Tag: risk

Get Comfortable with Uncomfortable

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“Going on from there, he saw two other brothers, James son of Zebedee and his brother John. They were in a boat with their father Zebedee, preparing their nets. Jesus called them, and immediately they left the boat and their father and followed him.” Matthew 4:21-22 NIV

When Jesus calls you, He will challenge you to step out of your comfort zone.

When He calls you to step out of your comfort zone it is because He wants your comfort zone to grow. 

He will challenge how you see yourself and the limits that puts on your life.

He does not define you by what you do.

You are defined by who you are: God’s child.

Just so you know, Jesus will not stop calling you out of your comfort zone.

Why? Because he wants you to grow to your full potential in Him.

And when your uncomfortable zone becomes comfortable- He will call you out of it. 

God loves you just as you are and that same love won’t let you stay just as you are.

You are not called to live a comfortable life, you have been called to an abundant life in Christ.

You have been called to go.

You have been called to grow.

You have been called to give and to love.

If you think that God is calling you out of your comfort zone- HE IS.

It’s time to get comfortable with being uncomfortable and live the life God has created you to live.

What comfort zone is Jesus calling you out of today?

When Risk Is a Refuge

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“The Lord is good, a refuge in times of trouble. He cares for those who trust in him.”   Nahum 1:7 NIV

Every time you step out in faith in Jesus, it is a risk.

Being faithful to Jesus may look like being a failure to the world.

He may ask you to leave what you know, sacrifice whatever is needed, and embrace a temporary difficulty for the hope of a future promise.

Know that even though the risk seems great, a life lived in faith in the Son of God means that every cross He asks you to bear leads to a resurrection to a new kind of life you have never lived before.

This is the prayer I am whispering over you today, “Jesus, take care of my friends as they step out in faith. Thank you that they are trusting you as they face risk. Reward them with courage and vision and do what only You can do – the impossible in them and through them. In Your Name, Amen”

Walk In Love

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“And this is love: that we walk in obedience to his commands. As you have heard from the beginning, his command is that you walk in love.”
2 John 1:6 NIV

Love always takes a step of faith.

It always feels like a risk.

It is always worth it.

Jesus died for you so that you could live in the fullness and freedom of His love.

God will work in you but He will not walk for you.

That is up to you.

What does walking in love mean to you today?

Walk In Love

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“And this is love: that we walk in obedience to his commands. As you have heard from the beginning, his command is that you walk in love.”
2 John 1:6 NIV

Love always takes a step of faith.

It always feels like a risk.

It is always worth it.

Jesus died for you so that you could live in the fullness and freedom of His love.

God will work in you but He will not walk for you.

That is up to you.

What does walking in love mean to you today?

 

Just So You Know

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Wednesday

Just so you know: you are going to make a mistake today.

Probably more than one.

It will not be the end of the world.

Failure is not fatal.

You will never get anywhere if you run back to what you know at every challenge.

A mistake means that you are trying, so pick yourself up off the ground and try again.

Yes, it is difficult but it is not impossible.

“Pursue righteousness and a godly life, along with faith, love, perseverance, and gentleness.” 1 Timothy 6:11 NLT

So, make a mistake or two, or three.

Risk failure.

Fail.

But don’t give up.

Get up and try again.

Take a Risk

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My relationship with Jesus has challenged me to do things I thought I never would do. It has expanded the borders of what I thought was possible in my life. It also has taught me to not hold on too tightly to my plans and to hold them all gently before Him.

My journey with Jesus has emboldened me to try and trust and risk.

Some ventures have worked, some have not.

But here is the thing, Jesus has used every one of them to grow me. 

The wonderful thing about being in a relationship with God is that while our plans don’t always work out, God always works His purpose into them no matter the outcome.

This life is not about doing all the right things, it is about letting Jesus grow the right things in you. God’s purpose for your life is that through a relationship with Him, He will grow you into who He created you to be.

“We humans keep brainstorming options and plans, but GOD’s purpose prevails.” ‭Proverbs‬ ‭19‬:‭21‬ MSG

My friend, go ahead and take the risk, bite off more than you can chew and dream big all the while knowing that you are safe in the hands of Jesus as He works His purpose in you through it all whether in success or failure.

Have a fear-free, try,  fail or succeed day in Christ.

You are Made for it.

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You are created to be in relationships.

Not because they are easy but because they are important.

You are created to be connected.

However, relationships are not easy and because of humans, they are endlessly complicated.  They take grace, forgiveness, honesty, and courage.

You may think that it would be easier and simpler to withdraw, it is not.
Don’t cheat yourself or others by withdrawing in fear.
Persevere.
Quiet the fear-filled beat of your heart and listen for the encouraging whisper of the Holy Spirit.
Reach out. Ask for help. Don’t do this life alone.
God can make a way where there seems to be no way.
“May the God who gives endurance and encouragement give you the same attitude of mind toward each other that Christ Jesus had,”
‭‭Romans‬ ‭15:5‬ ‭NIV‬‬
Who do you need to connect to today?

Be You

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e-motivation-net-quotes-about-being-yourself
John the Baptist faithfully fulfilled what God had called him to do without looking to others in envy or for acceptance.  More than once John was asked if he was the Messiah.
He replied with this:
“A person can receive only what is given them from heaven. You yourselves can testify that I said, ‘I am not the Messiah but am sent ahead of him.’”
‭‭John‬ ‭3:27-28‬ ‭NIV‬‬
John the Baptist knew who he was and he knew who he wasn’t – he was not Jesus.
Reminder: There is only one Savior,  Jesus Christ.
You are not tasked with saving people, that is His job and He is good at it.
Your job is to faithfully point people to Jesus.
Knowing who you are and who you are not is vital in carrying out your own God-given assignment.
When God lays a burden on your heart, it will always be bigger than you and it will be something only He can do through you.
Pride burdens you with a sense of importance that only you can fulfill.
Pride traps you in perpetual misery about all the things you can’t do and about all the gifts you don’t have. Humility sets you free to do what God has called you to do without looking to others in envy or for acceptance.
You are called to faithfully fulfill the assignment God has given you without trying to be someone you are not or function in gifts God has not given you.
John the Baptist held tight to the attitude that defined his life:
“He must become greater and greater, and I must become less and less.”
‭‭John‬ ‭3:30‬ ‭NLT‬‬
It is all about Jesus.
Be honest with others about who you are and point people to Jesus.
Be who God made you to be and endeavor to fulfill what God has called you to do.
What have you been given from heaven to do?
Are you doing it?

Try

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if-you-dont-try-youll-ever-know-quote-1

Being in a relationship with God has challenged me to do things I thought I never would do. It has expanded the borders of what I thought was possible in my life. It also has taught me to not hold on too tightly to my plans and to hold them all gently before Him.

Some ventures have worked, some have not.

My journey with Jesus has emboldened me to try and trust and risk.

I have also failed and fallen flat on my face.

But here is the thing –  God has used each one to do a deep work in me through each one of them.

The wonderful thing about being in a relationship with God is that while our plans don’t always work out, God always works His purpose through them no matter the outcome.

This life is not about doing all the right things, it is about letting Jesus grow the right things in you. God’s purpose is to have a relationship with you and grow you into who He created you to be.

“We humans keep brainstorming options and plans, but GOD ’s purpose prevails.” ‭Proverbs‬ ‭19‬:‭21‬ MSG

My friend, go ahead and take the risk, bite off more than you can chew and dream big all the while knowing that you are safe in the hands of Jesus as He works His purpose in you through it all whether in success or failure.

Have a fear-free, try and fail or succeed day in Christ.

 

 

 

Mistake Making

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When you step out in faith and put yourself out there, life will push back.
It’s not going to be easy and you will make mistakes.
A mistake means that you are trying,
so pick yourself up off the ground and try again.
Do something new.
Relate to people in a new way.
Reach out beyond your comfort zone.
Take that step of faith …again.
Risk failure.
Failure is not fatal.
Jesus told a story about this very thing:
“The servant given one thousand said, ‘Master, I know you have high standards and hate careless ways, that you demand the best and make no allowances for error. I was afraid I might disappoint you, so I found a good hiding place and secured your money. Here it is, safe and sound down to the last cent…’
The Master was furious…
Take the thousand and give it to the one who risked the most.
And get rid of this ‘play-it-safe’ who won’t go out on a limb.”
Matthew 25: 24,26,30 MSG
You will never get anywhere if you run back to what you know at every challenge.
God is calling you to grow. To take what He has given you and invest it.
My friend, get out there and make a lot of new mistakes, get out of your comfort zone, risk and invest what God has placed in your hands. You don’t have to play it safe with the love and grace of God – He has more than enough for you to give it away freely and without fear.