Stepping out of the comfort zone

Compliments of the new season! Together with Daniel we say, “Praise be to the name of God for ever and ever; wisdom and power are His. He changes times and seasons” (Daniel 2:20,21).
Indeed it is a new season that comes with its own challenges and opportunities, threats and thrills. Every new season poses a challenge of discomfort and uncertainty as one is unsure of what to expect. But the most important thing in any new season is to position yourself in such a way that you can take advantage of any opportunities that come your way and hedge against any threats that may spring up on you. This vantage point can be found in no other place except in the presence of God.
Granted, there are common and uncommon challenges you will face this year. Also, there are usual and unusual opportunities for promotion that will open up for you in this new season. Your preparedness to handle both challenges and opportunities is the factor that determines whether your direction will be up or down. It will help you much in this season if you adopt the optimistic attitude of Caleb which sees opportunity in every obstacle.
There are great opportunities this year for your promotion but if you are someone who likes his or her comfort zone, you will miss them. The point is that your opportunities will come disguised as insurmountable challenges. The mysterious dreams of Nebuchadnezzar became the launching pad for Daniel’s promotion. On the other hand, the same dreams were the basis for the demotion of the King’s astrologers and magicians. Daniel’s secret for successfully interpreting the King’s mysterious dreams was rooted in his implicit faith in the ability of God to reveal deep and hidden things. He dared to believe God for the unusual and he received unusual promotion.
Apostle Peter had his seasons of instability, doubt and wavering faith. But he did something one day that ushered him into a completely different season. From then on he enjoyed a unique relationship with the Lord Jesus till he was left as the leader of the company of disciples. Peter’s opportunity to do the impossible thing of walking on water came at night. Most of us do not think the night can come laden with opportunities for our promotion. We think it is time for us to rest and sleep. The hardest time for every Christian to pray is during the night. No wonder why satanic activities reach their peaks around the mid-night hour. We love our sleep; it is our comfort zone. We would not dare do      anything else during the night except to sleep. However, if you can get out of your comfort                     zone of sleep and pray hard during the nights this year you are going to see opportunities that are invisible to sleep-lovers. And you are going to achieve uncommon success.
When Jesus came walking on water during that night the disciples were terrified. I am sure Peter was also terrified at first. But he quickly recovered. I am also sure that Peter thought Jesus, who was walking on water, was a ghost. But he quickly recognised Him when He bade to come on the water. All the disciples heard the master bid him come but none of them could dare believe it except Peter.
Having got the assurance that it was the master walking on water and not a ghost Peter got out of the boat and performed a memorable miracle of walking on water. Besides Jesus, who is both God and man, only one man by the name of Simon Peter managed to successfully walk on water though for a short distance. You see, Peter saw an opportunity to do an unusual thing where others froze in doubt and fear. The opportunity was presented to 12 people but only one took advantage of it. The other 11 could not see the opportunity because it came in the night, looked like a ghost, and was perched on water instead of the comfortable dry land.
Do not be deceived there is no new year that will ever bring silver on a platter. Your effort is always demanded. However, the effort must be put as an act of obedience to God’s bidding. First hear from God and then step out of the boat. After getting the assurance that the Lord is in agreement with your vision or course of action, do not dither or hesitate but make a move. Faith is good but action is better. Dare to do the unusual this year. You can pray and fast for longer periods. You can plan and brainstorm for eternity.
The secret to success this year is to be prepared to get out of your comfort zone first.
-For feedback: call 0772889766 or e-mail mairos78@yahoo.co.uk