Living in Your Comfort Zone
Today I was inspired after reading the following blog post by Mark Batterson. Before sharing it I want to say that I know how easy it is to stay in a comfort zone because it feels good. Coasting is easy. Yet I know from experience that God did not call us to be comfortable. We were called to obey His Word which will always stretch and grow us. He wants us to trust him and without stepping out of where we are we will miss experiencing Him in a powerful way. The funny thing is when I do step out in faith and obedience there is such joy and renewed intimacy with Him that is worth everything. All I have seen teaches me to trust Him for all I have not seen.
Friday, March 06, 2009
Go. Set. Ready.
There is an old adage: ready, set, go. And that is how many of us operate spiritually. But I wonder if our modus operandi should be: go, set, ready. If you wait till you’re ready, you’ll never go! I wasn’t ready to pastor. I wasn’t ready to get married. We weren’t ready to go multi-site. If I’ve learned anything I’ve learned this: you’ll never be ready.
I just read through the book of Acts and my macro observation is this: they didn’t over-analyze. They genuinely believed that the Holy Spirit would guide them and He did. It is such a spirit-prompted story.
I absolutely believe in cost-analysis and risk-reward ratios. In fact, Jesus told us to count the cost. But two thousand years ago he also said, “Go.” And he hasn’t said “stop” since. So why do we ask if we should go? Shouldn’t we ask if we should stay? I just wonder what the church would look like if we assumed go unless God said stop.
I know we need timelines and priorities and strategies. And I know you have to discern the Spirit’s leading in the unique circumstances of your life. But I also believe in Ecclesiastes 11:1: “cast your bread on the water for after many days you will find it again.” All I know is this: I don’t want to get to the of my life and wonder “what if”. It is the inaction regrets that haunt us. It’s what we could have, would have, and should have done that we will regret the most.
Go. Set. Ready.
