"For everything there is a season, and a time for every purpose under heaven: a time to be born, and a time to die; a time to plant, and a time to pluck up that which is planted; a time to kill, and a time to heal; a time to break down, and a time to build up; a time to weep, and a time to laugh; a time to mourn, and a time to dance; a time to cast away stones, and a time to gather stones together; a time to embrace, and a time to refrain from embracing; a time to seek, and a time to lose; a time to keep, and a time to cast away; a time to rend, and a time to sew; a time to keep silence, and a time to speak; a time to love, and a time to hate; a time for war, and a time for peace." -Ecclesiastes 3:1-8
I was walking along a familiar pathway- one that I had walked time and time again- when I felt the tangible reality of an experienced revelation.
Sometimes we have to move out of familiar situations in order to grow. Old environments can leave us stagnant. We can continuously wonder why positive change isn't manifesting in our lives, and yet be living in the same place that we have been for years. Now, it's not impossible for change to occur in the midst of familiar territory. However, it's so much easier on ourselves to have a fresh start when we do so on a clean slate! Fresh surroundings are the perfect incubator for refocused vision, brand-new habits, original thoughts, and the ability to take a step back and see the bigger picture of our lives.
God has our best interest in mind, which means that there is a very specific reason why things are stated in scripture to guide us the way that they are. There is a reason why a man is to leave his mother and father and move onto the next stage of his life. ("For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and the two will become one flesh." -Ephesians 5:31) This is the case so that the man can take care of his next duty in life, for both his benefit and the benefit of his ministry.
Often times, we human beings can actually do ourselves more harm than good by staying near to what is comfortable. Making this a habit actually gets us in the mindset that it is okay to be lenient and not step into the new place that God has prepared for us to work. Sometimes, our mindsets have trouble changing for the better when they are stimulated by the same impulses influenced by the same surroundings. The good news is, God is always near to listen to our prayers for guidance and willing to lead us into His will- if only we have the faith to move our feet. No matter how scary a new start is, we can be confident that He holds us in the palm of His hand and is never going to expect something from us that He is not faithful to bring us through.
Do you need a change of scenery? Does a new environment have the potential to render growth for your soul and for your ministry?
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