day 749: Victimization

"For God did not give us a spirit of timidity, but a spirit of power, of love and of self-discipline."

I'm not sure how it happens, but it's easy to fall into the role of the "victim" and then start posturing and acting that way. I see it a lot in businesses where things happen that are "out of their control" and instead of moving past those things with a plan that takes them forward, they get stuck where they are and become the victim. Once in that place it is hard to find the way back. If in a leadership role we are acting like victims then we can be very sure that the same is happening all through our companies. Once it becomes okay to blame the unknown or the faceless and nameless, then it becomes accepted to do the same with "they". "They wouldn't let me", or "They aren't supporting us", or "They are the problem" are all victim statements. It's worth stepping back for a moment and ensuring that there isn't a thread of victimization that is running amok in your business.

We are not called to be victims in this life that we have been given. We are told that ours is not to be a spirit of timidity, but a spirit of power and love and self-discipline. We cannot portray those characteristics and traits in our lives if we are living as a victim. Sure, there are many things, all day long, that happen to us that are far from being in our control, but we have the promise of God with us and a gift of faith. There is no reason for us to ever feel the victim if we are trusting and believing that God has us in His hands. Is there are a part of us today who are playing the victim over something at work? Have we found ourselves sitting back and saying, "That's their problem, not mine"? Let's check ourselves today and be sure that we are not playing the victim and that we are working and living in the spirit that God desires for us.

Reference: 2 Timothy 1:7 (New Living Testament)