Therefore, with your minds ready for action, be sober-minded and set your hope completely on the grace to be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ. 1 Peter 1:13
LEAP into Action (1 Peter 1:13)
Have you ever had a task or a dream or a goal in front of you that feels like you are standing on the edge of a cliff about to jump? When you think about doing it, your heart starts beating harder. You are almost paralyzed at the thought of taking that risk. Of the failure that might result.
Creator God is a God of Action
The God who created literally everything in six days is a God of action. Not pausing on the edge of the cliff before the action. Not paralyzed by the thoughts of how it could all go wrong.
God saw all that he had made, and it was very good indeed. Evening came and then morning: the sixth day. Genesis 1:31
His action resulted in “very good”. I sometimes feel like I should never start a goal because of the problems that might arise. I let myself stop from ever beginning because of my fear of failure.
Get your mind ready for action
In 1 Peter 1:13, the Bible says “with your minds ready for action”. Action, not planning and researching and waiting, action. Also, sometimes I never take action because I think whatever I need to do will take too long.
My mind is not naturally ready for action; instead, it is consumed with thoughts of why my taking action right then will not work.
L-E-A-P
Here are some tips I have learned that help me take the LEAP into action:
1. Less time is necessary for almost every task than we think.
You know what I have learned, just about every task that I need to get done toward a goal does not take as long as I think it will. I used to avoid getting started because I thought everything would take too long.
For instance, I used to be a terrible housekeeper. The house was always dirty and cluttered. The laundry was never caught up and the dishes felt overwhelming.
Then, I heard someone say that loading the dishwasher does not take as long as we think it does. And do you know what, they were right. It took me less than five minutes to load or unload the dishwasher. Now, I don’t avoid it, because I know it will not take long. And, I make sure to start the dishwasher before bed so I unload it first thing in the morning and we have clean dishes for the day everyday.
A combination of scheduling times to do the household tasks and actually taking action right when I see something out of place has made our housekeeping a habit that is under control consistently now.
Now is a good time
For he says: “At an acceptable time I listened to you,
and in the day of salvation I helped you.”
See, now is the acceptable time; now is the day of salvation! 2 Corinthians 6:2
Now, this moment, is the moment to make things right with God. Now, this moment, is the time to take action toward your goals. “Now is the acceptable time.”
2. Equipped for the task is what God has already made you.
We may not feel like that we are smart enough or experienced enough. We may not feel like we are able to be successful. However, the Bible tells us something different.
All Scripture is inspired by God and is profitable for teaching, for rebuking, for correcting, for training in righteousness, so that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work. 2 Timothy 3:16-17
The Bible equips us for every good work. Every single one.
We are equipped by the Word of God. We are empowered by His Word. We may not do it all perfectly, but we can do it through His strength.
I am able to do all things through him who strengthens me. Philippians 4:13
3. Action yields action.
There is this amazing thing that happens. When we take action, we feel good about ourselves. Action toward a goal encourages our hearts and spurs us on to more action.
God created us to do good works. We are designed to take action. We feel out of sorts, full of regrets and wishes, and not quite right when we are not actively working toward something.
For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared ahead of time for us to do. Ephesians 2:10
4. Planning means nothing without action.
If we get stuck in planning and researching and dreaming, we will never achieve what we want to. Action is the only path to success. Sure, it might mean we trip up and fall along the way. We might fail and have to start again, but if we never start, we are guaranteed to fail. We will never achieve the goal without taking action toward it.
Whatever you do, do it from the heart, as something done for the Lord and not for people, knowing that you will receive the reward of an inheritance from the Lord. You serve the Lord Christ. Colossians 3:23-24
All the perfect planning in the world will mean nothing if we never take the leap and risk some action.
Action Step:
Action Step, that’s what this section is always called. Today, you get to choose the goal. Maybe God has planted a dream in heart to start a business or write a book or apply for a job that seems out of your reach. Perhaps you are feeling tugged toward a healthier lifestyle or keeping a house that is clean and a haven for others. Whatever you feel the Holy Spirit is talking to you about, whatever yearning rises up in your spirit right now, take action today.
Not just planning, preparing, or researching, DO something toward the goal today. Now is the time to take the leap.
Prayer:
Dear God, give us courage and strength to take a leap of action. Help us to do good works in this world and draw others to You. Sometimes that is having a clean house and a hospitable nature. Sometimes it is being healthy enough that you have energy to help others. Maybe it is a stream of income that will fund a ministry. Give us Your dreams for the future, God, and don’t let us give up. In Jesus’ name, amen.
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