Jesus The King, 7-38-55 Rule, Knowing Who You Are
The Disciple-Leader Newsletter #45 // December 3, 2023
Discipleship. Leadership. Mental Performance.
DISCIPLESHIP
Let my heart be a temple
Let that temple have a throne
Let the one who sits upon it
Be You and You alone
President Nelson has said, “Take an inventory of your time. That will tell you where your heart is.”
With that in mind, let's do a quick exercise in self-reflection.
Self-Reflection Steps
Look at your past week. Think about each day. How was your time spent? What got your attention?
If a stranger looked at your week, would they be able to tell who sits on your throne?
It’s really easy to say that Jesus is the King of your life. The real question is, is He the king of your week? Is He the King of your days?
Michael Crichton wrote, "A day is like a whole life. You start out doing one thing, but end up doing something else, plan to run an errand, but never get there. … And at the end of your life, your whole existence has that same haphazard quality, too. Your whole life has the same shape as a single day.”
If He isn’t the King of your days and weeks, He isn’t the King of your life.
Make Him the King of each day of your life. Only by doing this, is He really the King of your life.
LEADERSHIP
The “7-38-55 Percent Rule”:
7% of the message = our words
38% of the message = our tone of voice
55% of the message = our body language and faceDr. Albert Mehrabian's (UCLA) research
The take-home message from his research:
When communicating,
Our body language screams
Our tone of voice speaks
Our words whisper
The first and most lasting memory others take away from interacting with you isn't what you say. It's how you are.
David Brooks has written, "Each of us has a characteristic way of showing up in the world, a physical and mental presence that sets a tone for how people interact with us. Some people walk into a room with an expression that is warm and embracing; others walk in looking cool and closed up. Some people first encounter others with a gaze that is generous and loving; other people regard those they meet with a formal and aloof gaze.
"That gaze, that first sight, represents a posture toward the world ... A person who beams warmth brings out the glowing sides of other people she meets, while a person who conveys formality can meet the same people and find them stiff and detached."
After sharing an experience he had with his friend Jimmy—who had a gift for making others feel special—he delved into what made Jimmy great.
"Jimmy's gaze when he greets a person derives from a certain conception of what a person is. Jimmy is a pastor. When Jimmy sees a person—any person—he is seeing a creature who was made in the image of God. As he looks into each face, he is looking, at least a bit, into the face of God. When Jimmy sees a person, any person, he is also seeing a creature endowed with an immortal soul—a soul of infinite value and dignity. When Jimmy greets a person, he is also trying to live up to one of the great callings of his faith: He is trying to see that person the way Jesus would see that person. He is trying to see them with Jesus's eyes—eyes that lavish love on the meek and the lowly, the marginalized and those in pain, and on every living person. When Jimmy sees a person, he comes in with the belief that this person is so important that Jesus was willing to die for their sake. As a result, Jimmy is going to greet people with respect and reverence. That's how he's always greeted me."
Be like Jimmy.
MENTAL PERFORMANCE
"If you know who you are, you'll never waste energy worrying about who others think you are."
Sahil Bloom
Who are you?
The answer is simple: "You are a child of God. He is the father of your spirit. Spiritually you are of noble birth, the offspring of the King of Heaven. Fix that truth in your mind and hold to it. However many generations in your mortal ancestry, no matter what race or people you represent, the pedigree of your spirit can be written on a single line. You are a child of God!” - Boyd K. Packer
Remember Jimmy from the leadership section above? The way he sees people—that is your identity.
President Russell M. Nelson has taught, "I believe that if the Lord were speaking to you directly, the first thing He would make sure you understand is your true identity. My dear friends, you are literally spirit children of God. Is that eternal truth imprinted upon your heart? ... Make no mistake about it: Your potential is divine. With your diligent seeking, God will give you glimpses of who you may become.”
If your divine identity is not written on your heart, follow President Nelson's advice. Diligently seek for that knowledge. Ask God to confirm the truth about your identity. He will.
“Ask your Heavenly Father, in the name of Jesus Christ, how He feels about you and your mission here on earth. If you ask with real intent, over time the Spirit will whisper the life-changing truth to you. Record those impressions and review them often, and follow through with exactness.
“I promise you that when you begin to catch even a glimpse of how your Heavenly Father sees you and what He is counting on you to do for Him, your life will never be the same!” - President Nelson
You can stop wasting energy worrying about who others think you are. But only if you know who you are. And there's only one way to know the truth: Ask of God.
Disciple-Leadership: Jesus-led. Lead like Jesus.