Getting ‘Unstuck’! – Part 2
I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus. Philippians 3:14
Though you’ve settled the issues of forgiveness and faith, getting unstuck involves two more challenges. You will need to learn: 1) Flexibility. When your faith runs into obstacles, your flexibility keeps you in the race. You need the ability to ‘roll with the punches,’ to bend without breaking. Don’t marry your methods! Be willing to make a mid-course correction when it’s needed. Flexibility, however, isn’t ambivalence or wishy-washiness. Flexibility is: a) An attitude of determination to adjust to life’s challenges and stay on course; to trust God for wisdom; to fine-tune your responses to changing circumstances. b) A commitment to take action. A positive mind-set alone won’t get you unstuck. You’ll have to ‘do something!’ Remember, big doors swing on little hinges; taking small steps of faith will move you forward! 2) Firmness: resolve not to quit. You’ll encounter problems that leave you no option but to stand still, like the Israelites between the Red Sea and the Egyptian army. In the tightest of spots, they received this five-fold counsel: a) Don’t give in to fear. Don’t let it decide your response. b) Stand still. Stop your irrational, emotion-driven behaviors. c) Quit talking. Don’t talk yourself into defeat. d) Look for God’s way forward. Expect Him to take action that will get you unstuck. e) Be ready to move forward when He opens the way. These are simple but powerful steps you can take when you don’t know what to do. And what about when you blow it? Acknowledge it. Remember that He has already forgiven you. He sees you pure and clean and holy, never having blown it. Then re-label it as ‘Valuable lessons learned,’ and put it in your ‘What not to do next time’ file!
Prayer
Heavenly Father, help me to be more flexible in circumstances so that I can get unstuck and move forward. Thank You for the power to be flexible as You love me and forgive me. In Jesus’ Name, Amen
Thank you for this series of devotions. I have been teaching in a Lutheran school for the past 25 years and they are closing their doors. I have spent the summer removing the school items from the building and looking for another position. This has been hard but it is almost finished. I still have not found a job. Your devotions keep reminding me to have faith that God has a plan for me. This has been difficult but you have helped. Thank you