It's Time to Change Things Up!

George Frederick Handel was dogged with misfortune. He had debt upon debt, despair upon despair. He had a cerebral hemorrhage and was paralyzed on his right side. For four years he could neither walk nor write. The doctors gave up on him. He wrote several operas, but again he fell in debt. At age 60, he thought his life was finished.

Then, he was challenged by a friend to write a sacred oratorio. He read the Scriptures and decided to work on the Messiah. For 24 days, without eating a crumb, he worked fanatically to produce the Messiah, which many today consider the greatest oratorio ever written.

Do you ever wonder what gifts or talents you have? Do you think of yourself as someone who just kind of blends into the crowd; nothing that makes you stand out? Or maybe you're feeling that your life has already peaked?

Are you feel trapped in a mundane existence, one where everyday is more or less the same? The feeling of mediocrity bearing heavily on your shoulders. It's not that you have such a terrible life. Your life might actually be pretty good. It's just that lingering feeling that you could do more, so much more.

I like what John R. Brokhoff said about this: "The prospects of something great happening can look grim. Peter had fished all night and caught nothing. Jesus asked him to let down his nets for a catch. It seemed foolish to do so, because Peter knew there were no fish to catch. 'But at your word,' he said, 'I will let down the nets' (Luke 5:5)." (from John R. Brokhoff, Preaching the Miracles)

We all go through this at one time or another. You feel like your life is going nowhere fast. The way I see it. You have 3 options in life. You're either going straight ahead, standing still, or dropping back. Maybe you even feel as if others are passing you by like last week's bread. Well, it's not too late to change things up!

The apostle Paul believed in moving ahead. This makes total sense because you don't want be stuck in a rut, and you surely don't want to fall behind. Remember what he said in Phillipians 3:13-14? In other words, in whatever you do, do it for the high calling of God. This is the only way to avoid both stagnation and failure.

We should never be satisfied with our past, or dupe ourselves into thinking that what we are presently doing is all that we can, or should do. If we are going to accomplish all that He wants us to, it's critical that we are prepared to move forward in order to meet future challenges head on.

I mean, seriously. How can we possibly do that if we're just moping around in a woe-is-me attitude? Or content with sitting on whatever past laurels we might have? It's like anything else in life. Without any meaningful challenge to spur us on, we just sit there and vegetate. And that, my friends, is as good as it'll ever get!

Whatever challenges come up, just accept them. They are sent your way because God wants you to do something about them. No matter who you are, there's always something you can do.

Go on. Rise up. Accept the challenge, but tackle it in Jesus name! It's not that difficult to see that if a task is always performed with your eyes on Him, your life will never be the same again. I guarantee it!

Scripture: Colossians 4:5-6; Hebrews 10:24-25; 2 Timothy 2:15; John 14:26; 2 John 1:9

Prayer: Dear Lord, I will humbly serve You in whatever capacity you desire. Make my life a reflection of Yours, an example that others may serve to lead others to You. Amen

Have a blessed weekend!

Becca