MomentumSample

Get Moving!

Have you ever experienced a situation when you were paralyzed with fear? Perhaps from a dog or speeding car coming out of nowhere and you literally can’t lift your feet to move out of harm’s way. Or the person who becomes paralyzed by stage fright while drawing a blank and forgetting his or her words.

Fear and anxiety can also paralyze us in numerous ways. We go to great lengths to avoid anything that might trigger those fears, whether it’s avoiding a doctor’s office or avoiding a friend or family member. We avoid committing to relationships due to past wounds and fears of being hurt again. Before long, we feel like we’re stuck in quicksand, unable to move in any direction.

How about failure? This seven letter “F” word has prevented many of us from moving forward. Like Lot’s wife looking back on a burning Sodom and Gomorrah, we can also find ourselves feeling like a lifeless pillar of salt, frozen in time as we look back on our failures.

Imagine having just escaped to freedom after 400 years of being enslaved under a harsh and brutal regime. You now find yourself in unfamiliar territory while at a dead end created by this body of water called the Red Sea.

Your worst fears are realized as you can see dust flying in the distance created by an angry leader and his fierce army pursuing you with reckless abandon. This same leader was your slave master just twenty-four hours earlier and he wants his “property” back.

Panic and fear were quickly spreading throughout the camp. Not knowing exactly what steps to take next, the new leader, Moses, steps forward with an attempt to diffuse a situation that was escalating quickly:

“But Moses told the people, “Don’t be afraid. Just stand still and watch the Lord rescue you today. The Egyptians you see today will never be seen again. The Lord himself will fight for you. Just stay calm.” (Exodus 14:13-14 NLT)

These words seem wise and comforting on the outside until you hear the Lord’s response in the next couple verses…

“Then the Lord said to Moses, “Why are you crying out to me? Tell the people to get moving! Pick up your staff and raise your hand over the sea. Divide the water so the Israelites can walk through the middle of the sea on dry ground.” (14:15-16 NLT)

"Get moving!"

In other words, God was saying, “Don’t just stand there, do something! Use those two legs I’ve given each of you. I’ll do the heavy lifting but I also need each of you to do your part.”

There’s certainly a time for stillness before the Lord and putting ourselves in a position to hear his voice. Remaining calm is a good thing, especially when under pressure. But there are moments in life when God is calling us to take action with things He’s equipped us with.

Someone once said we should “pray like it depends on God, work like it depends on you.” We can pray hard and work hard at the same time. There are things we have to accomplish in the natural and things only God can accomplish in the supernatural.

Have you been stuck lately, paralyzed by fear or past failures? I’ve got good news for you: God is calling you to get moving. Don’t worry. He’ll do the supernatural part that brings lasting freedom but He’s calling you to do your part by simply taking one step at a time in a new direction. This is repentance.

The simple act of moving our bodies fifteen minutes a day can yield wonderful benefits that leak into the mental, emotional, and spiritual parts of us. Not only does science back this up but our bodies confirm it in the way we feel.

As we move forward, God will part the Red Seas that hinder our progress. He’ll also defeat the enemies that once enslaved us.

It’s time to get moving. I can feel the momentum building already.

“Father, thank You for hearing our cries for freedom. We don’t always understand Your timing but we know You’re never late. We want to get moving toward the Promised Land You have for us. Help us fix our eyes on Jesus and never lose sight of what He’s up to in the rebuilding of our lives. Give us a desire to be alive and active each and every day You give us. It’s in the freeing name of Jesus we pray, Amen.”

We would love to have you join us for our 21 Day Momentum Challenge! All we ask is that you commit to moving your body for 15 minutes at least 5 days a week. Sign up now at https://www.aliveandactivewellness.com/momentum/