Take the Initiative

I was sitting at my desk at work this afternoon and realized how unproductive and unmotivated I felt.  Part of that stems from me not having anything to do (and what I need to do for VBS has to be done at the church) but the other part is me not being content and seeking Christ in the midst of the craziness that this time of year is bringing.  End of the year this and end of the year that, signing a lease and moving by the end of the month, Brian is graduating, Grace is getting married (which has given me a great excuse to go to AZ) and then we will top it off with VBS (all in the next month).

So I picked up something to read and reflect on:

My Utmost For His Highest (Updated Graduate Edition)
By Oswald Chambers

May 10
 "...add to your faith virtue..." (2 Peter 1:5)

Add means that we have to do something. We are in danger of forgetting that we cannot do what God does, and that God will not do what we can do.  We cannot save nor sanctify ourselves--God does that.  But God does not give us good habits or character, and He will not force us to walk correctly before Him.  We have to do all that ourselves.  We must "work out" our "own salvation" which God has worked in us (Philippians 2:12).  Add means that we must get into the habit of doing thing, and in the initial stages that is difficult.  To take the initiative is to make a beginning--to instruct yourself in the way you must go.

Beware of the tendency to ask the way when you know it perfectly well.  Take the initiative--stop hesitating--take the first step.  Be determined to act immediately in faith on what God says to you when He speaks, and never reconsider or change your initial decisions.  If you hesitate when God tells you to do something, you are being careless, spurning the grace in which you stand.  Take the initiative yourself, make a decision of your will right now, and make it impossible to go back.  Burn your bridges behind you, saying, "I will write that letter," or "I will pay the debt"; and then do it! Make it irrevocable.

We have to get in the habit of carefully listening to God about everything, forming the  habit of finding out what He says and heeding it.  If, when a crisis comes, we instinctively turn to God, we will know that the habit has been formed in us.  We have to take the initiative where we are, not where we have not yet been.

What is it that God has been asking you to do and you have yet to do it?  Take the initiative and be confident and obedient in Christ.
P.S. 2 Peter 1:5-8 is good to look at too...

"For this very reason, make every effort to add to your faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge;  and to knowledge, self-control; and to self-control, perseverance; and to perseverance, godliness; and to godliness, mutual affection; and to mutual affection, love. For if you possess these qualities in increasing measure, they will keep you from being ineffective and unproductive in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ."