Day 132 Out of the Zone

They asked him to stay longer, but he declined." Acts 18:20 
 

I love comfort, but following Christ means that God gets dibs on leading me out of my comfort zone.

Paul's life was far from comfortable.... When he wasn't in prison for preaching about Jesus, he had a packed travel schedule. He preached in Thessalonica, traveled to Berea, spoke in the synagogue in Athens, made his way to Corinth, set sail for Syria, and made a brief stop in Ephesus. 

And at Ephesus, the crowd was eager for him to stay. It would be easy to settle in with new friends to enjoy a respite from the unfriendly religious leaders, accusations, and fatigue. Instead, Paul said a simple goodbye with a promise to return one day.

Journeys by definition take us outside our comfort zone. But they're also a front row seat to watching God work. God is powerful in your own life as you journey into the lives of others this year.... Paul likely also experienced this kind of spiritual excitement on his journeys. You're making a difference in the lives of the people you work with and live around!

Maybe Paul didn't linger in comfortable places because he had discovered the joy of walking straight into the lives of people who needed a Savior. Faith is an adventure, and God sometimes calls us away from our safe places.

I love to get comfy. It feels good to be settled. It's nice to know what to expect. But if you sense God inviting you out of your comfort zone, are you willing to go? When God leads us out of our comfort zones, we experience uncharted territory. We might even come to the end of ourselves.

But we also have the privilege of being a small part of a big plan, offering our willing hearts and seeing the work only God can do.

Dear Lord, I'm willing to step outside my comfort zone to discover Your plan for me. In Jesus' Name, Amen.