Change is not easy to embrace.
Change is not always easy. Some times it actually hurts. A few nights ago I apparently slept with my head crooked on my pillow. When I woke up I could hardly move. I was in pain, couldn’t move to get up, and I needed someone just to push me out of bed. You know the drill, since then it has been a series of extreme changes in temperature ( hot packs and cold packs). The first day I had to just look straight ahead and couldn’t turn my neck to the right or left without moving my whole body or feeling extreme discomfort.
As I lay in bed this morning wandering what message I would send out into the world today, and again thinking about how my neck and shoulder were still in pain; the Lord began to speak to me. So here I am changing things up a bit and writing to you in the wee hours of the morning.
Are you ready to embrace change?
Many times we get so set in our ways of doing things that we miss out on what God wants us to do.
To the Pharisees, who were stuck in their religious ways, the ways they had always known, the ways they learned from their parents, schooling and culture, Stephen had these words to say just before his death.
“You men who are stiff-necked and uncircumcised in heart and ears are always resisting the Holy Spirit ; you are doing just as your fathers did.” Act 7:51
They had been stuck in their ways so long it was impossible for them to change the way they thought without experiencing extreme discomfort.
In order to embrace change you must be willing to try something new.
Jesus came to make ALL things new.
Not just some things, all things. In Jesus we are NEW creations.
That means all bets are off. If God can imagine it, then it is possible. Oh, and God has a big imagination!.
Sometimes change is not fun. It is scary! You are not sure how things are going to turn out or if others will reject you for the choices you make.
When God brings change in your life, these things I know!
Some people are not going to like it!
The path you take may be difficult.
Change is never easy.
There may be some pain involved.
Have you ever dared walking on water?
I also know these things!
If God is calling you and you don’t step out of your boat of comfort, you may miss walking on the water!
(That is something that I have dreamed about since I was a kid. I even tried a pair of those blow up shoes once, but they didn’t work.)
I don’t want myself, my spouse, or my kids to miss out on any great work that God wants to do through our family.
We have a mission!
That mission is to change the world one moment at a time through our complete obedience to the Shepherd’s voice and His Word.
When Peter stepped out of the boat, he was not looking at his reflection on the smooth surface of the lake. Nope, he was in the middle of the storm of his life! Somehow the enemy has convinced us that we can start to follow Christ in a more dedicated way once all of your stuff is in order. I have found that Jesus wants to order my stuff:) Everytime I get things arranged in my basket on my own strength, the basket gets dumped out again.
I beleive in order to experience the supernatural miracles in our lives that Jesus wants to show us, we have to be willing to step out in faith in the middle of our storms. Leave the security of the boat, the comfort of friends, and the fear of the impossible all behind and just step out into the waves. The trick of course in not looking at your feet, but keeping your eyes on Jesus.
Beleive me, He knows the storm you are in the middle of and the sturdiness of your boat. According to Act 17:26-28, He knows exactly where we are at all points in history and sets our boundaries. He does this so that we will seek Him and find Him. Peter sought Jesus out during the storm took His hand and walked back to the boat. He could have just waited for Jesus to get to the boat, but then he would have missed out on this life changing experience of walking through the storm hand in hand with His Savior.
Change doesn’t come without a price.
Be sure some hard work is to follow. It will take a little stretching and some very heated moments. You may even meet a few cold shoulders along the way. But I promise you, if you get rid of your stiff neck and step out of your boat, it will be worth it!
What kind of change is God calling you to make in your life?
Here are some of mine:
- Set aside a time regular time to just spend with Him
- Get up a little earlier, go to bed a little sooner
- Invest time in furthering my education, self-study or school
- Spend more quality time with my family
- Finnish unfinished projects
Change not only requires courage, but also time.
So I for the first time in my life I am forced to become a manager of my time.
My fly by the seat of my pants lifestyle is just not going to cut it anymore if I plan to fulfill my dreams of walking on the water.
What are your dreams?
What change is God calling you to make in your life or in the life of your family?
I encourage you to write out your dreams or the things that you feel God is calling you to accomplish. Set goals on how to achieve your destiny and find those who have gone before you to hold you accountable. Called to write a book? Then pick up your pen and put something on paper. Called to start a business? Do some research, decide on a name, wrte out a business plan. Whatever adventure God is calling you to walk through, all He is requireing of you right now is to take a step of faith., and keep your eyes on Him.
Leave us a comment.
We would love to encourage you as you prepare to step out of the boat of what is familiar and into the NewThings that God is calling you to do.
Madaline
Leave a Reply