Strengthen Your Stakes

There’s a powerful, yet hidden verse in Isaiah 54:2 which says: “Enlarge the place of your tent, stretch your tent...
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There’s a powerful, yet hidden verse in Isaiah 54:2 which says: “Enlarge the place of your tent, stretch your tent curtains wide, do not hold back; lengthen your cords, strengthen your stakes.”

The first part of this verse is where I find many business leaders this time of year: They are working hard to maximize their efforts, enlarge their tents, run strong, meet their mid-year fiscal goals and are stretching themselves (and their teams) to the limit.

Of course, there’s nothing wrong with leaving it all on the field and holding nothing back. However, the final phrase in this verse sticks out to me the most…

“… strengthen your stakes.”

Often times, I find this is what many business leaders fail to do. They over-stretch and over-work themselves, barely leaving any energy for their family and friends.

 

Pushing pause to check in:

We will be wise to remember that an overextended tent with weak stakes is doomed to collapse. Many leaders forget who they are and who is really in control. They forget the truth that productivity actually decreases when you try to do everything on your to-do list.

The reality is for every extra dollar we spend to stretch our stakes, they must also be deepened. Therefore, we need to rest well in order to have the energy to be present in every moment. We also must work to keep our priorities in order so we can model what we believe and live out our vision and values.

We want to encourage you with this as the first half of the year comes to a close and we transition into the second half. We want to challenge you to consider where you’re at and remind you to be mindful of your pace and perspective.

When you pause to do this effectively you make sure that at the end of the year, you can breeze through the finish line rather than collapse on it!

“Let your roots grow down into him, and let your lives be built on him. Then your faith will grow strong in the truth you were taught, and you will overflow…”
-Colossians 2:7