Losing sight of the shore!

If the first blog of the year (besides a happy New Year blog) is expected to be profound and life transforming, then I'm under tremendous pressure to 'perform.' However, if it's simply meant to convey a profound truth that I'm learning, then that's a relatively easy task since I'm learning new things every single day. I recently read the newsletter of a friend of mine (I should inform you that this friend has quite a way with words), and he painted such a picture with his words as to transport me to Southern California, to an idyllic spot beside the Queen Mary. He likened the QM to a Christian who had been created to "sail the vast oceans" yet had settled for being moored by the shore. He went on to say:

God’s destiny will always challenge us to step out of our comfort zones, to go far beyond anything we are capable of, to risk all on something that has no guarantee of success in the natural and is absolutely the wrong logical choice. The Bible is filled with stories of those who accepted such a challenge.... They (the great heroes of life) choose to throw off the mooring lines, weigh anchor, and set out to the open waters, knowing they will face storms and the possibility of sinking. Their choice is not without thought, rather it is with a much deeper searching of the soul. They know quite well the possible consequences of their choices but also of refusing to make the choice. They would rather end at the bottom of the ocean than tied to the dock.

One of the things I'm learning is that the people God seems to use the most are the ones who make the fewest assumptions about their limitations versus God's abilities. Stepping out of your comfort zone, losing sight of the shore and sailing into uncharted waters, are all prerequisites to finding God's greater purpose. Don't believe me? Then check out these folks whose stories you and I are familiar with:

• Joshua didn't assume that the sun couldn't stand still
• Elisha didn't assume that an iron axe head couldn't float
• Peter didn't assume that men can't walk on water
• Mary didn't assume that virgins couldn't get pregnant
• Andrew didn't assume that 5000 people couldn't be fed by 5 loaves of bread and 2 fish
• Abraham didn't assume that 90-year-old women couldn't have babies

What assumptions have you made that might be keeping you from experiencing God's purpose?