discipline

Embracing Change

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“To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven.”

(Ecclesiastes 3:1)

We’re living in tumultuous times – if you don’t believe me, just scan the newspaper headlines.  The buzzwords are all around:  change, transition, alteration, modification,   conversion, transformation.  It seems that everything familiar is shifting at a rapid pace.  However, those who are prepared to grow through change will discover a resiliency that springs forth as a result of transition and emerges as a result of being repositioned. 

The struggle subsides and eventually ceases when we stop fighting the change God wants us to accept, whether pertaining to career, relationships, health, finances, etc.  We create an atmosphere conducive to success and victory with proper perspective and perception; therefore, let’s choose to agree with God.  When we enter into a new season, we won’t be able to stay the same!  So how do we prepare for inevitable transition?  What mindset do we need to embrace so we can do something different from what we’re already doing?

The Process of Growth Requires Change

If you want to make a change, you must be willing to go through a process.  Immature people desire the end result (or “the blessing”), but don’t want to do the work of developing the character they’ll need to support them when they get there.  Though it may be uncomfortable, change is an essential part of growth and development.  And if you are growing, you are changing. 

Three critical action steps for change and growth are:

  1. Accountability – enlist key people to support and coach you as you make changes (but don’t expect them to do it for you!)
  2. Responsibility – admit mistakes and reward progress (keep moving, one step at a time – you cannot stay the same – it’s not an option!)
  3. Maturity – stand on your own feet (commit to move from milk to meat – no more spoon-feeding!)

What is God Saying to You?

As we approach a change of natural seasons (moving from Summer into Fall), take a moment to hear what God is saying to you about your own spiritual season.  Don’t be discouraged if it doesn’t look like you’re where you think you should be.  God is preparing a place for you at the same time He is preparing you for that place!  Be encouraged and know that He has an expected end for you (Jeremiah 29:11). 

Surely, there is an appointed season and timeframe for your blessing, your miracle, your healing, your deliverance, your promotion, and your breakthrough.  Realize that it may not happen overnight, in a week, or even in a month; transition occurs through a process.  You must listen closely to God’s plan and obey His instructions to satisfy the conditions and be in position for the transition.  Your preparation process requires ACTION!

Go Forth in Obedience to Obtain God’s Promises

“Now therefore, if ye will obey my voice indeed, and keep my covenant,

 then ye shall be a peculiar treasure unto me above all people: for all the earth is mine:

And ye shall be unto me a kingdom of priests, and an holy nation. 

These are the words which thou shalt speak unto the house of Israel.”

(Exodus 19:5-6)

A few of Webster’s definitions for the action word “go” include: to proceed; to move or start to move; to engage in a specified activity; to function; to become; to enjoy participating in or partaking of; to happen; to succeed.

If you’ve felt like you were running in place with God’s hand holding onto your shirt collar or your shoulders – get ready!  He’s about to release you in the greatness of His glory – and when you go forth, you’ll be like a rocket taking off with so much energy, drive,  dynamism, and power that He’ll sit back watching you while saying, “Look at My child go!”  For Him to entrust His authority to us, we must prepare and plan to participate in the process as yielded vessels who have no problem saying, “Yes Lord, according to Your will be it unto me.”

In order to prepare to go forth in His fullness, we must remember these essential components of obedience:

1.      Make a decision to obey Him – it starts in the mind!

2.      Commit to discipline ourselves – our flesh must be subject to His Holy Spirit!

3.      Demonstrate determination and bring forth good fruit – we must persistently pursue His purpose for our lives.

We want the promises He has for us in the next level – are we willing to pay the price, to embrace change?  Obedience at ANY cost is what the Master requires of each of us.  No matter what our natural senses tell us, we must TRUST GOD!  And that means even – and especially – during times of great shaking, upheaval, and change.

“For ye have need of patience, that,

after ye have done the will of God, ye might receive the promise.”

(Hebrews 10:36)

© Copyright 2008 by Kayren J. Cathcart

Make A Determined Decision To Be Disciplined

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I fell off the wagon again…in my dedication to working out.  Yeah, I’m referring to the exercise routine I excitedly testified about a month ago.  The good news:  after somewhat successfully ducking my trainer for over three weeks (though we attend the same church), I repented and got back on track.  Why?  Because I need the results and I want the benefits.  When I tried to find a loophole by LYING to myself, “I’ll just work out at home by myself tomorrow” (and subsequently I saw the image of myself getting cozy with a half gallon of ice cream), I immediately sent a text message to my trainer asking, “What time are we meeting to work out tomorrow?”  Romans 13:14 tells us to make no provision for the flesh; I had to shut down that rationalizing quickly!  So once more, I find myself in the uncomfortable place of full disclosure and utter transparency.  Yet, that’s the only way to live free, for confession is good for the soul (James 5:16).  I’m not perfect, but I am being perfected!

For me, it’s not just about exercising – it’s about being disciplined in every area of my life.  And it’s about obedience to God, which is better than any sacrifice I can make.  Avoidance of discipline in one area just magnifies the fact that something is going on in another part of my life.  God wants us to deal with the things we attempt to sweep under the rug.  There’s something strangely cathartic about “coming clean” and straightening up.  I feel as if heaven and earth are moving to help me get into the right position; in this season, I’m so grateful God has given me:

  • a patient manager who models great habits for me to emulate;
  • a firm, pull-no-punches, yet loving husband who consistently practices what he preaches and encourages me to do the same; and
  • supportive pastors, friends, co-workers, and fellow church members who hold me accountable.

Each individual holds a piece of the puzzle and plays a role in helping me advance to the next level of growth, development, and maturity.  “Gee whiz!” I thought incredulously.  “I must’ve really tried to circumvent this process on a regular basis throughout the years…and here I am, still having to face it…and deal with it.”  Coasting on your talents and gifts cannot take the place of living a disciplined life.  I should know, because I’ve tried to get around it – and God repeatedly headed me off at the pass!  The excuses of sticking to a written schedule being “limiting to my creativity,” healthy eating being “restrictive to my taste buds,” getting up early being “diametrically opposed to my natural night-owl tendencies,” and using files instead piles for my papers being “counterproductive to my personal system of organization” don’t amount to a hill of beans!  I am responsible for being a good steward over what God entrusts to me, which often requires change from doing business as usual.  And sustaining any long-lasting change requires – ugh! – discipline.

A few weeks ago, I attended the National Holy Ghost Jubilee Conference in Chicago.  Our theme “For the Pulling Down of Strongholds” was thoroughly explored. I was challenged to change by excellent teaching and preaching with messages including:

“Get the Devil Outta Your Mind” (Elder Kenneth Dunlap), “Dimensions of Deliverance – They’re Not All Equal” (Pastor Reginald Blackmon), and “It’s Time for Some Execution!” (Bishop Charles A. Gibson).  Armed with all of that Word, I returned to NC and still had to face ME!  I’d like to share some nuggets I’ve learned by experience this month – I hope they’re helpful:

  • You can tell that your standard has shifted when you now tolerate what used to aggravate you.
  • Set clear boundaries that don’t blur when your mood changes.
  • It ceases to be a battle when you make up your mind for real – you only struggle with what you want to hold onto.
  • Stop fixating on your problem/issue/concern – focus on Christ and HIS solution…it’s custom tailored to fit YOU!

If you’re like me, you spend an inordinate amount of time anticipating what might go wrong.  This is futile and fruitless activity!  Purpose not to be the roadblock to your own blessings.  Make the necessary corrections when you’re convicted; don’t keep going down the wrong path!  Wisdom is putting good information to good use.  Go forth in victory as you make a determined decision to be disciplined in your own life. 

© Copyright 2008 by Kayren J. Cathcart

Does One Degree REALLY Make a Difference?

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“Catch for us the foxes, the little foxes that ruin our vineyards, our vineyards that are in bloom.”

(Song of Solomon 2:15 NIV)

We’ve already reached the fourth quarter of the year – where did the time go?  Have you achieved the goals you set for yourself in January?  Are you even close?  If not, do you wonder how in the world you got off-course? All it takes is one tiny step to veer away from your planned course of action – and before you know it, you’re way off-track!  One degree changes the angle.

Maybe I’m the only one who goes shopping for just one thing and ends up buying more items than I care to tell my spouse.  Or looks at the mountain of laundry on Friday that started out as just one load washed and dried Monday when I said, “I’ll fold and put it away it later…” but later never came.  Or reasons, “I’ll eat just one piece of chocolate,” only to find too many foil wrappers scattered around me five minutes later.  Yes, I’m sure I’m the only person who has these kinds of experiences!  It’s the little things that significantly affect the end result.  When driving a car, we don’t jerk the wheel violently back and forth the whole time we’re going straight.  Instead, we use a series of smooth movements and slight, consistent adjustments to keep us going in the desired direction.  When it’s time to turn, we approach the transition by changing our pace and rate of speed accordingly.

God wants to do the same thing with us.  He wants us to remember that small changes can have big impact – if we allow Him to modify and correct areas where we’ve started to drift away from His perfect will.  It may be uncomfortable now, but it’s better to catch something sooner than later, when it will truly hurt.  What’s coming to devour your fruit?  You’ve got to identify it and conquer it before it destroys you!  A thermostat is proof that one degree does make a difference. 

Ask God to adjust and fine-tune you this week – you may be surprised to see the areas He desires to tweak in YOU!

© Copyright 2007 by Kayren J. Cathcart