Stuck? 4 ideas for newness with God in 2023!

Are you stuck?   Below is some personal testimony of my recent frustration with being stuck, plus 4 practical ideas (with resource links) on how to get “unstuck"!
 
We talked about being stuck last Friday in our private Facebook group!  Myself and Cheryl Wells held a LIVE broadcast and talked about some tell-tale signs of being spiritually “stuck”, i.e. not moving forward in our faith!

We each presented 3 ways we've been stuck or seen others get stuck, and then we prayed for each area for breakthrough!

Interestingly, before the broadcast, the LORD had me add 2 more words to consider in evaluating being spiritually stuck.  He added the words “stagnant” and “stubborn”. 🧐  Good additions, especially when you consider each definition.
 
Be willing to evaluate how you may be stuck.  Consider each word.  Ponder what the LORD is asking His people to observe about their spiritual state.
 
Stuck- unable to move, or set in a particular position, place, or way of thinking
Stagnant- not flowing or moving, and smelling unpleasant
Stubborn-  unreasonably or perversely unyielding; difficult to handle, manage or treat; obstinate in a persistent manner.
 
God does not want us to be "stuck" in these positions!  He intends this input be helpful and motivate us to turn!  To pursue healing and supernatural transformation! 

😬 Do you see yourself in any of them?  
 
I took them to heart because I’ve definitely been feeling restless and stuck in routine and "sameness".
 
What have I realized? I’ve been missing passionate pursuit!  I've been wanting something fresh and new with God!  Yes, I have lots of sweet fellowship time with Him, but my routine is more about peace in His presence, more so than experiencing something new and challenging.  I’ve felt a type of wall in this area that is maybe hard to explain or put into words.  All I know is I’ve felt "stuck", i.e. the same. 

Do you feel this way in your relationship with God?  Are you longing for something fresh and new?

I decided (important phrase) that I needed to do something spontaneous in fresh pursuit of God! 

As example, last Thursday night, I found a healing room service (prayer service) in Buffalo that started at 7pm.  I haven't been to a healing prayer service since my early 40's!  I figured it was time to open myself up to it again!  But it meant several hours of driving and returning home quite late with a very early morning to prepare for Friend Friday.  I pushed past the INTENSE feeling to stay home, quickly grabbed my keys and headed to Buffalo.
 
So....... I take the 1 hour drive.  I get to the church, and there are hardly any cars in the parking lot, maybe 6.  The church looks locked and dark.  I’m immediately disappointed.  Grasping for hope I think, "Well maybe they are in there, and I just can’t tell."  So I get out of my vehicle and yank at the front doors which are locked of course.  Then I'm knocking, ringing the security camera, with no answer.  It starts to rain, so I head back to my Jeep. After a few minutes of feeling dumbfounded as to why I drove all the way out for nothing, I decide to double check the website. I’m there on the wrong night!   Their service is Sunday night!  The Thursday night service is at a different church another 20 minutes into the city!  Ugghhhh! 

What would you do in these circumstances?
 
Thunder and lightning starts, and I take that as my cue to drive back home.     
 
As I get on the toll road, my attitude is an immediate mental and spiritual test.  Should I beat myself up for making this mistake and lament for on the long drive home?  Should I think God was punishing me and rejecting my efforts?  Should I tell myself that God must not have been in this? 

No.

I firmly decide I will not do that to myself.
 
Here is something along the lines of what I said, “Lord I know you see my heart and I know you see why I did this.  So, it didn’t work out.  Oh well.  That’s a bummer.  But I’m going to enjoy this time with you anyways.  I’m going to take this long drive home and loudly worship, pressing in for more of you.”
 
And that is what I did.  And it was a joy-filled drive home!  I landed on a radio station that had a great playlist happening. I sang the familiar worship loudly and passionately.  In the process, I realized long drives with loud worship was something I used to do quite frequently, but haven't.  It's something I desperately missed, but wasn't connecting with because I've been "stubborn" in this area.

I admit to not responding to many whispers from the LORD telling me to "sing".  

In the mistake, God's mercy was redirecting me to something that I love to do.  Drive and worship!  It made me realize I DID NOT do it on my recent ministry road trip down to Virginia, through DC, and back home!  That was a long trip not to spend time in worship while driving!  I spent the drive time listening to directions and keeping the rest of the time silent!

God blessed that worship filled drive home from Buffalo.  As I woke the next morning, I got fresh words from the LORD.  He contributed those 2 extra words of "stagnant and stubborn" to add to the broadcast.  And... normally I hate going LIVE, because it is just not a natural thing for me to enjoy being on camera, but I had a great time sharing and praying with Cheryl and pouring into the group! I felt a new sense of His life flowing through me!
 
Yayyyy!  Breakthrough!
 
Then this past Sunday I went to breakfast after church with a friend.  She shared she was attending a multi-day Christian worship conference happening from July 24-26.  It’s called Kingdom Bound; and is hosted by Darien Lake out towards Buffalo.  So late on Monday, I considered again what I should do to break out of the norm and pursue God.  I decided to spend all of Tuesday in extended worship at Kingdom Bound.  Another drive out towards Buffalo!
 
I got up at 4:45am Tuesday morning (yesterday) to do the podcast, and to get some other ministry things done for the day.  Then, I headed out, getting to the event by 11am.  I returned home at 11:42 pm last night!  It was a worship filled day and night!
 
In today’s Worship Wednesday podcast, you hear some reflections of how I was invigorated in my worship experiences while there.  It was holy fellowship I didn’t know I needed to get "unstuck"! 
 
Do you get a sense of what I am sharing?  Do you see I'm taking myself out of my normal routine and finding fresh ways to pursue God?  To get "unstuck"?

If you are stuck, stagnant, or stubbornly resisting spiritual growth; what can you do to stretch yourself and pursue God in fresh and perhaps spontaneous ways?
 
I know for a fact that some of you are wanting to know what to do!  You've sent me messages and made comments on the broadcast post.  On Saturday. I got an email from a podcast listener who admitted being stuck and wanting prayer.  Along with praying for her, I suggested a few things. 

Consider some of these things and see where the adventure may begin!

1. Ask your church leadership to lay hands on you and pray for the gifts of the Spirit to be stirred up.  This based upon Paul’s words to Timothy… 2 Timothy 1:6- For this reason I remind you to fan into flame the gift of God, which is in you through the laying on of my hands. 
   1. Take initiative.  We are to fan into flame the gifts of God within us.  It used to be normal practice for church leadership to lay hands on believers and impart a Spirit-filled gift!  God doesn’t change!  He wants us to PERSISTENTLY ask, seek, and knock for more good gifts of the Spirit, Luke 11:13!  Take initiative!  Let your pastor OR a strong bible believing Spirit-filled Christian that you want more of God!  Get 2 of them to pray for newness!
   2. Is there a worship concert happening close by in the near future?  Even if not local, are you willing to take an extended drive?  Are you willing to sacrifice your normal routine and pursue God?
      1. Check out KLOVE events- Tip… I put in my city, state and it worked better than putting in my zip code when searching!
   3. Is there are full day retreat or multi-day retreats happening around you in near future?  Are you willing to spend that extra time and money to grow spiritually?
      1. Conference/retreat ideas-
         1. For women- https://www.retreathood.com/type/christian-womens-retreats Pretty cool interactive US map that make it easy to drill down and find a retreat center near you!  Click and search retreat website for their upcoming retreats!
         2. For men- https://ironsharpensiron.net/conferences.html
         3. Billy Graham Training Center events- https://thecove.org/events/
         4. Bible conference- https://southernusa.salvationarmy.org/uss/events/bible-conference-2023
   4. Tune to your local Christian radio stations!   Listen for upcoming events!  Visit their website!  What are they promoting right now for spiritual growth? 
      1. https://www.myflr.org/events/
      2. https://www.familylife.org/events/
      3. https://www.christianradio.com/stations/

 
I hope some of these ideas inspire you to press in for more of God!  Stir up your gifts!  Fan them into flame!  Seek His face!  He rewards those who DILIGENTLY pursue Him!

Hebrews 11:6- And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him!

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