February 23, 2010

What’s Keeping You from Moving Forward?

How would you describe the last six months of your life? We all go through various seasons – peaks and valleys and unexpected detours. How would you describe where you’re at right now? Do you feel as if you’re moving at 100 miles per hour or are you standing still? Or maybe you find yourself in a season with a lot of “false starts” but no real progress?

I want to be clear here – I’m not talking about busyness. Set aside your day-to-day responsibilities and commitments and take a look at where you’re really at in terms of true growth. Take a good look at all areas of your life: your walk with the Lord, your relationships, your career and your ministry.

If you’re like me, there are key seasons that stand out as times of abundant growth. Then there are other times that pale in comparison. Perhaps the result of a crisis or another kind of setback, these times just don’t seem to have any momentum behind them. They are seasons when you just feel stuck.

Do you feel stuck in any areas of your life right now?

If you answered yes, then it’s the perfect time to take a deeper look at what’s keeping you from moving forward. Now, you may think that you know exactly what your barrier is. It may seem blatantly obvious, perhaps even a recurring theme in your life. Over many years of ministering to people who find themselves stuck behind all kinds of roadblocks, God’s revealed some key truths to me about what it takes to break through.

Life’s major roadblocks are very rarely the result of what you may see as the “primary” issue. Consider that for a moment. To put it in practical terms, even if you floor your accelerator, you’ll never go anywhere if your car is stuck in park.

I want to suggest to you that many of the roadblocks that keep you from moving forward have a deeper cause than you may realize. Learning to identify the root cause is the first step to overcoming these barriers.

This week we’re beginning a new series called “Breaking Through Life’s Biggest Barriers.” In it, I’ll share God’s plan to help you break through underlying emotional and spiritual barriers in five key areas of your life. We’ll explore the paralyzing effects of barriers like loneliness, personal stagnation, low self-image, feelings of futility and even plain old boredom.

As you listen, my prayer for you is that you’ll begin to see yourself and your mission from God’s perspective. As you do, you’ll overcome barriers, learn how to grow in your relationship with Christ, worship and serve with passion and make an eternal impact on the world around you.

Keep Pressin’ On,

Chip

7 Comments

Danny   on February 27th, 2010

Chip, We are moving forward at Franklin Correctional Institution (Florida SP) in Carrabelle, Fl. I am a Volunteer Chaplain and now teach your Parenting Class, Overcoming Emotions that Destroy, and Faith and Finance programs. Today we also started r12. The vision is that we are teaching our five chapel orderlies, and about 15 Praise and Worship team members r12, then they will eventually teach other inmates.

Thank you and your dedicated staff for all the programs and support that you provide.

In Jesus Name, Danny Husk

jackie   on March 3rd, 2010

Glory to God! Danny, that’s why I support LOTE
Trusting and Thanking God for what He is doing and will do for the glory of His name. We are starting our second r12 small group this week. Just on the site looking for…
homeschooling mom, making disciples

Rawbekaw   on March 16th, 2010

Hi, I listen to you on the radio whenever I can. Do you take a prayer request? :) I have been very heavy hearted and cried every day this past week. My oldest daughter is a very dear Christian girl. In ministry where ever she is. She is our church pianoist, sometimes leads sometimes sings solos. She has a very special annointing and is sensitive to the Holy Spirit. She has been dating this guy for over a year. Ive gently told her that I don’t see him as a good match. Whenever I give pointers she always stands up for him. She is so for the underdog, but please not in a marriage partner. This guy asked for our blessing in her hand in marriage. :( I was hoping she would hear from God and end the relationship! Now this! I am praying they will still break up, or God will give me peace with this picture. Thak you.
Distressed

jbrown   on March 16th, 2010

Hello Chip:

Thank you so much for the living on the edge ministry. Because of your obedience to God and love for your fellow man, many are being touched by God through the LOTE ministry. Thank You so much. I will continue to support this ministry every way I can.
Please pray for me, as I am praying for myself. I’ve been a christian since the age of 4 (41 now). I’m married, have two very small kids, and work a full time (8+ hours) job. The truth is that I have never been more lonely in all my life. I thought I was lonely when I was single….no, it’s worst now. I am a God-fearing woman who loves the lord and takes his word seriously. Why am I so miserable? I wish I could find good connections with others, but there seems to be so many dead ends. I have been looking for a good bible teaching church home for the past 3 years, but cannot find a ministry that is even similiar to LOTE where true bible teaching and life change is taking place (although I do go to church every Sunday). I’ve asked God to direct me and guide me as to what he wants me to do. I’ve asked him to place other God-fearing women in my life, but it seems like people don’t have time for friendships anymore. My closest friend is my mother, but sometimes I just need to talk to someone who can relate to where I am in life right now. I am just at a stand-still. I want to serve God and the youth, but nothing ever seems to materialize. I have a love and passion for family counseling, but I never seem to get an opportunity to serve. Everyday is the same and it just seems like my life is one big waste. God has blessed me with many talents, but I never get the opportunity to use them. Do you think God could be blocking some things from happending in my life for a reason? I’ve asked him to bring to my mind any current or unconfessed sin that may be standing in the way, but God does not seem to answer at this time. Is there some advice you can give me?
Again, thanks so much for the LOTE ministry. Thank you for being so candid and honest with everyday people. We love you Chip!

sarcastic cincy sister   on March 26th, 2010

Cheeip: I would love to move forward but how do you know what you are supposed to do next if He doesn’t seem to be giving you clear direction?

A month ago, I was working with my husband managing apartment buildings and using our position to befriend people through going out of my way to serve them (driving them to the store, Dr., to job interviews… etc. Unfortunately, one of the ways I didn’t serve them was by making Dee Beef Barbeque) Although we hadn’t as of yet led any to Christ and were able to begin discipling them, we did get to talk to them at times about spiritual things and some were interested.

All that changed on Feb. 26, 2010 when my husband died. Many of the tenants came to the funeral where my friend Byron and I preached the Gospel, which basically marked the end of my ministry there. Because we had shootings in two of our buildings (one was behind the building where we lived), my family asked that I leave for safety sake. I could not stay anyway- as my husband was no longer the pastor of our small church, I lost all income from that and have no other source of income. I got free rent for my duties but in able to do all I had to do, I had to be able to keep the electric turned on and have a phone with unlimited minutes in order to talk to the landlord, tenants and prospective tenants. Since I could do neither, I was forced to give up my job and move into my mother’s basement.

I don’t have a clue where to go from here. I’m only 49, so I have to find a way to support myself and I have no job skills other than working in a department store and briefly as a hostess in a restaurant. Most of the time I was a stay at home mom and volunteered to teach the homeschoolers in our small group full time as well as lead the music ministry and some of the evangelistic teams. I have applied to numerous retail jobs but I haven’t received any calls back.

I am so confused. How am I supposed to know how to move forward when I don’t know exactly what God wants me to do?

In His Love, Your Sarcastic Cincy Sister

no_mansKritters   on April 1st, 2010

Praise the Lord!! I listen to you at work. I work at Domestic Violence Shelter and the women are truly blessed by your words!!!

kellyross   on April 8th, 2010

Dear jbrown: I just wanted to comment to you. I am 31. I have a two year old and a twelve year old. Both are boys. I just got married it will be 3 years in July now. I understand feeling lonely and unused by the Lord, but he keeps redirecting me sort of to do what my hand finds to do where I am at. As I’m faithful in small things he will see me fit for others, but home is the hardest place to minister. I can’t even fake transformation there. Pray for Boldness at work God bless you. It’s challenging, but worth it.