip away. It doesn’t matter whether it’s sports stars, actors, musicians, or politicians. Look at what happens to people of power and influence who impatiently seek to get around the system, or who fail to control their impulses and temptations. It is the lack of patience and self control that causes todays “heroes” to drop like flies.
If you want to be a person of power and influence…
- Become a person who focuses more on being the right person than getting the right position.
- Become a person who can wait for what’s best rather than settle for less.
- Become a person who excels more in controlling yourself than in controlling others.
- Become a person who disciplines yourself more than dictates to others.
- Become a person who serves more than is served.
We need people of power and influence, which means we need people of patience and self-control. You and I can be those people.
Now, let’s take this to another level…
Scripture seems to affirm the importance of patience and self-control. Proverbs 16:32 says, “It is better to be patient than powerful; it is better to have self-control than to conquer a city.” (NLT).
The good news is that patience and self-control are available. If you follow Christ, you’ve received the Holy Spirit, and one of the fruits of that Spirit is patience. (Gal. 5:22) Scripture also tells us that God has given us a spirit of power, love, and self-control. (2 Tim. 1:7).
If you want power and influence, focus on growing in patience and self-control. If you want to grow in patience and self-control, focus on yielding to God’s Spirit within you. (Phil. 4:13).
Leave a comment about someone in your life that demonstrated power and influence through patience and self-control.
Copyright © 2014 Bret Legg