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Stretching


“That’s a stretch for me.” I’ve said it. You’ve said it. Moving beyond the comfort we are accustomed to in order to do something extra. It’s awkward. Sometimes it leaves us a little sore.

 But the fact it, stretching is necessary. Think about it-you are supposed to stretch before and after a workout to prevent injury. Some stretching is useful to reduce stress. Stay with me; I have a point.

So many times we forget to stretch ourselves spiritually. How often do we really step out of the comfort zone and loosen those spiritual gifts and talents so they can grow? I spent years focused on one area of ministry with no intention or idea of writing or speaking. But God stretched me into something I never imagined. And He isn’t finished.

In view of all this, make every effort to respond to God’s promises. Supplement your faith with a generous provision of moral excellence, and moral excellence with knowledge, and knowledge with self-control, and self-control with patient endurance, and patient endurance with godliness, and godliness with brotherly affection, and brotherly affection with love for everyone. The more you grow like this, the more productive and useful you will be in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. But those who fail to develop in this way are shortsighted or blind, forgetting that they have been cleansed from their old sins. (2 Peter‬ ‭1‬:‭5‬-‭9‬ ‭NLT‬‬)

Are you stretching enough? Have your spiritual muscles become stiff, making it difficult to move with God into something new?

Life is busy. I get it. We are days away from the graduation of our older son. But we can’t let a pause cause a delay in growth. Eventually, our walk will become a standstill, which is exactly what the enemy wants. If we aren’t moving and stretching and growing in God, we can’t further the kingdom. Satan would love nothing more than to make us comfortable where we are and just wait for someone else to do the work. Let me tell you, that’s how things don’t get accomplished!

I refuse to sit idly and stop growing. This journey-the blog, speaking, painstakingly working on a book-has stretched me and taken me deeper into the heart of the Father than I ever could have imagined. 

Are you comfortable? Maybe it’s time to stretch.

© Jill Cook and Unbroken & Undone Ministries.  All rights reserved.

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