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TRUST JESUS TODAY

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Previous Challenge Entry (Level 2 – Intermediate)
Topic: Calm (emotionally) (09/13/07)
God has been talking to me about the deathly threat called a comfort zone. He showed me that the Hebrews were so comfortable in Egypt after the great drought, that when it was over they didn’t even consider returning home. They were very comfortable, thank you very much, in Goshen, the very best land in Egypt where the vegetables grew to giant size in the silt of centuries, between the branches of the great Nile. Why would you want to go anywhere?

A new pharaoh arrived and considered these prolific, clever people a threat to the nation, and immediately turned them into slaves, as originally their forefathers had done to Joseph. Over four hundred years they developed a menial, hopeless attitude to life. What a huge, generational price to pay for comfort! They didn’t leave when they had the choice and then they couldn’t. Their comfort zone became their severe master, with a lash and a mighty army at hand to establish and cement the pecking order!

Comfort is not the indicator of righteousness. Christians are designed to live like eagles, in the unpredictable wind of the Spirit. As Egypt was not the home of the Hebrews, neither is earth our home. We are Heavenly people.

So I felt the need, in my retirement, to do something in order to have more to offer financially, mortgaged my home in order to do a development – a new house in which I can entertain international students and Christian friends much better, to be followed by further developments in order to gain financial freedom. This is not comfortable.

Jesus came and sat with me on a seat beside a raging sea. I had sat there before with a friend eating fish and chips, enjoying the raging seas. But this time the turmoil was that of dealing with a builder and getting my house finished. I thought to myself, “OK, there are storms, but Jesus is here, so I‘ve nothing to worry about.” Immediately the sea calmed and I felt the certain assurance that He would keep my seas calm. Oh, peace is beautiful!

Until my source of income (boarder) tells me he is leaving and I am needing that income for mortgage paying purposes.

Panic? Well, increased stress signs in my body. Dangerous and frightening stress symptoms. Already the stress levels are so high that I live on medication, and can’t afford any increase. Why in the world did I decide to build a house? I felt compelled to. By the Holy Spirit? I thought so. But these stress levels will make me suicidal if they progress any further!

Only one possible resource. “Jesus, You are faithful and I know you know all my troubles and have promised, in very clear terms, to make the way smooth. I’m delivering the problem to you. I refuse to worry – that’s your business. I need another boarder. I’m asking you to send one. It rather needs to be a girl, Father, as I will have room for two or three in the new house and you are my only husband! Jesus, I’m looking at you, not at my problem”

Amazing! The phenomenal tension in my body is not permitted its typical multi-spasm stress reaction. I could feel both the overheating and also the restraint from doing so! Internal war, but not too much sleep lost.

Within a day or two I was contacted by my Chinese student liaison person – another boarder, a girl, would arrive on Saturday, 24 hours (no, 21 to be precise) after the other student left! Thank you Jesus. Stress levels are normal, sleep secure! What an amazing God is our Father. I didn’t miss a single day! Talk about making the path smooth!

Jesus has indeed made the path of building a new house smooth enough for me to manage. I look forward to moving in about three weeks, and to planning my next development. It’s great fun! Hardly comfortable though, especially when complicated by another project – that of building a fully commercial website ready for internet sales. Living on the edge is far more exciting than living in a comfortable retirement zone. There is so much more to be done for the Kingdom of Heaven.

Comfort’s an outright killer. Look past it – and you can!
Heaven’s our home, not this earth, whose treasures are only a scam!
Go for the new horizon. Only Lot’s wives keep looking back.
The Spirit is doing a new thing. Measure His wind, adjusting your tack!
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Member Comments
Member
Date
Jacquelyn Horne
09/22/07
I don't mind getting out of my comfort zone, but I want to be sure I'm being led by the master and not pushed by my own interests.
c clemons
09/22/07
Enjoyed your little adventure. Although I had to read it twice. I was trying to hard to connect the children of Israel to your circumstance. Stepping out can be hard and stressful, but I think you got it right by giving your cares to Him and letting Him work it out.
Sheri Gordon
09/24/07
Thank you for the good example of not resting in our comfort zone -- and in completely relying on Jesus. He is our Comforter -- in all situations.