The "Safe" Way

Bubble-man stays safe in bubble suit.

"'Well done, my good servant!' his master replied. 'Because you have been trustworthy in a very small matter, take charge of ten cities.'" -Luke 19:17

I don't think there's a "safe" way to get to any sort of dream that matters. I mean, think about it. We try to go around things that are too hard - we look for the "less scary" option. Sure, there's room for prudence. But who has ever accomplished something great without great risk, either to their pride or their bank account?
 
To be different, one must choose to be outside of the norm. To be outside the range of the norm, one must choose rejection, doubt, uncertainty, and all the other costs associated with being, well, not normal. What happens then?
 
I am convinced those who care less about what other people think and more about what God thinks and what matters most to them will receive more, because they step out in faith. Isn't this parable described in the Bible? The man who invested all was rewarded, while the man who hid his "talents" was scolded. "You wicked servant!" -Luke 19:22 

Wicked?? That's a little harsh, don't you think? But it's true - the less you risk, the less faith you show you have, either in yourself, or in God. The more risk you are willing to take - risk, not plain stupidity, mind you - the more reward you will receive. God rewards risk. God rewards people who step out into the unknown, for Him. We must be prepared to accept the rejection, the hurt, the doubt, the unbelief.
 
Are you someone who chooses the safe option, every time? Or are you someone who takes risks for their God, so that other?s lives can be impacted through them?
 
"I tell you that to everyone who has, more will be given, but as for the one who has nothing, even what they have will be taken away." -Luke 19:27

Overcoming Barriers

"Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good." -Romans 12:21
 

Have you ever wanted to get somewhere, but you just felt stuck? Have you ever encountered something you felt was blocking your way that you just couldn't get past? There will always be things in life that will try to hinder us from our intended destinations. The enemy of our souls wants nothing more than to see us stuck and unable to fulfill what God has planned for us! 

Sometimes though, the barrier may be there for a reason. What is God trying to show us? What do we need to change about ourselves or give over to God to get to the next place? Often the barrier is not what we think it is. Sometimes, the barrier is ourselves! Even if we think we are in the right, the barrier is about our growth. 

The Israelites were on their way, fleeing from the Egyptians after finally being released from slavery under the iron hand of Pharaoh. But, no sooner had they left Eqypt that Pharaoh gave orders to pursue them. "As Pharaoh approached, the Israelites looked up, and there were the Egyptians, marching after them. They were terrified and cried out to the Lord. They said to Moses, 'Was it because there were no graves in Egypt that you brought us to the desert to die?'" -Exodus 14:10&11. Clearly, this was not what they had in mind. 

Then Moses said to them in response, "Do not be afraid. Stand firm and you will see the deliverance the Lord will bring you today. The Egyptians you see today you will never see again. The Lord will fight for you; you need only to be still." Exodus 14: 13&14 "Then Moses stretched out his hand over the sea; and the Lord caused the sea to go back by a strong east wind all that night, and made the sea into dry land." (v.21) 

There was no way in the natural the Israelites were going to be able to avoid the Eqyptians. But because Moses stood in faith on behalf of the Israelites and acted in obedience - in spite of dire circumstances - God stepped in and made a way for them.

Is there a "Red Sea" standing in your way today? Pray for God's grace to get you through that situation, and ask to see it through His eyes. God calls us to be overcomers, through Him!