One Step at a Time

 

 

I came home from the Allume Conference full of goals and aspirations. I took diligent notes and was determined to make big strides both as a blogger and as a writer. I wrote down steps I wanted to take, goals I wanted to accomplish, and new dreams envisioned. I made new contacts, friends with whom I could partner. I got a ton of new resources (hello swagbag), and was so stoked to step out and make all of these things happen.

In the last {almost} two weeks since my return home, I have not accomplished a thing.

I haven’t made changes to my blog.

I haven’t reached out to the new {amazing} bloggers I met and would like to partner with.

I haven’t engaged with my readers, and really haven’t written any fantastic content.

I feel paralyzed.

You see, this is how I often feel when I come back from an amazing “high” experience. It’s how I felt after I attended a Women of Faith conference and came home determined to kick my temptation to the curb. It’s how I felt after attending a women’s retreat about prayer, where I was determined to spend more time on my knees before my Lord. My intentions were good, my heart was in it, but the feat seemed too great and I became paralyzed.

Do you ever feel that way?

Do you ever leave an exhilarating experience, newly equipped to run the race, and you end up feeling paralyzed?

Instead of making change, even taking just a small step, you find anything else to fill your time. Laundry even seems enticing as you avoid stepping out in faith. Anxiety gets in the way, and the enemy begins to convince you that the information you learned wasn’t meant for you, that you cannot take the steps necessary to reach your goals and that your goals are too lofty and impossible. Fear grabs you, and you decide to stick your notes {and dreams} away until you have “more time” to pour into taking action.

That’s where I’ve sat since returning from Allume. I’ve remained paralyzed in my fear.

Today, however, the Lord spoke to my heart. Today He gave me a {loving} kick in the booty. He reminded me that it wasn’t about tackling every single goal at once. He showed me that it wasn’t about starting with the big dream, but instead it’s about starting with the small steps. It’s about saying “yes” to today, checking one thing off the list, and leaving tomorrow in His hands. He showed me that it was my fear that was leaving me paralyzed. It’s my fear that convinced me to put away my notes and my dreams for another day. It’s my fear that convinced me that my dreams were not valid, that He would never use me for that big dream. And He reminded me that He didn’t give me a spirit of fear.  

 For God has not given us a spirit of timidity, but of power and love and discipline. - 2 Timothy 1:7

So today, instead of remaining in fear, I’m stepping out of it. I’m stepping out in faith. I’m going to pull out my notes, re-read my goals, my dreams, and my new-found visions for my ministry, and I’m going to take one step; one step towards growth, one step towards my goals, one step towards my God-given dreams. Just one. I won’t worry about what step I’ll take tomorrow, for today I just need to take one. Tomorrow I’ll take another step, and one each day after that. 

Day by day I’ll continue to kick fear to the curb and take it one step at a time. Will you join me?

 

  By, Mandy Scarr at Zealous for Him