New Beginnings and Chocked Wheels

Whenever you are pushing something heavy any little thing can slow down your momentum. If you are trying to push a car a small rock in front of the wheel can slow you down or even stop you completely. That is why as you get started with the thing you know you need to be doing (fitness, dieting, giving, ministry, etc.)realize that there will be things that can slow you up and kill your progress...if you let them. Before you get started it would be wise to get any unnecessary thing out of the way that might slow you down. It is hard enough getting started let alone trying to overcome something that has the effect of chocking your wheels.

If you are attempting to follow God in doing something, realize that the Enemy knows he can make things challenging for your progress with just a small stone. Don't let anything stop you from doing what you know you should do. Unfortunately, people can be a hindrance to what God wants you to do. How often did someone try to stop Jesus from his work? Even an insider like Peter, brought on Jesus' chastisement for standing in the way of what God was doing. People, more than any other thing, were hindrances to Jesus...they are likely to be for us too.

I remember a story told by my senior pastor, Floyd B'Hymer when I was a youth pastor. As a gifted saxophonist, Floyd earned a full scholarship to the University of Kentucky. But after God spoke clearly to Floyd in a church service he knew his mission would be souls not saxophones. This call to preach meant attending Asbury College instead of a free ride at UK. Floyd was shocked to see his mother throw herself down on the bed in a childish tantrum, instead of congratulating him for following God. She was a fine woman of God, but because of her desire to see her son become a star musician she was fighting the work of God in his life. But soon she accepted what the Lord was doing and found great fulfillment in Floyd's ministry.

So often people can fight God's work in our lives. They may sound like they are concerned for us when they are really thinking of themselves. Don't let anyone, even someone who is close to you, chock the wheels of God's work in your life. In the end it will be better for everyone involved, yourself included. But more than anyone, the Lord will be proud of you because like Jesus, you didn't let anything stop you from following God.