I Told You…So

Yesterday, I asked for some feedback on social media about what motivates people or holds them back from moving forward.

I heard from friends saying many of the same things I feel and was not surprised that the majority of people focused on what was holding them back versus what was motivating them forward:

• Can't let go or forgive past wrongs

• Not believing in yourself that you can do it (unworthiness)

• Letting problems or issues fester for fear of addressing them and causing pain

• Difficulty sticking to things to keep going

• Fear of failure

• Letting go of the past to be able to move forward

Millions of self-help books address these things.

You can learn from many brilliant people how to build habits that develop action, understand your motivation for change, learn how the brain works, and how to create and maintain firm boundaries.  

Those are just a few of the topics.

If there is an issue you are struggling with, I can pretty much guarantee there is a book that addresses it.

I have an overflowing bookshelf that proves this point.

I love learning and appreciate that our culture finally discusses what we struggle with rather than us all suffering in silence and shame.

I love that there are coaches, therapists, doctors, consultants, and experts who specialize in the human experience and offer great wisdom and tools to help us overcome the things that prevent us from moving forward.

But, for me, learning and understanding only get me so far.

I can talk about it and think about it and overthink it until I've nauseated myself and others.

Just because I know something doesn't mean I will do it.

Doing it - that's where the magic happens.

Not just thinking (or overthinking) about it.

Not just making a vision board about it.

Not just thinking about why you want to do it.

Not just writing goals and action steps about it.

Doing it.

Again and again and again.

We aren't just talking about aspirations, resolutions, or to-do lists.  

We are talking about the deep stuff God calls us to do.

God is beckoning us to follow Him forward; to do so, we must do what He asks us to.

God will love us no matter what, mind you, but to follow forward, we gotta do what He’s telling us we gotta do.

You know what you have to do.

You know what the thing is that is pinning you down to the ground and preventing your forward motion.

I know you know it.

You've thought about it, overthought about it, and read about ways to do it, but you haven't done it yet.

You've rationalized not doing it long enough (trust me, I know).

I remember telling my kids when they were little, "Do it because I told you so!"

This is what Jesus was telling His disciples back in the day, and that's what He's telling us today.

Follow me.

Love me.

Love you.

Love them.

Forgive them.

Forgive yourself.

Take care of them.

Take care of yourself.

Do the thing I have asked you to do.

Just do it.

What is the thing God is encouraging you to do that fills in this blank:

I told you ______, so DO IT!

What if today, you just did it?

Gulp.

But what if?

What if it went great, better than you thought it would?

One of my "getting it done" friends shared how she loves the idea of a new thing and positively influencing its completion.

Another "doing as she's told" friend shared how she eagerly does what God leads her to do because she expects amazing and loving experiences that can change her life and others for the better.

Listen, friend, we ain't got time to waste. There is a deadline approaching, and we don't know the date.

No more thinking, no more overthinking, no more talking about.

It's time to Say YES to God and do what you are told.

Obey the wise words of the one who created you and loves you more than anything, and see what happens when you listen and do what you're told.

Stop reading this, and go do it!

2 John 1: 5-6

And now, dear lady, I am not writing you a new command but one we have had from the beginning. I ask that we love one another. And this is love: that we walk in obedience to his commands. As you have heard from the beginning, his command is that you walk in love.

Luke 6:46

"Why do you call me, 'Lord, Lord,' and do not do what I say?"

1 Peter 1:14

As obedient children, do not conform to the evil desires you had when you lived in ignorance.