As we wrap our series on “seasons”, let’s take a minute to look back on what we’ve learned.
First, we talked about the dangers of comparing our journey with Christ with the journey of others. This misjudgment of our season causes discouragement and can hinder our growth.
In the Waiting Season, we explored the misconception of the phrase “waiting on God”, and discovered exactly what to do while we wait.
In the Writing Season, we recognized the importance of putting pen to paper and identified how to write God’s vision for our lives.
This series concludes with a focus on the Working Season – doing what God called us to do.
Clock In
The Working Season is the time when you are actively walking toward what God has revealed to you during your Writing Season in prayer. It is in this season that you are functioning in obedience and following His direction. In the Working Season, you are being used by God to promote His Kingdom and bring Him glory. As you do what God has called you to do, you find fulfillment in His purpose for you.
While the idea of finding fulfillment in God’s purpose sounds appealing, what do you do if you feel like the vision you’ve written for your life is beyond your reach? If you’re not working in your Working Season, has fear stopped you? What should you do if you are already working, but feel overwhelmed and frustrated?
The Keys to Success While You Work
Fix Your Focus, Adjust Your Eyes
If you feel that the vision you’ve received from God is beyond your reach, the first thing you must do is adjust your focus. Check your eyes and renew your vision.
In order to walk in the fulfilment of God’s purpose for your life you must see yourself as God sees you. Resist the urge to see yourself as less than. Whatever we think in our heart, that’s exactly what we are (Proverbs 23:7). How you see yourself determines how you show up in the world.
Agree with God and look at yourself through His eyes. Scripture says in Ephesians 2:10 that we are God’s masterpiece. Genesis 1:27 reminds us that we are created in the image of God. According to Psalm 8:5, we are crowned with glory and honor. The assurance of knowing that you are created in God’s image and are His masterpiece should cause you to fully stand up and own the greatness He has placed within you. You can do and be everything God has called you to be when your focus is right.
Stop Looking to Yourself and Look to GOD
Looking to yourself as a source of strength is a big mistake. As believers, we can do nothing without His power. The Holy Spirit empowers us to operate and be effective in what He has called us to do. It is not in our own strength. It is God who gets the work done.
Zechariah 4:6 reminds us that great things are accomplished by the power of His Spirit, not our strength. The vision that God placed in your heart may, in fact, be far beyond what you can do in your own strength. This is precisely why you need HIM to accomplish it!
Fix Your Mouth, Adjust Your words
Take a moment to listen to the ongoing conversation you are having with yourself. What are you saying?
Are you speaking words of life to yourself or are you speaking death? Are you encouraging yourself or are you speaking words of self-doubt and defeat?
May I encourage you to make the mental shift to replace the negative internal chatter with the Word of God? In order to fulfill God’s purpose, you must make a conscious choice to speak words that agree with God’s Word and what He has said about you.
God, in His word, says you are holy, chosen and blameless (Ephesians 1:4), and that you have been made complete in Christ (Colossians 2:10). You must remind yourself of His thoughts about you multiple times throughout the day. Change your internal dialogue and come into agreement with God. This internal shift of positive God-energy, will empower you to do what He has called you to do.
Don’t Allow Fear to Freeze Your Feet
Often we stall and we miss opportunities to be used by God because we worry about making the wrong move. Fear paralyzes us, causing us to do nothing. It is imperative that we face our fear with focused action. We must push past the fear of making a mistake.
As we follow God in faith, He fills in the gaps. He’s gracious to forgive the mistakes we may make as we pursue what we feel He called us to do. God sees our heart to please Him, and if we stumble, He will allow mistakes to work for our good.
Once you begin to make steps, in faith, God will bring people into your life with divine alignment to your assignment. He will strategically put people in your path to help you fulfill what He has called you to do. Please don’t dismiss these acquaintances as coincidence – see them as divine connections.
On other occasions, we allow the fear of public opinion to take precedence over the vision that God has given us. Too many times we are looking for the approval of others, rather than walking in the vision God has for us. We place too much value in what “they” say. What “they” say is irrelevant when God has called you to do something. It is imperative that we all move beyond the fear of men.
What if You’re Already Working and Feel Overwhelmed?
At times we find ourselves working on projects or activities that cause us to feel weighted and stressed. When we first started, the tasks were manageable. In the beginning, these activities may have appeared to be good things but, in our running, we never stopped to ask if they were GOD things. It is perfectly acceptable to stop and evaluate the activity, things, and people in your life.
Re-evaluate what is important. Take a good look at what is occupying your time. If you are exhausted, perhaps you have overextended yourself. God specifically graces us for the assignments in our lives.
The remedy to this problem is simple. Go to God in prayer and ask Him to move people and things off of your agenda that don’t align with His plan for your life. Ask God for the wisdom and the clarity to see what you should let go of.
So, What’s the Play Call?
As you begin to walk in what God has called you to do, please keep in mind a few things:
God’s vision for your life may not manifest in the way you expect it. Be open to how the vision will unfold. His plans may be birthed in a place you have not considered before.
Take time to prepare yourself for the vision by actively working on your spiritual growth and personal development.
Remember, numerical success does not equal spiritual success. Your effectiveness will not be based on man’s measure of success, but on God’s. When we obey His voice, we always win!
