Are You Lingering in the Nest?

"As an eagle stirs up its nest, Hovers over its young, Spreading out its wings, taking them up, Carrying them on its wings," 

 Deuteronomy 32:11

God desires to move His children out of their comfort zones. I was reminded of our verse in Deuteronomy. He wants us to be soaring in the Spirit, not unlike the eagle, so He is stirring up our comfy place. Picture, if you will, the process that takes place when the adult eagles teach their young that it is time to leave the nest. It is time to fly:

It was warm and cozy. Nice and comfy that nest. Three or more meals a day delivered right to the door of your mouth. Mom and Dad kept the nest nice and clean. They had taken a long time and care in creating that nest before you were born and then spent a long time sitting on you- or on the egg-you. It was home. You liked it there. You and your sibs had no responsibilities only to sleep and eat. After a while it seemed like your nest home started to get smaller. Little did you realize that the nest wasn't getting smaller, but that you guys were getting bigger. "Hey, wait! What is all that on our bodies? It used to be nice furry fluff, now it seems kind of rough. And these extensions on our sides- what's up with that? They move and seem to flutter a little." You couldn't see any use for them plus they were taking up even more room in your shrinking comfy home. Then mom and dad came one day and said it is getting close to the time when you have to get out of here. "What?" you said. "Why would we ever want to leave this comfy place? Tell the others that they have to leave, not me!" Then mom and dad started cleaning house. They pulled out all the soft downy feathers that lined your bed and you began to feel the picks of the sticks that was used to make your nest. It was not so comfortable anymore! As the days went by, the nest seemed to get smaller and much more uncomfortable. The parent started pushing you towards the edge. "What? Wait a minute! It's scary there. I can't see the bottom. It's just a lot of open space!" Day after day, the parent kept after you. Then they would fly around the nest and talk to you, tell you to get up and out of there. "It will be okay", they said. So one day, you realize that the nest is no longer that soft warm comfy home- so you might as well take a chance. After all, mom and dad are out there to catch you if you fall, right? So, brave little thing that you are, you take a step onto the edge of the nest, and flutter those things that you once thought were worthless and now you realize that when you flutter them, you are lifted up and out of the nest! "Wahoo!" Though it was scary, just knowing your mom or dad was out there, to catch you- you braved the elements and off you went. Who knew! You could fly! And it was amazing!! No more picky hard bed to lay in. No more fighting with your brother and sister for the first feeding or the comfiest place in the nest. You are flying, you are soaring!!!  

In our Christian life, we aren't much different than baby eagles, or any other bird for that matter. We like our comfort zone. We get used to it, like it, don't have to think much about it. Things just seem to take place routinely. Then one day, we begin to feel that urge. A sense coming from deep inside of us- a sense that there has to be more than this little comfortable corner we have crawled into. That restless feeling, that sense of "there's got to be more" but I don't want change. Like the parent eagles, God urges His children to get out of  their comfort zone. He wants us to get up and fly. He wants us to run and not be weary. He want us to start adulting, as they say- but God calls it being mature Christians. Seasons change. Change happens and it is our response that makes the difference in our lives. If we insist on staying where we are, we will never fully fulfill God's plan for our lives. If we insist on having all our soulish wants met- never venturing out into that open space- trusting in His provision and protection- we will end up sad, unsatisfied and grumpy. When we continue to serve ourselves, instead of serving others we become fat- fat in the sense of hoarding all that God has given us and not giving out. Refusing to step out in faith, we become dull, sluggish and of no benefit to God or anyone else. It is when we embrace those urgings, those promptings by the Holy Spirit, that is when our faith is stretched and we learn to fly in the spirit.

I do not like change! I repeat- I do not like change. I never have. I like to know what's up, which way to go- all pre-planned and mapped out. But, even though I don't like change, I have allowed God to do the changing in me and also to change me- kick me out so to speak, of my comfort zone. Yes, it is scary. Standing on the edge of that nest looking out into the great unknown. But one thing is known, is that God is there- if I fall, underneath are the everlasting arms. He is beside me, below me, above me- all around me. I can not fail as long as I am flying with God. Not to be presumptuous- but to truly know that God is leading me out of that comfy nest. Sometimes He removes all the fluff and allows the sticks to start picking us. He orchestrates circumstances in our lives that will thrust us out of our comfy nest. 

Is your comfortable nest beginning to feel small? Are you being prodded out of your comfort zone? It can be intimidating to embrace those promptings of the Holy Spirit- but from one who knows what the resutl is- it will be worth it. You won't want to go back to that place. You will become excited to see what God is doing in and through you. You will expand your area of spiritual influence and you will begin to feel the Holy Spirit  moving in and through you. There is nothing to compare to flying, soaring with God. There will be scary times for sure. Times when you won't know which way to turn- but be assured that God is right there with you. He will not let you fall, because underneath are the everlasting arms of God, lifting you up, using you to bring about His purposes for your life. Embrace the change. Move past the fear of the unknown and take that leap of faith. Just like that baby eagle- your wings will flutter and the breeze of the Holy Spirit will life you up.

Don’t linger in the nest

Change

Expect it

Embrace it

"But those who wait on the Lord Shall renew their strength; They shall mount up with wings like eagles, They shall run and not be weary, They shall walk and not faint." 

 Isaiah 40:31

~Donna