3.15.14
In thinking over my life this morning I thought of all the different paths I have dared to take to arrive at where I am now. Sometimes they made perfect sense to me ,other times not. Sometimes I felt they were successful and other times definitely not. And, sometimes I took these different paths with a measure of confidence and other times out of sheer fear because I had to.
Many times I had to take a risk and do something new, something different that I had never done before: new training, new studies, new job, new neighborhood, new church, etc. Fearful and exciting at the same time. Growth. Faith. Stretch. Trust.
This is 'Risk'. It means to take an unguaranteed chance or opportunity.
Are you a risk-taker? Do you want something more, something different, something better?
It takes courage to take a risk, it takes some measure of confidence, and it takes a level of trust. Risk is important to move forward and to gain something as yet unattainable. Life is full of risks isn't it? I can't think of one area in life that is not. However, when I took a risk in my own understanding it was indeed 'risky'. Why? Because I only saw a small portion of what it was, the opportunity or change. When I took a risk in Christ and through prayer and asking Him what to do, my risk was easier and turned out for my good.
God sees the whole and complete picture of things from a 'bird's eye view'.
he sees it from beginning to end. And, He will say no to us - if we listen - when it isn't what we are to do. Safety net.
I think of David and his risk in standing up to Goliath because God motivated him to; or Moses going back to stand up to Pharaoh for the Hebrews because God said to; or Ruth deciding to go with her mother-in-law to a strange land because God encouraged her to; or Gideon risking all for the sake of winning a war because God called him to. And what about Noah and building that ark? Because God told him to.
And yet, as all these people dared to take a risk, dared to trust, dared to move into an unknown area of life, God came through and history was changed because of them.
And then on the other hand, what about those who took a risk by refusing to listen to Noah? Refusing to trust him in what he tried to tell them?
Fear and complacency are enemies of risk. Laziness and wishful thinking.
God demands we be risk-takers IN Him, trusting Him, and having confidence IN Him.
Please be brave enough to take your heart in hand and dare to step out into the unknown that life may bring you, or that God may call you out into. If you don't, you will never know the reward and blessing that awaits you on the other side, and you may remain in a dangerous situation. You may be called to change family history!
Joshua 1:9 NIV "Have I (God) not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be terrified; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go."
Joshua 3:4 NIV "Then you will know which way to go, since you have never gone this way before................."
Psalm 56:3-4 ESV "When I am afraid, I put my trust in you. In God, whose word I praise, in God I trust; I shall not be afraid. What can flesh do to me?" Luke 6:46 ESV “Why do you call me ‘Lord, Lord,’ and not do what I tell you?
- Pastor Sandi
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