I’m guilty. I admit it. I will talk about doing something for months without taking any action. The sporadic nature of my blog postings is proof of that tendancy. Week after week this past summer, I longed to write more, I needed to “find the time” to write. It fills me and hopefully encourages others as well. And yet, I continued to put other tasks higher on the priority list. I had so many excuses.
Finally, I did something. I set my alarm for 5 a.m. with the intention of writing. Something crazy happened. I woke up. I mean, really, I was awake. I did my Bible study lesson and then began writing. God met me there and gave me the words to write. I made it through the day without falling asleep, too. Amazing!
Well, seeing as day one wasn’t so bad, I went for two. It worked again. And again, and again.
Can you believe I get up at 5 a.m. every weekday to give myself time for Bible study, writing and exercising before my workday begins? I never would have believed it either.
You see, when we take a small step for God, he honors that effort and encourages us in it. In Joshua 3, the priests who were carrying the Ark of the Covenant had to step into the Jordan River before the Lord drew back the water for everyone to cross. They took a step of faith and God honored that faith by holding back the river’s waters.
This summer I was stuck in discontentment because I wasn’t writing – I wasn’t fulfilling my purpose. When I made one small effort, God did – and is doing – the rest. I set the alarm, he wakes me up, gives me the topics and focus to write, and provides the energy for me to make it through the day. He makes it easier for us to do his work by stretching our time, reordering our priorities, or showing us what may be unnecessary timewasters in our lives.
If you’ve had the best of intentions to serve God or to explore your calling and yet haven’t acted, will you take one small step today? Sometimes God just needs us to demonstrate our heart’s desires with actions and not just words. He wants us to do something. What’s the worst that can happen? Better yet, what could God do in you or through you if you did do something?
Proverbs 14:23: Work brings profit, but mere talk leads to poverty! (NLT)
Good advice! I’d suggest the next time the procrastination bug bites you reread your own words.
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Nicely said! It seems that a sign of our passion is also enemy activity, making it seem so hard to work on our passion. Thinking procrastination can also equals busyness and vice versa.
Love the fact that when we pay attention to our passion, so does God!
Yes, the enemy loves to stand in the way of us pursuing our passions. He robs us of “life to its fullest.” Also love the fact that when our passions are in line with God, he provides for us through pursuit of our passion!
Ah. God is good and shows up when we give Him the space. Just what I needed to hear. Thank you, Amy!
Carolyn, I love that it was just what you needed to hear. Funny how what I need to write is just what others need to hear. Okay, not funny, not coincidence. It’s God.
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