We moved at the end of a long journey - we had waited 7 years for our house fire claim to be over - finally it was! We received restoration and we were JOY FILLED to find a lovely home, which met all of our needs and almost all of our wants at a steal of a deal! We were, and truth be told, still are, thrilled with our home. It will take some time to get everything put away and cleaned and painted and a new roof on the old barn out back but we can not imagine living anywhere else. We are home!
Think about that for a minute and now consider this....
The month before we finally received our settlement we were living in a rental house. The house was two stories, large, difficult to navigate, in town - and not in a great neighborhood, had a wet moldy basement, and we had three dogs - who sometimes bark. This was clearly NOT the place for us - but imagine that we had received our settlement and just done nothing. Imagine that we had convinced ourselves that it was just too hard to move on, or there weren't any other good houses out there, or that the benefits of being close to town outweighed the many issues with the house... how foolish would that have been. So foolish, that had we just put the money in the bank and kept paying rent our friends and family would have likely come to us out of concern for our clearly foolish choices.
Maybe it is a different season in your life, maybe you too are coming to the end of a long journey and it is completely healthy and normal for you to let go of the last season and step fully into the next season that God has planned for you - If this is you I say - leap! Leap into the everlasting arms that always catch you and find the purpose God has in the new and exciting chapter in your life. Dance into your move on moment with all of your might, praising God for his provision and plans.
Maybe your move on moment isn't a pleasant change of season, maybe it is a jarring jolt. Sometimes our Heavenly Father lets life become really uncomfortable so that we get the hint - it's time to move on. Our greatest tragedy - a house fire - became the catalyst for some major moving on in our lives. It took burning out the old before the new could take root. There were days we felt muscles weary and bones dry, when life looked like it might not take a turn for the better, but for the bleak. Can I encourage you? In the midst of your move on moment, don't give up hope. Some moves are fast and some take time - some take years! Read Exodus for some time consuming move on moments - 40 years - keep going. Know that through all of this, God is rooting for you! You can do it, and that hard won move on moment will be that much sweeter when it finally comes.
Sometimes move on moments come in the form of a Red Sea parting, and some times they are more subtle. If you aren't paying attention you might miss some move on clues. How can you prevent a move on surprise?
#1 - Read your Bible daily - if you are in God's word daily you will hear Him more clearly and your move on moment might not be such a shock! In addition, the uncertainty that sometimes accompanies moving on will be greatly diminished because you are in the Word.
#2 - Pray and talk to trusted counselors - Take what you read in the Bible and what you are thinking and pray about it - talk it over with God. Then go and talk it over, confidentially, with one or two trusted counselors.
#3 - If you think your move on moment is upon you, look for the open door, or confirmation of your choice - You've been reading the Bible daily, praying over moving on, and speaking with a trusted friend - expect that God will answer your prayer, agree that no matter the answer you will obey, and be actively looking for the answer in your life and in God's word. Luke 11:10 ""And so I tell you, keep on asking, and you will receive what you ask for. Keep on seeking, and you will find. Keep on knocking, and the door will be opened to you."
Sometimes we just get the itch to move on. When this happens we aren't moving on, we are moving out - moving out of God's will for our lives. The sad thing about moving out is that unlike moving on - God isn't in it and if you are His, He isn't going to allow it. Move out moments are painful! It might seem like your move out is going smoothly but if one day you realize that you are in a mess up to your neck and look around wondering how you got here - you may have had a move out moment, rather than a move on moment. Then you need a move on moment to get you back on track with the Lord!
You might think you are moving on, when you are really moving out, if the reason for your move is one of the following....
#1 - I have a conflict with someone and I don't want to forgive them/resolve the matter, or "I tried to resolve it but they wouldn't do xyz so I can't resolve this" Mathew 18:22 and 33-35 NLT "Then Peter came to Jesus and asked, “Lord, how many times shall I forgive my brother or sister who sins against me? Up to seven times?”
22Jesus answered, “I tell you, not seven times, but seventy-seven times.
33Shouldn’t you have had mercy on your fellow servant just as I had on you?’ 34In anger his master handed him over to the jailers to be tortured, until he should pay back all he owed.
35“This is how my heavenly Father will treat each of you unless you forgive your brother or sister from your heart.”
I think it's pretty clear how God feels about this. No, you can't always resolve every conflict, but you can forgive and love every brother and sister in Christ.
#2 - "I'm not getting what I want" Rather than complaining about the menu, it might be time to pitch in and help or be thankful for the good things and count your blessings. Maybe your move on moment is coming in the form of moving on from only thinking of yourself to also thinking of others! Philippians 2:1-4 NLT "Is there any encouragement from belonging to Christ? Any comfort from his love? Any fellowship together in the Spirit? Are your hearts tender and compassionate? 2 Then make me truly happy by agreeing wholeheartedly with each other, loving one another, and working together with one mind and purpose.
3 Don’t be selfish; don’t try to impress others. Be humble, thinking of others as better than yourselves. 4 Don’t look out only for your own interests, but take an interest in others, too."
I tell you this to say - sometimes, it is time to move on. I know that this post may offend, and that is not my intention. I have told you before that I am jealous for you, that I want what is absolutely best in your life and so I say to you friend, it might be time for you to move on.
Your move doesn't mean we can't still be friends, but your staying might!
Have you ever met someone who missed their move on moment? They missed the boat, and what is worse, they know it. Bitterness and envy are their companions. They spend their time talking about what could have been instead of chasing God with everything they've got. Just ask them and they will tell you that their best days are far behind them. They missed their move on moment, and they miss the joy that accompanies.
Moving on can be hard, it can be painful, and it can be humbling, but it can also be a blessing, a time of healing, and a time of great joy. Don't be afraid of your move on moments. God has a plan for you and for your life. Moving on might just be the blessing you've been waiting for.
Good night,
Amanda
No comments:
Post a Comment