Ok, we have had a lot happening at the MK household lately. It is all good things but change can be overwhelming for me sometimes. We are expanding our business [see post here] and we are still remodeling our house. Amidst the house remodel, I made a career change mid-school year. Those of you who work in education, you know how taboo that can be. And I have been on an emotional roller coaster since the process has started, let me tell you! However, God has shown up for me again. He always provides for what we need. This time, he has sent a clear message to me through a sermon series at church, called “Breakthrough.” The timing of this sermon series could not have been more perfect. I feel this sermon series can speak to so many so I wanted to share.
First off, if you are not religious, I fully respect that and I will not be offended if you choose not to read this series of blog posts. I continue to love and support you just as the person you are. If you are on the fence with your religion or experiencing a tough time I encourage you to read on. This concept of “Breakthrough” can help so many people. Whether you are like me and are in the midst of a breakthrough or maybe you are someone who is desperately seeking a Breakthrough, this sermon can help!
Before I move on, of course I need to give a shout out to our church, Mount Olive for working so hard on this sermon series. You can find the sermon here.
Ok Is Not Ok
The first sermon in the series is titled, “Ok Is Not Ok.” In this message Pastor Lance shares that it is human nature to stay status quo. We stick with what we our comfortable. This couldn’t be truer for me right now. I have recently had a breakthrough moment in accepting a new job. Even though my new job closely aligns to what I am passionate about, I am still struggling through the change. But God does not want us to stay status quo; he wants us to grow. He wants us to grow in not only what we offer to others, but also in our relationship with him. God never calls us to a life of comfort but to a life of growth.
In the sermon Pastor Lance lays out some steps for this process:
- Understand that just ok is not ok
- Have a faith-filled vision
- Inquire of the Lord
- Follow the Lord’s command and instructions
Let’s break them down a little bit more to understand the steps.
Understand that Just Ok is Not Ok
We can not be ok with being complacent. Although it is natural for us to want to stay comfortable, God wants us to continually grow. He wants us to grow personally, challenging yourself to live a life that is worthy of Jesus’ sacrifice. God also wants us to grow in our relationship with him bringing ourselves closer to him each day.
Have a Faith-Filled Vision
Having a faith-filled vision is the capacity to see a preferable future, to see beyond the barriers and to have the faith to believe God will do it. God will provide the breakthrough because God can do all things. And through God you can do all things because he provides us strength.
Inquire of the Lord
If you are feeling stuck and don’t know when your breakthrough can come, pray and ask God for the right path. Pray that he would provide you with the right breakthrough. In times when you feel lost, lean into the Lord. Trust in his plans and promises. He knows the plans he has for you; trust him in these plans.
Follow the Lord’s Command and Instructions
When you pray and God gives you signs. Listen. Be obedient of the Lord. This step can personally be the hardest for me. I overthink and question instead of trusting God’s plans for me. I need to consistently remind myself to trust God. This is why I created the reflection sheets for this sermon series. So I can continue to grow in this area. You can download it here. In this refection sheet, there are brief reminder notes of the sermon, a spot for you to create goals and an action plan, and songs to listen to throughout the week to draw inspiration.
To finish off this post, I wanted to share my favorite quote from Pastor Lance’s sermon, “The Lord is for you, with you. He fights for YOU!” I will be continuing to recap the sermons in the Breakthrough series and providing reflection sheets along the way. I hope it helps you as much as it helped me! And because it wouldn’t be a post from MK Creations if I didn’t make something along the way. Here is a picture of earrings I created to remind me of what I am capable of with God’s strength behind me.
