A Series of Initiatives (Spiritual Initiative)

I have been reading in the devotional My Utmost For His Highest by Oswald Chambers.  And I thought that the readings are timely for all of us, especially in the middle of the cold and snowy winter months.  What I'm about to share is directly from Oswald Chambers and I can take no credit for it.

"Arise from the dead....." (Ephesians 5;14)

Not all initiative, the willingness to take the first step, is inspired by God.  Some may say to you, "Get up and get going!  Take your reluctance by the throat and throw it overboard-just do what needs to be done!" That's what we mean by ordinary human .  But when the Spirit of God comes to us and says, "Get up and get going," suddenly we find the initiative is inspired.

We have many dreams and aspirations but many times we find ourselves powerless to do them or we say, "It's too late."  We can not do what we dream when we think our dreams are dead.  But when God says, "Arise from the dead..." it comes to us with such miraculous power we are able to "rise from the dead" and do the impossible.  The remarkable thing about spiritual initiative is that the life and power comes after we "get up and get going." God does not give us overcoming life-He gives us life as we overcome!

God does not make us get up.  We must do that on our own.  This means excepting Jesus into our lives! Once we have done that our dreams and aspirations are possible.  Jesus told him, "'If you are able?' Everything is possible for the person who believes!" (Mark 9:23)  Are we able and (I would like to add) willing?

So, "Stretch out your hand." (Mathew 12:13) Has soon as the man did his hand was healed.  But he had to take the intuitive.  

I can relate to this when I run.  I have been convicted by the Lord to start running.  Not only because I want to be healthier, but I would love to use this opportunity to raise money for Samaritans Purse.  I dream of completing a marathon.  I don't like to go out and run, but once I get started and take the intuitive I find myself loving to run.  I find I'm closer to God and it has become "medicine" for my soul. It's true that God gives us life as we we overcome!