We all have them, First Times. First times can be exciting and a little scary at the same time. First times could mean adventure ahead or a disaster waiting to happen; ya never know. However, most first times will be a memory for the rest of your life; but only if you take a chance on a First Time!
Sometimes anxiety or confusion, a lack of knowledge or lack of confidence can make any first time of anything a reason to shrink back, doubt yourself or become paralyzed in your progress which stops you from a dream or a goal. Sometimes we feel it’s easier to remain where we are, in the familiar, instead of reaching out into the unknown of a first time.
Familiarity can bring us comfort or it can stifle us. Years ago, while undergoing a huge change in my life I became stuck. I had to dig deep to find the root of stagnation to my decision process; it was familiarity. I thought I felt safer staying in the familiar situation I was in, rather than building the courage I needed to move forward into a new first time. That root of familiarity wasn’t safe; it had a tight grip on me pulling me back, pulling me down. It wasn’t a safe place at all.
So I coined a phrase in my head to help pull myself up out of my own mental quicksand ‘Never underestimate the power of familiarity’! WOW! Recognizing the power is what released the power. I was able to move onward and upward into another First Time! Thanks be to God!
Yet it’s surprising to me how many times over the years I still have to remind myself of this phrase, ‘never underestimate the power of familiarity’. Whether in small daily decisions or huge life altering decisions, familiarity can hinder us from taking the journey of a First Time. We must find the power to build the courage to visualize the dream of a new first time and let that be more powerful than the quicksand of familiarity.
We can do this no matter what age we are if we allow it! Because we have the help and direction from God’s Holy Words to step into new first times with power, strength and confidence.
In the Bible book of 2 Timothy chapter 1 verse 6 the apostle Paul is encouraging young Timothy in his new walk of faith, a new First Time. Paul’s encouragement says, “For God did not give us a spirit of timidity, but a spirit of power, love and self-discipline.” I LOVE THIS!
These strength building words gave Timothy power to step out of the so called ‘comfort of familiarity’ and step into a new first time ministry that he was about to embark on. The dreams and desires of his heart needed those encouraging words of power to combat the stagnation of the familiar.
Timothy’s heart’s desires were changing. They were changing because he was delighting himself in the knowledge of following the life of Jesus and sharing it with others. It will happen to you and I also when we delight ourselves in the LORD and want to follow courageously in the paths God is laying on our hearts. This is God’s promise found in the Bible book of Psalms chapter 37 verse 4, ” Delight yourself in the LORD and he will give you the desires of your heart.” WOW! what a promise. It’s a beautiful life when you begin to find delight in learning God’s ways, it brings peace into confusion and calmness into chaos. Another First Time!
My desire to you, dear friend, is that you found ‘My First Time’ encouraging… This was my first time writing a ‘ Log Chapel Chat’; this is what you just read and I thank You! It was The First Time writing this blog and sharing God’s love in this format. And it will not be the last because God has given me power and love while we are still working on the self-control part! That’s a whole other topic! So until next time remember…. Don’t die before your dead, Sister Cynthia (aka Cyndi Strecky)
