Out of Our Comfort Zones

Out of Our Comfort Zones

Getting out of our comfort zones. Going beyond excuses. Boldly into wilderness.
Do you choose your own comfort over following Christ?
What’s your excuse to not to surrender everything to God?

Tough questions. But these were the questions that the Holy Spirit asked me while reading these verses from Luke:

On the road someone asked if he could go along. “I’ll go with you, wherever,” he said. Jesus was curt: “Are you ready to rough it? We’re not staying in the best inns, you know.” Jesus said to another, “Follow me.” He said, “Certainly, but first excuse me for a couple of days, please. I have to make arrangements for my father’s funeral.” Jesus refused. “First things first. Your business is life, not death. And life is urgent: Announce God’s kingdom!” Then another said, “I’m ready to follow you, Master, but first excuse me while I get things straightened out at home.” Jesus said, “No procrastination. No backward looks. You can’t put God’s kingdom off till tomorrow. Seize the day.” (Luke 9:56-62, MSG, emphasis added)

Our excuses might be generally good things. But not if they prevent us from following God. We’d like to have things clear, either black or white. But God does not treat us as puppets but as persons who can think, pray, discuss, listen, and choose.

Our excuses might be our way to keep things safe and sound, not rocking the boat, right? We have created comfort zones around us, like they could keep us safe. But anything outside of our comfort zones scares us. We’d rather keep things like they’ve always been. Even if they are not that great.

God does meet us as we are and where we are.
But don’t expect him to leave you there.
Otherwise God wouldn’t be God.

God does get personal.
He is not satisfied with merely small talk.
He wants to know you and be known intimately.

God does invite us to follow him out of our self-built comfort zones.
He wants to be our safety-net.
He wants to be our world.

But how do we respond? Does also our response start with “excuse me”? Do we respond with valid-sounding excuses? Or do we procrastinate? Do we have good intentions but leave the actions for later? Do we choose worldly comforts over Christ? Do we choose our will over God’s will?

 

Gracious God,
Thank you for examining our hearts and motives.
Thank you that you don’t just call us to follow you,
but you also empower us to do so.
Thank you that you don’t just save us,
but you also call us out of our comfort zones.
Thank you that you don’t just love us,
but you keep on making us holy like you.
In Jesus’ name,
Amen

Q4U: What’s your excuse to not to follow Christ?

Be blessed, my fellow pilgrim, as you boldly move out of your comfort zone trusting God will always take care of you!

Giving thanks today for
#461 real safety is in Christ
#462 real comfort zone is found in God
#463 God does not leave us where He found us.
#464 God’s calling is urgent
#465 leaving procrastination behind is possible in Christ
#466 God takes our fears away if we ask
#467 God plants boldness in us if we ask
#468 God empowers us to leave our comfort zones
#469 God wants to be our everything
#470 God’s wild grace makes us bold in Christ
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Image courtesy of Marsha Galyardt. Linking up today with Sharing His Beauty & Hear it on Sunday, Use it on Monday & Soli Deo Gloria &

14 thoughts on “Out of Our Comfort Zones

  1. Following Jesus can be very hard– but very worth it. If we are comfortable, we aren’t trying hard enough. Praying for Jesus to make me comfortable in Him in my discomfort/challenge of our path. Blessings to you! 

    1.  Thank you, Sharita, for commenting. Your comment reminded me of a quote “God does not comfort us to make us comfortable only, but to make us comforters.” (by John Henry Jowett). We are not able to get out of our comfort zone without Christ. But by His grace we can! Abundant blessings to you!

  2. Thought provoking, so often we give lip service but it’s our actions that speak volumes. This goes nicely with my post today about faith + works. 

    I know God has been showing me so much about this area of my life. I can’t rest on past works for His Kingdom, I rest in my Bible Knowledge. I must continue to work and grow. As long as I’m here, God is not finished with me and He is not satisfied with where I am. He see’s all the ways I can mature, but it is my choice if I will follow. It is my choice if I will allow Him to stretch me beyond my comfort zones.

    Great post!

  3. What a thought provoking post.  God does pull out out of our comfort zones and challenge us to follow Him…His way, His timing.  You have me pondering my own life today.  What area do I need to surrender to God?  God bless.

  4. I have found that when I am out of my comfort zone the Lord is allowing me to experience a “healthy workout.”  Discomfort is preparing me for something greater.  This is a great statement:  God does meet us as we are and where we are. But don’t expect him to leave you there.

    Thanks!

  5. Whenever God has called me out of my comfort zone, I grow in dependence on Him.  Still a work in progress…thanks for the challenge.

  6. I started praying for boldness over 15 years ago and oh my, He has taken me out of SO many comfort zones!  I went shaking like a leaf every time and every time I grew so much and blessed so much.  He’s still taking me out of different ones and I still shake like a leaf, but I go, knowing He is with me every step of the way and I find it exciting now.  Just hope the shaking stops some day 😉

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