If you are reading this, then you are
either ending a battle, in the middle of one, or will be walking in to one. Hope this encourages you! The reality is we all will face battles that
look to sidetrack us from God’s purpose for us.
Today is not the day to slow down, stay down, or retreat, but instead,
it is a time to advance! To advance is
to move forward, to bring to the front.
God wants us to continue to move forward with what He has purposed us to
do.
Colossians
4:5 says to “Be wise in the way you act toward outsiders; make the most of every
opportunity.”
Even in the midst of a difficult situation, we
are not to retreat. We are to make the
most of every opportunity that God places before us.
Here are some keys to advancing:
1. Seek First. God ordains
opportunities that he places before us for us to take hold of to do what he is
calling us to do. The woman in scripture
who was ill pressed through the crowd and did not give up until she had touched
the hem of Christ’s garment. There was
nothing that she allowed to get in the way of accomplishing her goal. We cannot let things get in the way of what
we truly believe God is asking us to accomplish.
2. Discard the Past. We cannot let failures keep us back. John Maxwell wrote a book called “Failing
Forward.” In his book he challenges the
reader to use failures as an opportunity to propel themselves forward, to learn,
and to grow. Many things set us
back: offenses, past mistakes, or even
our past successes. God did not intend
for us to stay there. We must be
compelled to move forward to what God has for us to do.
3. Enlarge Your Capacity. Expand your influence. Don’t let battles stop your advance. Look for
opportunities to love others. Look for
opportunities to bless others by giving.
Keep focusing on the task at hand and work diligently with what God has
placed before you. In all these things,
lead with a humble heart, knowing that God has placed you in this capacity to
lead the ministry He has given you. Work to increase
your capacity and influence where God enables you.
4.
Attitude of Gratefulness and Joy. In the midst of a battle, we can grow faint
of heart. We can lose our resolve, or
become easily frustrated. We must work
to maintain an attitude of thanksgiving, and never stop expressing gratitude
for all that God has given us. One of the great
ways we can ‘refill out tank’ is through thankfulness. Half of the battle is not what is happening
externally and physically before us, but what is taking place emotionally and
spiritually inside of us. The arsenal of
thanksgiving enables us to continue to advance in the midst of trial and
struggle.
5.
Dream Again. One of the great tragedies of battles is the
loss of vision. Getting trapped in
struggles becomes the abyss where dreams vanish, and hopes fade. Find ways to dream again. Make a point of dreaming about what God can
do, and don’t get stuck struggling in current circumstances. God will bring a resurrection of vision. The battle will be over, the struggle will end,
and you will be left with a fresh vision and a new dream of what God desires to
accomplish.
Even in the midst of a battle, keep your head up, and keep
advancing. God had the path already laid
out before you. Find those who can be a
listening ear, and continue to trust that God will get you through whatever
battle you are in or might face soon. As
we continue to advance forward, we will accomplish all that God has purposed for
us to do!
Abe Daniel serves as our Student Ministries Director
for the Northern California and Nevada Student Ministries
Office of the Northern California and Nevada Assemblies of God
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