Cancel plan B!

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