With coffee mug in hand and knit blanket draped across my lap, I sat in my favorite recliner quietly contemplating. My mind reeled with thoughts swirling round and round. I attempted to sort and organize them, but to no avail. I became frustrated, and I wasn’t sure why. After pondering for several minutes, I determined the reason for my frustration. The spinning thoughts did not fit neatly into the boxes inside my head.
Being a very detailed and organized individual, things are either white or black. I don’t do gray. So, when a couple of my closest friends challenged me with some writing ideas that fell outside of my organized thought process, I had no place to put them. A whirlpool of ideas, words, and thoughts began to swirl endlessly with no place to land. I did not possess a “writing box” to place them in.
The new ideas challenged me. I liked that. For me, it is through challenges I grow. I welcome new ideas because they coax me to think outside the box. It forces me beyond my comfort zone. The rose-colored glasses come off, and I open up to a world of possibilities.
God does that to us too. Because He has big plans for us, He challenges us to take risks. He encourages us to leave our comfort zone and expand our horizons. Sometimes He uses people close to us such as He did with my friends. It is through the consideration of new ideas that our minds process an endless array of possibilities.
Gloria Gaither once said, “With each new experience of letting God be in control, we gain courage and reinforcement for daring to do it again and again.” So, what’s on your horizon? Is God challenging you? Trust God to guide your journey. If it is His plan, He will not let you fail. As for me? Eventually, my whirlpool of thoughts settled. The surface calmed. And although a “writing box” never magically appeared, I trusted God to guide the way.
Start thinking outside the box and let God guide you today.
(Photo courtesy of office.microsoft.com.)
(For more devotions visit us at www.christiandevotions.us)
Sheryl M. Baker enjoys bringing hope and encouragement through God's Word. Her devotions have appeared in Light from the Word, The Secret Place, Power for Today, and christiandevotions.us. She is a contributing author to Yvonne Lehman’s books, Spoken Moments, More Christmas Moments, and Loving Moments. Sheryl lives in northwest Indiana with her husband Ben and spoiled cat Rex. Connect with Sheryl at sherylmbaker.wordpress.com or spunbythepotter.com.