The Choice You Must Make
Good Morning,
Perhaps you have decided to deal with a lie that you had let disqualify you for pursuit of a dream. If you have done so you now stand on the threshold of a new day. You may be feeling a new level of excitement about what “could be”. As you look back on your life you may have remembered a dream that you once had that has gotten lost while trying to navigate the complexities and demands of life. You may for the first time in a long time, be giving yourself permission to think outside the box you have had yourself in.
God has divinely placed in you passions, and pursuits that stir your heart and resolve. He has wired certain gifts and talents into you that the world will miss if you don’t utilize them. When you pursue the deep cries of your heart you will feel fresh wind in your sails and feel a deeper sense that your life matters. There is something else you will feel. You will at times, feel uncomfortable.
If you have been a reader of the Monday Morning Minute for any length of time, you will recall the premise that resonates throughout Scripture; that God continually calls us forward. And with “forward” almost always comes a choice to leave your comfort zone and embrace growth. It is this very thing that has derailed many a dream. When the euphoria of beginning fades a bit, the realization that following a dream involves facing challenges sets in. And for far too many, they return to the comfort of the life they were living instead of moving courageously forward.
Perhaps nowhere in the Bible is this better illustrated than in the journey of the Israelites after departing Egypt. The thrill of leaving was quickly followed by challenges. They were pursued by an army, faced the Red Sea, water was scarce, and food different than they were used to. Finally in chapter 16 of Exodus they expressed their longing for the comforts of Egypt… Egypt - where they were slaves! But they had become strangely comfortable with slavery. The desire to turn back is a trap we can all fall into if we aren’t careful.
As you begin the process of looking at “what could he” and take small steps forward you will have to choose courage over comfort time and again. You will have to choose it when you can’t see a clear outcome. You will have to choose it when others think your dream is dumb. You will have to choose it when the resources needed aren’t at hand. No dream is realized without this choice being made.
Never forget however, that you don’t journey alone. The God who placed these dreams in you is always with you. The call God had for His people throughout Scripture is the same for you. “Take courage and move forward, I am out front!”
What choice will you make?
For I am the LORD your God who takes hold of your right hand and says to you, Do not fear; I will help you. Is. 41:13
Questions to ponder this week:
1. How has comfort held your your dreams hostage?
2. What would embracing God’s call forward look like for you this week?
Live on purpose,
Ron Klopfenstein
P.S. Feel free to pass these on to others you know. Also feel free to share your feedback and stories of impact with me.