No Take Backs
As a parent, every day is an opportunity to learn a life
lesson. Despite the hour of the day, my youngest child knows that he can cry
out and receive attention. As the scream goes from ear piercing to blood
curdling, he knows that his immediate demands will be met. It’s not a question
of IF his parents will attend to him but WHEN his parents attend to him. He is
CONVINCED that he will be satisfied because of his efforts. A pacifier could soothe him but he knows there is something better that will satisfy him.
Good is great until you realize better is an
option.
1 Kings 19:19-21 New Living Translation (NLT)
19 So Elijah went and found Elisha son of Shaphat plowing a
field. There were twelve teams of oxen in the field, and Elisha was plowing
with the twelfth team. Elijah went over to him and threw his cloak across his
shoulders and then walked away. 20 Elisha left the oxen standing there, ran
after Elijah, and said to him, “First let me go and kiss my father and mother
good-bye, and then I will go with you!”
Elijah replied, “Go on back, but think about what I have
done to you.”
21 So Elisha returned to his oxen and slaughtered them. He
used the wood from the plow to build a fire to roast their flesh. He passed
around the meat to the townspeople, and they all ate. Then he went with Elijah
as his assistant.
It can be difficult to determine which bridge to cross and
which bridge to burn…
Your future is happening now - stop watching the clock do
what it does and still do nothing (it’s ok slow down and read it again – got
it? Good!)
(Side bar) I think it is entertaining that the next leader,
Elisha, was chosen from the final team. Your destination will supersede your
position when you are focused.
Elijah simply gives a sign to Elisha signifying its time to
move. Have you been given the go ahead to grow but stifling your height with
doubt and disbelief?
It was up to Elisha to make a decision. Although Elisha was
sustained where he was it was insufficient to his destiny. Greater was
available. Your call for better may be simple – will you be CONVINCED enough to
move?
Elisha was CONVINCED that going with Elijah was his best
move.
1.
What are you convinced of?
2.
Why are you convinced?
3.
What will you do because of your conviction?
Elisha asked to inform his parents of his conviction to
move. Elijah agrees with him going but leaves the stipulation that Elisha
realizes the opportunity he has just been given.
Don’t go back for a final goodbye and get paralyzed.
We must learn to say goodbye and not see you later to
certain things in life. It is like the childhood game where you gave someone
something you didn’t want back. You would say, “No take backs!” Stop leaving
the candy trail back home. Where you are going, there isn’t a need to go back.
Elisha takes the tools he once used to create wealth and
turns them into firewood and food. Elisha threw a boil featuring Ox tails on
smoked plow wood
He was essentially saying, “I’m cancelling my plan B – there
will not be an open back door to this decision – I am CONVINVCED!”
This moment was not a holy sacrifice but a celebration
through sacrificing his past. People will celebrate your stagnation but you
must stay focused on succeeding.
When you are convinced, there isn’t an exit strategy.
When you are convinced, there isn’t what if it doesn’t work.
When you are convinced, there is only one way and that is
it.
Are you convinced?
It is no longer IF God works this out...
It is WHEN God works this out!
Be convinced that God will supply all of your needs
Be convinced that you are already great because the Holy
Spirit resides in you
Be convinced that your right now is not forever
Be convinced that your marriage will work out
Be convinced that your children will be successful
Be convinced that you will graduate
Be convinced that He who has begun the good work within you,
will continue His work until it is finally finished on the day when Christ
Jesus returns.
#BeConvinced #GodROCKS
