Building momentum- fighting passivity
"And from the days of John the Baptist until the present time, the kingdom of heaven has endured violent assault, and violent men seize it by force [as a precious prize--a share in the heavenly kingdom is sought with most ardent zeal and intense exertion]." Matthew 11:12, Amplified Bible.
My children received a fantastic toy from their grandmother this year: a balance bike! They have already had many hours of fun with it and I am sure that many more hours will follow. As long as they keep the bike up to speed, maintaining their balance is easy. However, once they start slowing down, the chances of them falling over increases. Once having come to a full stop, maintaining balance becomes an impossibility. Gaining and maintaining momentum is crucial to a successful trip down our corridor.
I have always been intrigued by the classic laws of motion and have found that to some extend they also apply to our spiritual life. If we loose momentum in our walk with God we are more likely to stumble and fall over! Likewise, when we find we are stuck, we must seek to gain momentum until we are up to speed again. In this it is just like the balance bike. The first steps are always the hardest ones to take!
Passivity on our part poses enormous problems if we seek to be moving on with God. Some people seem to be ‘stuck’ in the same place for a very long time. Somehow they wish things would change, but they are not making any significant effort to effect that change. The law of inertia teaches us that once an object has stopped moving, it won’t start moving until force is applied. You might very well be the one that needs to choose to start being forceful in order to move on in your spiritual life! People may say: ‘I am waiting on God to do something.’ That sounds great, except when they expect God, or somebody else, to change their behaviour for them. The truth is this: God could very well be waiting for them! Though He is undeniably almighty, He never does anything without our co-operation. Passivity from our side is a killer to spiritual progress!
I love our retreats and courses at Ellel Ministries where we see people forgiven, helped, healed, restored, released and equipped. God’s loving kindness truly knows no bounds. But the reality is this: sometimes His help comes in the form of encouraging people to come out of passivity, to take responsibility for their lives, and to actively start participating in that which God wants to do with them!
Today, if we feel convicted of any passivity, apathy or laziness, let’s turn to Him and ask Him to help us to pick up some momentum again!
Prayer: Father, where I have been passive, and have accused You of not doing enough for me, I am truly sorry. Please help me to come out of passivity, and, in Your strength, lay hold of those things which You have laid hold of me for. Thank You, Lord, in Jesus’ name, Amen.
Today's Writer : Peter Brokaar
"And from the days of John the Baptist until the present time, the kingdom of heaven has endured violent assault, and violent men seize it by force [as a precious prize--a share in the heavenly kingdom is sought with most ardent zeal and intense exertion]." Matthew 11:12, Amplified Bible.
My children received a fantastic toy from their grandmother this year: a balance bike! They have already had many hours of fun with it and I am sure that many more hours will follow. As long as they keep the bike up to speed, maintaining their balance is easy. However, once they start slowing down, the chances of them falling over increases. Once having come to a full stop, maintaining balance becomes an impossibility. Gaining and maintaining momentum is crucial to a successful trip down our corridor.
I have always been intrigued by the classic laws of motion and have found that to some extend they also apply to our spiritual life. If we loose momentum in our walk with God we are more likely to stumble and fall over! Likewise, when we find we are stuck, we must seek to gain momentum until we are up to speed again. In this it is just like the balance bike. The first steps are always the hardest ones to take!
Passivity on our part poses enormous problems if we seek to be moving on with God. Some people seem to be ‘stuck’ in the same place for a very long time. Somehow they wish things would change, but they are not making any significant effort to effect that change. The law of inertia teaches us that once an object has stopped moving, it won’t start moving until force is applied. You might very well be the one that needs to choose to start being forceful in order to move on in your spiritual life! People may say: ‘I am waiting on God to do something.’ That sounds great, except when they expect God, or somebody else, to change their behaviour for them. The truth is this: God could very well be waiting for them! Though He is undeniably almighty, He never does anything without our co-operation. Passivity from our side is a killer to spiritual progress!
I love our retreats and courses at Ellel Ministries where we see people forgiven, helped, healed, restored, released and equipped. God’s loving kindness truly knows no bounds. But the reality is this: sometimes His help comes in the form of encouraging people to come out of passivity, to take responsibility for their lives, and to actively start participating in that which God wants to do with them!
Today, if we feel convicted of any passivity, apathy or laziness, let’s turn to Him and ask Him to help us to pick up some momentum again!
Prayer: Father, where I have been passive, and have accused You of not doing enough for me, I am truly sorry. Please help me to come out of passivity, and, in Your strength, lay hold of those things which You have laid hold of me for. Thank You, Lord, in Jesus’ name, Amen.
Today's Writer : Peter Brokaar
Daily Smile:
A three-year-old had been told several times to get ready for bed. The
last time his mom told him, she was every insistent. His response was,
"Yes, Sir!" Since he was talking to his mother (and she is a woman), it
was not expected of him to call her "Sir".
"You would say, 'yes sir,' to a man, I am a lady, and you would say 'Yes Ma'am,' to a lady," Mom said. To quiz him on is lesson; she then asked him, "What would you say to Daddy?"
"You would say, 'yes sir,' to a man, I am a lady, and you would say 'Yes Ma'am,' to a lady," Mom said. To quiz him on is lesson; she then asked him, "What would you say to Daddy?"
"Yes Sir!" was the reply
"Then what would you say to Mama?"
"Yes, Ma'am!" he proudly answered.
"Good boy! Now what would you say to Grandma?"
He lit up and said, "Can I have a cookie?
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