“Do you see a man who excels in his work? He will stand before kings; he will not stand before unknown men.”
Proverbs 22:29 (NKJV)

AUGUST 23 - Stand before kings? Hard to believe, you might say, but it has happened in my life. I have had the privilege of standing before many great men and women, including kings, queens, and presidents of different nations. The verse above says, “Do you see a man who excels? He will stand before kings; he will not stand before unknown men.” Your pursuit of excellence awakens the remarkable process of transformation. You may say, “Dr. Thompson, not me. You don’t know me, I am just an ordinary Joe.”

Please listen carefully: If God can take a man who did drugs, became an alcoholic by the age of fourteen, embezzled stereo equipment, and was institutionalized at a mental hospital, and cause him to stand before some of the greatest men and women on the face of the earth, then He can certainly do it for you.

But with every great achievement there comes a great price to be paid. As you pursue excellence, which is the continual pursuit of improvement, God takes you—an ordinary person—and does extraordinary things through your life. Now, the question is, do you believe it?

Father, I thank You that I excel in my work and I will stand before kings and not unknown men.

Family Scripture Reading

Genesis 32

Featured Resource

Winning The Heart Of God - Book

What is the ultimate prize that this world has to offer? The Nobel Peace Prize? An Oscar? A Super Bowl ring? A lucrative recording contract?

Certainly you can find all types of contests in which to compete and a host of valuable prizes to covet in today’s society. But in this book, Dr. Robb Thompson tells you how to win the ultimate prize of life – the heart of your Heavenly Father.

Using illustrations from the lives of Biblical men and women, Dr. Thompson vividly portrays what it means to be a person after God’s own heart. In the process, he tackles the all-important topics of submission and covenant loyalty – scriptural concepts that are frequently shunned and swept under the collective rug in Christendom today.

As Dr. Thompson so succinctly asks, “What else do you have in life, if you don’t have the heart of the Father?” That’s a question only you can answer for yourself. Pursue the prize of your Father’s heart, and watch everything else in your life fall into place (Matthew 6:33).

Table of Contents

Introduction
Part 1: A Submitted Heart
David: A Man After God’s Own Heart
The Subtle Trap of Rebellion
God’s Way of Relating to Authority
Choose Obedience
God’s Only Path to Fulfillment

Part 2: A Loyal Heart
The Foundation of Faithfulness
The Steadfast Loyalty of our God
Loyalty: Our Link to Divinity
Loyalty is a Choice
Notes
Acknowledgments
About the Author

Posted under Excellence