Comfort Zones

I never imagined that God’s Love could actually change my life... but here I am. Love is contagious. I am still learning how to follow Jesus, even after all these years of knowing about Him. As I give God space to reign in my life, He keeps pushing me outside my comfort zone. It doesn't feel safe, and I don't know what to expect, but I'm excited because I trust Him. We love each other, so it's fun to do things together... even hard things.

How far are you willing to go for Jesus? That question used to torment me as a child. I once prayed, “God, I will follow you, but please don’t send me to Africa.” I was afraid, you see. Until God's love transformed my life, I was only in it for myself. I didn't need God because I was a sinner, I needed Him to give me a ticket out of hell. What a difference relationship makes! Now I want to go wherever my Father is. I no longer have fear, because the Love in me is greater than lies.

My heart is learning to let God be the center. Surrender doesn't feel good until our hearts lines up with God's. He rules with such peace, such love! How can I describe it other than real life? This kind of love was not meant to be contained. The human heart was designed like a vessel. We do not hoard love, we overflow with it. We carry it around with us and splash people as we walk by. Those of us who have tasted and seen the goodness of God cannot help living like this. 

God is looking for His crazy kids… the ones who are so in love they don’t care what others think. The natural risk takers and the ones who dare to come out of their shells. They know that their Father’s opinion is worth more than their own reputation. They obey God’s voice without hesitation. They aren’t afraid to get their hands dirty. They are powerful people who refuse to compromise. They are you and I, if we embrace the love of Christ.

Have you seen Disney's Hercules? After Meg gives up her life for Hercules, she says: “People always do crazy things… when they’re in love.”  God is so crazy in love with us that He took our place so He could be with us. He gave everything for us, so why should we do any less for Him? Why do we hesitate to give our lives, our time and our love to others? Leaps of faith and baby steps alike require us to leave our comfort zones. We have to love Jesus more than our immediate feelings of apprehension. 

Every day I make a choice: obey God or live for myself. The older I get, the more I'm tempted to build my life around my personal security. If I’m honest, sometimes I’ve refused to obey the Father's voice simply for fear of what people would think. My comfort zone is just so comfortable, and it’s inconvenient to leave it. I look back with regret on those missed opportunities. Obedience to God is key to success. Obedience unlocks the next level of relationship with Him. 

I want to be a fool for God. If He is truly my defender, then I have nothing to lose. I obey Him because I trust that He is good. Jesus doesn’t ask us to leave our comfort zones for the sake of being “radical” or religious. He’s after our hearts. He's intentional and trustworthy. I'd rather look like a fool than miss out on what God has in store. Love is worth it.