Empowered United Women

Wholeness To Flourish Where You Are

Filtering by Tag: comfort zones fear bondage limitations

STEPPING OUT OF YOUR COMFORT ZONE

Dear Father,

Thank you for each and everyone of our lives, for growth, strength, lessons learnt, your mercy that is renewed every morning, direction, new beginnings and the right people in our lives you have blessed us with. May we all continue to seek you in all that we do and trust in you to guide us along the way. In your mighty name I pray. Halleluyah.

Comfort zones – A place we have all found ourselves in, fearful of stepping out, not knowing what to expect, doubting our capabilities, doing things on a routine basis, you name it sure we have all been there. But it is important to recognise that comfort zones as much as they are comfort to us, puts a strain on our walk in Christ, limiting us to receive greater things and limiting our growth in the process.

The bible doesn’t encourage comfort zones, for example when it speaks in Matthew 16:24 to take up our crosses and follow God in all we do, this act alone is not comfortable because it will require you dying to self, dying to own plans, changing your mind-set, putting all self thoughts and control aside and seeking Him in all things you do. Where God places you, most of the time it will not be comfortable to contain. But it is not about us, but helping to build the kingdom to serve.

There will come a time were all Christians should take that leap of faith to step outside of the comfort zone and who they are comfortable being around, and to avoid doing limited work daily. We must have the confidence in God that the same way He took us out of that comfort zone, is the same way He will equip us along the way to do more and be bold doing it. His grace is sufficient for all and He will never leave us nor forsake us.

Our walk in Christ has no room for comfort zones, but I find that that is what we have known over time, doing what we are comfortable with, being around the same people, putting off things which need to be done, exercising control over what we choose to do and ignore. It is when those comfort zones need to be broken that the uneasiness starts too. It is like someone who has only ever known London to then be called by God to go and do missionary work abroad and they are doubting it, making excuses and stating reasons they wouldn’t be the right person to go along and do what God has chosen them to do.

When God calls you He already knows what is going to happen before we get there, and it is a test of our faith in Him and the patience to endure that really stretches our character to the core, to work on areas that need to be dealt with the right way. Do not worry about material things or the future because the God we serve always provides for us. Because we are called to live a lifestyle radically different and effective from the way we were once living before.

One thing that struck me about comfort zones is that it is the complete opposite to how God wants us to live, in comfort zones we are controlled by fear unknown to us, we don’t take risks, we don’t tend to try new things, may say it but don’t actually do it.

When we receive salvation it is saying bye to the old ways and welcoming the ways of God to live by. We find that our natural inclination is to rely on ourselves before anyone else, that we are good and able to lead in all things. The moment we give our lives to Christ it shows us leaving those comfort zones to surrender fully to God Himself, to have faith in Him alone, deny self and align ourselves with His word. We step away from the wrong crowds, we leave old habits behind, sin no longer controls and our story changes, there are soo many beautiful benefits, that we no longer will need to go back to the world to live as we once lived. God will do things to cause us to step out of that shell we have become comfortable to be in.

EXAMPLES OF COMFORT ZONES..

  • Fear of the unknown
  • Friendships that encourage comfort zones
  • Wrong relationships that feed our flesh
  • Settling for less than we deserve
  • The sense of having control over all things
  • Being comfortable in a job simply because of the money

We know that comfort zones need to be broken for growth, wisdom, elevation and right Godly counsel in our lives.

EXAMPLES POST COMFORT ZONES-

  • Changes in our day to day lives
  • Stepping out in faith
  • Changing the company, we keep – some are only good for comfort but do not edify you and offer Godly counsel
  • Evangelising – reaching out to people you wouldn’t normally talk to
  • Being in places you would not have attended before.
  • Spreading the good news to family and friends 

One thing I stand by is that doing the work of God is not supposed to be comfortable hence why total dependence, faith and trust needs to be in God and not man. So even though it will be uncomfortable it is still worth it because when it is all said and done it is no longer about us, but how we are winning souls to save the kingdom.

Matthew 19:27 Peter says ‘See we have left everything and followed you. What then will we have?’ Because they literally gave up all they had to serve God, and in this willing state they would face many persecutions, doubt, worry, etc. But yet it was all worth it because they were covered, protected and no longer on the same level doing the same things. It was no longer doing things based on their routines but beyond that, out of their comfort zones. If this should teach us anything, its that as Christians who have picked up our crosses and following God, we must have the mind-set of not entertaining comfort zones anymore, but doing what God requires and serving wholeheartedly.

All decisions made must be aligned with what God says to us, once they align with His there will be a renewed mind and spirit to know what to do as well as what not to do. The comfort level will decrease because it is not about comfort when serving God, the more you move in comfort shows you are moving in the flesh and what you want to do more of. Do not hold back when it comes to serving God because He has not created us to be weak and on the fence doubting everything and what He says to us.

SERVING OUTSIDE OF YOUR COMFORT ZONES. THINK ABOUT THESE POINTS-

  • HOW CAN MY GIFTS BE UTILISED?
  • HOW CAN I CHANGE MY WAYS TO NOT FALL BACK INTO COMFORT?
  • THE GRACE TO BE ABLE TO MINISTER TO EVERYONE AND NOT BE SELECTIVE.
  • WHAT IS HOLDING YOU BACK?
  • WHAT ARE YOU ALLOWING WHICH YOU SHOULD CUT OFF?
  • ARE THERE ANY STRONGHOLDS STILL OPERATING IN YOUR LIFE?
  • DO YOU REALLY BELIEVE IN YOURSELVES AND LOVE YOURSELVES?
  • DO YOU BELIEVE THAT YOU ARE CAPABLE TO DO WHAT GOD HAS ASKED? BELIEVE IN YOU – GOD DOES..
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God bless you all

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Empowered United Women Ministry