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Hi mama. I have one thing I really want to tell you today.
It’s this: make a decision.
Stop worrying, stop analyzing, and stop fearing.
Nip it in the bud, Ange.
“It’s better to go through the wrong door with your best self than the best door with your wrong self. Sometimes the way in which I go through the door matters more than which door I actually go through.” ~John Ortberg, All the Places to Go
I know you’re scared you’ll make the wrong decision.
But listen – are you walking with Christ? Is He first in your life? Do you seek Him out and is it your goal to glorify Him?
If you just said yes, then the quote above by John Ortberg is for you.
“I’m not saying that I have this all together, that I have it made. But I am well on my way, reaching out for Christ, who has so wondrously reached out for me. Friends, don’t get me wrong; By no means do I count myself an expert in all of this, but I’ve got my eye on the goal, where God is beckoning us onward – to Jesus. I’m off and running, and I’m not turning back.” Philippians 3:12-14 MSG
Maybe you have regrets and you’re afraid of what God will ask you to do because of your past.
Paul said, “I’m not perfect”.
Maybe you’re hesitant because you don’t know exactly where you’re going, and that would be uncomfortable.
Paul said, “I’m well on my way”.
Maybe you don’t think you can do this because you’re not an expert yet.
Paul said, “Me neither, but I’ve got my eye on the goal.”
And maybe you’re stuck because really, you want to go back.
Paul said, “I’m off and running, and I’m not turning back.”
What are you afraid of today? What is God calling you to that you don’t want to answer?
We want the assurance that God will turn everything out the way we want, but that's not how God operates. Click To TweetKeep obeying, dear sister, and keep moving.
A body in motion stays in motion.
Your God is faithful, do you believe that?
Whether you move or not depends on the answer to that question.
Run.
You have a relationship with the Light and the Life of men.
This life with Christ is bigger, wider, and so much more than anything you could dream up.
Be radical. Step out in faith.
Do the one thing right in front of you – take that first step.
Ortberg says, “If “having peace about it” were the ultimate criterion for going through open doors, nobody in the Bible would have done anything God asked. The sequence in the Bible is usually not:
- Calling
- Deep feeling of peace about it
- Decision to obey
- Smooth sailing
Instead its usually:
- Calling
- Abject terror
- Decision to obey
- Big problems
- More terror
- Second thoughts
- Repeat several times
- Deeper faith “~Ortberg
Start the list
- Write down your list of options
- Decide on one
xpand on it
- Using your one choice, brainstorm what you should do first and write a new list
- Pick one
- Do it tomorrow
You can do this
“What shall we say to these things?” ~Romans 8:31
What things? Paul had just told the believers that:
- The Spirit helps you in your weakness
- You have been called according to His purpose
- Therefore, all things work together for good
- He predetermined your calling before the beginning of time
- He justified you
- He has made you one with Christ ~Romans 8:26-30
“If God is FOR us, who can be AGAINST us?” ~Romans 8:31
How slow you move determines your faith in God.
Run.
Make that decision. You can do this. After all, the Creator of the universe is on your side.
Better lace ’em up – the race already started!
RUN!!!
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So glad someone said this!
Hope you’re finding your next step, Mimi!
This is one of my 55 life lessons I wrote about this week. Making a decision, even if it is a wrong one.
YES. I need to stop by and read that, I’ve been meaning to! We let fear keep us rooted in one spot.
So glad to see your name on Melanie Redd’s list of 100 Christian blogs. We are in this together friend.
I noticed your name too, girl! Yes we are! woo hoo!
I love this, Ruthie! I used to get all up tight about decisions–praying, praying, praying–wanting to make sure I made the right one. But you know … when we are following the Lord, have Him first in our hearts and thoughts, when we lay it all out–we can make a decision in FAITH — and that pleases him.
Love you, girl!
Absolutely, friend! Because our desires become His desires. And we can walk forward in faith, nothing wavering. I do it too, but I’m learning! Thanks for stopping by for a visit today, I love and appreciate you too! 🙂
Hi there Ruthie. This is a great topic because let’s face it, all of us can be affected by analysis paralysis! It’s good to remember that it’s easier to steer a boat in motion that one that is stuck in the mud.! Thanks for this practical encouragement. I can go back and forth between options, and that makes the decision so much more stressful. 🙂
Hey girl! We do, we women struggle so with this concept! I envision my feet stuck in the mud so often when I think of this – you described it exactly. Keep moving – remember, Paul said “Run towards the goal that is set before us!”
As always LOVE LOVE LOVE this!!! So good fear is not from God, it is from the enemy! Love this statement, “Be radical. Step out in faith. Do the one thing right in front of you – take that first step.” Yes! Let’s go do the very thing that is weighing us down! For me that is figuring how to create a landing page for people to sign up for my newsletter and then get their freebies immediately after! This has literally been on my mind 24/7! I have been praying and praying but still feel so confused about of it….yikes! I should be able to figure it out, but somehow this has totally stumped me! Jesus help me with this one thing!!! Blessings Ruthie! I love reading what God has put on your heart always!
I get you, girlfriend. The struggle is real when you know you need to add or change something to the blog but you can’t figure out how!!! You ponder, research, and wonder. A lot of times I solve these problems in my sleep, believe it or not! Anyhoo, sent you a fb message that I think may help! It’s about coming at this from a bit of a different direction – I hope it helps!
And thank you SO much for your affirmation, always. It means so much!!! And hey, I’m sharing your post on November meals next week, also – great idea!! Love you, friend! 🙂
Great post, Ruthie! I can so identify with the paralysis that sometimes grips me when I fear that I will make the wrong decision. Thank-you for sharing!
Wendy Munsell
Thanks, Wendy, so good to hear from you! And yes, we obsess so much on whether it’s the exactly perfect choice when sometimes, all God wants is for us to stay in motion. God is faithful, and we can be sure He’s got us! Blessings to you! 🙂
This is so great! We will not often “feel peace” when we are scared, lol. When we obey God and run our trust in Him will grow. Thank you for sharing these truths!
Good to see you, Valerie! I hope you are doing well. And that part really hit home with me too. God’s not waiting for us to be completely calm and cool about everything. He just asks for obedience. Motion. Running. He has a plan! Have a good rest of your weekend, girl!
Ahhh….sweet friend! It was wonderful to stop by and visit with you today. It’s been a while since I’ve stopped by, and I am so glad I did. This was a really encouraging post and very fitting to what my family and I are going through right now. So happy to visit with you!
Cheryl! So good to hear from you – I’ve been so busy and kind of out of the link loop these days it’s been a while, hasn’t it? Thank you for stopping by, it sounds like your family is in a time of decision making right now and I will pray for you in that. Blessings to you, friend!
Just want you to know I’m praying for you today, Tuesday the 10th. xo
Thanks, girl. I need it today, Tuesday 10th. 😉
Ruthie, Great post. Love Romans 8 and how the Message put Paul’s words. Thanks for saying it well.
Thanks, Deb, for stopping by, and for your words of affirmation! Love Romans 8!
What a great and practical word, Ruthie!
Awesome post!
I’ve pinned you here: https://www.pinterest.com/melredd/blogs-encouraging-blogs-and-websites/
I’ve also shared your post to Facebook here: https://www.facebook.com/MinistryofHopeMelanieRedd/?ref=hl
Hope you have a blessed day today~
Melanie
Melanie, you continue to bless me. Thank you so much. And don’t worry – I’m getting ready to install one of the “Making much of Jesus” graphics on my blog – just trying to get out from underneath it all! 😉 Praying for the request you spoke of!
Great encouragement, Ruthie!! I’ve been learning too that sometimes you just have to move…through fear, past worry. For me, waiting for peace is usually more like stalling. God has just asked me to trust that if it’s the wrong way then He’ll turn me around. I’m trying to embrace that and move!
Yep, you said it, Tiff! Waiting for peace is exactly that. And YES – if you are walking with HIm, He will certainly turn you around if it’s not the way He wants you to go! Good to see you, thanks for your comment!
Wow, Ruthie. You pegged me. 🙂 I am one of those who’s let fear paralyze her too many times. Recently, I did something that was huge for me. I can’t share here, but I walked in fear the entire length of the past six weeks. Even when the project was done, there was still some fear. But, God. God gave me courage. He enable me to push through the fear to complete what He gave me to complete. The freedom that comes from that? Amazing.
I so agree with your reality list! Oftentimes, peace comes after we obey, not when God gives the calling. 🙂 Loved this post!
Maybe someday we will meet face to face and you can share that story with me, Jeanne! I have a feeling I know just a smidgen of what you’re hinting at. 😉
God gives good gifts – and every gift comes from Him. He gave you that courage, and I’m so glad you experienced the freedom that came along with it!
YES – peace AFTER. Stepping out in faith. It’s not for the faint of heart, but oh, what a radical faith it is! 🙂
Thanks so much for sharing, Jeanne! I appreciated it.
Ruthie, this is amazing! You say it so, so well! I am not only sharing this on my fb page, but on my personal page and privately with some friends. <3 Thank you!
Wow Stefani, that’s such a sweet compliment! (I know, I reserve only my most fave posts for my personal fb!) Thank you for sharing, sweet girl! You’re doing so well too – loved that graphic from last week!
Good points on making decisions. My husband and I were just talking about this subject last night. I have often wanted that “peace” before making the decision, I’m so glad you pointed out the examples in the Bible on that.
The John Ortberg book made a huge impact on me and how I make decisions now. Christ has given us the tools, now we’ve got to run the race!
Ha, yes to this “If “having peace about it” were the ultimate criterion for going through open doors, nobody in the Bible would have done anything God asked.” You’re speaking my language here. One of the big lessons I’ve learned about overcoming fear is that you have to let yourself be afraid by taking steps of faith in order to discover that God is trustworthy. I used to think God would take away my fear immediately after I obeyed, but instead discovered it was a gradual deepening of my faith which lessened my fear. Hugs to you!
Yes, I know your fear theme and I love sharing your stuff with my readers. They really resonate with it! (Btw the yelling post from the Mad Mom Makeover is still going nuts!) And yes, I had to learn that too. John Ortberg’s book, “All the places to go” really helped me with that too. So good! God grows us little by little in different areas for His glory. I’m so thankful He’s patient! Sending love your way, gal!