Wednesday, March 23, 2011

Comfort Zone

For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.”    ~ Jeremiah 29:11 (NIV)
Old and Young ~ Rich and Poor ~Successful and Failed again ~ Ambitious and Not interested ~ Believer and Seeker....
No matter what your currently life situation is ... We all have a place we retreat to when life either is offering or confronting us with something we do not have an instant liking to or an instant “I can do that” response! Our Comfort Zone”!
In the past when I felt the Lord was leading me towards a new uncharted opportunity that seemed too big for me or that I didn’t feel qualified for, I didn’t walk ... I ran straight to my “comfort Zone” and screamed, “Not me”!
If you could place in a big box all the things that you feel would be found in your “comfort zone”, it might look a bit like mine.... 
~Only asked to do the things I already like and know how to do well. ~ Only work with people I know and like and get along with. ~ Everything asked of me comes naturally and is easy or takes little to no effort. ~ Healthy, no illnesses or afflictions for me or anyone I care about. ~ Plenty of money. No “surprise” bills.
Funny thing about our “Comfort Zone”. If you’re like me...you tend to think of it as a place of safety and a place to find rest and even peace. But is it really? I think you will find along side of each piece of “comfort” something else is attached to it as well...
~While “doing” the things that I like to do and that come easy and naturally I still get frustrated? How does that happen? ~ While I work along side of good friends I sometimes need more from them then they seem willing to give... disappointment and emotional fatigue begins to set in. ~ The doctor tells me I’m healthy so why does my head ache and my back hurt? I feel pain. Family and friends may have no serious health problems so why don’t they all have more energy? We’re all feeling so tired...discouraged even. ~ I have more than enough money to pay my current bills...but will I have enough as the cost of everything rises? Future money concerns have me feeing anxious and stressed
Yikes! I’m not feeling all that comfortable in my “comfort zone”! 
God did not create us to remain infants. I’m pretty confident if you’re breathing, you’re in a constant state of change! We are actually “wired for change.” 
We don’t have to look further than modern technology to see how fast our world is changing. No sooner do we buy the latest smart phone or computer and something better and faster comes on the market. Aren’t you glad we are not still using the phones and computers from years past?
I don’t even have to understand how these gadgets work to use them properly.The designer does all the hard internal work... all I have to do is agree to partner with him by following the directions. I am then enabled to obtain far greater knowledge and accomplish so much more than I ever could on my own.
We can resist the changes God brings into our lives...but why? What has indeed been  “good enough” yesterday is what has prepared us for our “even better” today...which leads us to God’s “better still” for tomorrow. 
Our God has already done all the hard work...He has also prepared us in advance (even if we don't think were ready) for what He is calling us to do. We don’t have to know how it will work out...we can just trust that not only will God’s Plan prevail...but that He will bless us and bring us success ...all for the Glory of God!
Why would you want to keep a “comfort zone” that is full of glitches and disconnects you from the abundance of God? Get connected and upgrade your “Comfort Zone” to Jesus...I’m willing to find my comfort zone in Christ...are you?
 “...because the LORD was with Joseph and gave him success in whatever he did.”Genesis 39:23b (NIV)
Kathy

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About Me

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My life in Christ came a bit late in life.I grew up in a Christian home and was baptized at age 9. I enjoyed a long career as a flight attendant (1973-2005). I met my husband Brad, in 1984 while living in Tampa Florida. At the time, we both were living a lifestyle that was not pleasing to the Lord. We married in 1986, but it wasn't until early 1992 that I knew the Lord was calling me to Him. God placed this same desire in my husband's heart. As Brad and I grew in faith, so did our desire to serve God in ministry. In late 2002 we moved to Virginia Beach where the Lord called Brad to serve as a Worship minister. In 6 short months, Brad was diagnosed with stage 4 non-Hodgkins lymphoma. I found my greatest moments of weakness came when I placed my thoughts on all the things that could go wrong and allowed fear to take hold. We were given 5 more years to share together. God is faithful and to His glory I serve Him through writing devotionals and inspirational article for this blog as well as a published writer with the writing team of A Widow's Might ministry. Our Devotional Books are titled: "For The Love of Her Life". I am also an Inspirational Speaker.