Don't Give Up.

"Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the LORD your God will be with you wherever you go." Josh. 1:9.

I’m sure you have seen a young fledgling bird attempting to fly? It's always a sight to behold. The bird starts off by flapping its wings – on the spot, as it were – to exercise them, to get the feel of the wind and to learn how to judge the air currents. Eventually, the bird picks up enough courage to take the leap of faith; to take its feet off the ground and launch itself into the air. Usually, what happens is the bird aims for an adjacent branch on the same or a nearby tree and attempts to make a dash for it. Sometimes the bird makes it but often it will fail to reach its intended target and crash land on some other branch. Does the young bird give up? – No, of course not. – It tries and tries again until it eventually achieves its objective. There is an important lesson behind this little escapade. The message is this: It is better to take a risk and launch out into new territory than to live your whole life in a place that you don’t want to be.

A lot of religious and godly folks are held up in mediocrity due to some very obvious factors, which includes; the fear that new ideas or methods will disrupt their comfort and security. This "metathesiophobia"—the fear of changing—can make them stick to routines that are predictable, even if those routines are not producing spiritual growth. They often prefer the "known" over the "unknown". Meanwhile nothing can be further from the truth than the values they seem to get stuck to. I perceive God speaking to a lot of believers and the church in general, it's time to discard unproductive values and teachings and embrace the very teachings to aid and help you become better, spiritually, mentally and physically. God is not glorified when a believer is satisfied with mediocrity and lies. You must step up and step out.

For some other believers, it's what I term “The Pride of Arrival and Contentment.” Some believers feel that because they have been saved or have held certain beliefs for a long time, they have "arrived" and do not need to grow further. This complacency results in satisfaction with the status quo, causing them to stop seeking deeper truths or new ways to serve. On a deeper search you will realise that this complacency may also be sired by fear of failure or lack of trust in the process God has established. The fear that a new initiative might not work causes paralysis. This often stems from a lack of faith that God will guide them through uncharted territory, leading them to rely on their own past successes rather than risking a new endeavour. I believe this is all you need to get up, flap your wings and soar. God is waiting for you to become all He has designed you to be. Get up and show up.

FURTHER READING:

"Be strong and of good courage, do not fear nor be afraid of them; for the LORD your God, He is the One who goes with you. He will not leave you nor forsake you." Duet. 31:6.

"Be strong and courageous, and do the work. Do not be afraid or discouraged, for the LORD God, my God, is with you." 1 Chron. 28:20.

DECLARATION: 

Dear Abba Father, I thank You for the gift of life and the privilege of salvation. Lord, I come before You today, weary and unsure, seeking the courage to soar. Your Word promises that those who hope in You will renew their strength and mount up with wings like eagles. Lord, I am ready to stop settling for the valley and to stop flying on my own strength. Please lift me above my fears, anxieties, and the weight of my circumstances. Give me the courage to trust You, to take the risk, and to soar higher than I ever thought possible. In Jesus' name, Amen."

1 YEAR BIBLE READING PLAN:

Lev. 26:1-46.

Lev. 27:1-37.

Num. 1:1-54.

QUOTE FOR THE DAY:

Your Comfort Zone Is The Hindrance To Your New Zone. If You Will Not Leave Your Comfort Zone Forgot About Your Next Level.