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Got Risk . . . Discomfort?

Years spent in luxury and comfort can’t compare to one day spent with God in His presence, experiencing His love, living His truth, doing His work. And, astonishingly, God doesn’t offer us just single days or mere glimpses or fleeting encounters. He offers Himself “more abundantly than all that we ask or think” (Ephesians 3:20-21). He offers all of Himself all the time, as much as we want, as much as we choose.

One proven method of choosing Him is to strip away worldly comfort, strip away predictability and self-sufficiency and intentionally move into situations we can’t handle on our own. Jesus sent His disciples into such situations: “I am sending you out as lambs in the midst of wolves” (Luke 10:3). He told them to travel light and resist taking anything that could provide comfort, predictability, self-sufficiency: money, extra clothing, extra stuff (Luke 10:4). They had to rely on Him. And they returned full of joy (Luke 10:17). Because they’d been willing to move, in faith, into risk and discomfort, they got to spend precious days with God. Jesus told them:

“Blessed are the eyes that see what you see! For I tell you that many prophets and kings desired to see what you see, and did not see it, and to hear what you hear, and did not hear it.” (Luke 10:23-24)

Okay, so what do we do?

Ask yourself, what am I doing right now that requires faith? We get used to choosing risk and discomfort by practicing. So, look for ways to practice, brother. Look today for what moves your heart. Reach out to someone who needs help. Spend time with someone who needs a friend. Commit to a service project. Sign up for a short-term mission trip. If you do, you too will have great stories to tell.

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