I grew up driving an automatic car. Only once can I remember trying to drive a car when you had to shift gears. It was not a good experience. I couldn't figure it out and about gave myself and everyone in the car whiplash.
In life, we often have to shift gears, don't we? Seasons change. Circumstances come, planned or unplanned... and if we don't shift gears, we won't have enough power or the right speed to make it over and through the terrain we're passing through.
For a long time here in Ethiopia, I've sensed the need to shift gears, to change up some things. I've had millions of things going on and one season has turned into the next and things have piled up.
So for a more healthy life and better rhythm, I need to be intentional and shift gears. It's time to clean things, learn things, write things, do things. But I've known these things couldn't happen without change.
Change is scary. Shifting things. We like our usual pace and our comfortable areas. But God calls us to walk wise and to often live outside of our comfort zone. He might call you to run for a season on a hard trail or through a desert. Or go up a mountain or through a valley. And life in general has all kinds of ups and downs and twists and turns.... and if you don't have your life in the right gear... if your power source is off, and if some things are misaligned, it could be miserable or a dangerous season for you. God can use the various roads in life to make us better, stronger, and often to reach others who might be on the same road.
I remember one year, a gym trainer told me... "Holly, you've done this same routine for too long. It's too easy for you now. You're too comfortable. Your heart rate isn't going up at all when you do this. You have to change your routine, make it harder. Then you will see muscle strength increase." When this trainer made me run on an incline and changed my program, I almost had a heart attack. My body couldn't handle the change at first. I had thought I was really strong, but I was very wrong. True strength is shown when you're able to change up your speed and the strength required and can still master the routine or road. How spiritually fit are you to run well on ANY road?
Are you strong enough to slow down and be still if God asks you to? That's strength.
Can you continue to hold a position that is painful? That's also strength.
Can you run fast up a hill or make a crazy jump for God if He says to? That's strength.
Can you recover from a devastating hit that you didn't see coming, continuing to stand though hurt and angry... allowing God to shape you and teach you through that hard tine? That's strength.
Are you able to let go if God says to, to not fight when you want to, at God's command? That's also strength.
If God changes up your path, can you still shift gears and not fall down... mastering and running with the grace and skill God can teach you? That's strength as well.
Is God asking you to shift gears? Has your road changed? Or does it need to?
One great leadership talk I heard recently said... "Most people accept their life, they don't lead their life. To lead your life you have to be intentional."
So, to be intentional in my life, to be more healthy, what do I need to do? What do you need to do?
And when do you shift things, change gears? How do you know when that's even needed?
If you're stumbling, struggling, overwhelmed, or feeling burned out... a shift or change is probably needed. If you're disconnected, isolated, and patterns of unhealthiness are developing.. a shift is needed.
Sometimes life just happens, making you shift. Things like a job change, a relationship beginning or ending, a death in the family, the birth of a child, starting school, finishing school, a new medical condition... all can make you shift gears. Sometime God leads you to shift. And sometimes God just gives wisdom to make the choices you need to make. But shifting gears is so necessary.
When and How to Shift
So how can you know if a shift is needed? And what can you do?
1. Evaluate Your Life - We don't like exams or evaluations... but they help us see where we are. How are you doing in all areas... spiritually, physically, financially, emotionally? How is your family, your priorities, your time management, your stress levels? Are you in a good rhythm, pace? Is there peace, joy, good connection with God? Is anything in access? Is there anything you need to do more of? What needs changed, shifted? Evaluate and see the gaps or areas that might need shifted.
Psalm 139:23-24
Search me oh God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts. See if there is any offensive way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting..
Psalm 90:12
Teach me to number my days...
2. Pray - Ask God to show you if the road is right, if your run is a good run for Him. Does anything need changed up, moved out, added, deleted, shifted, realigned? He will show you.
Jeremiah 29:13
You will find me when you seek me with all of your heart...
Psalm 32:8
I will instruct you and teach you the way you should go
Proverbs 3:5-6
Trust in the Lord with all your heart, lean not on your own understanding, in all your ways acknowledge Him and He will make your paths straight.
3. Then Intentionally Move (clean, cut, save, stop, start)... Make the moves God leads you to make, and trust Him. Follow Him. Do what needs done. Do what He says. And keep accountable to the changes made.
Deuteronomy 31:6
Be strong and courageous...
Psalm 41:10
Do not fear, for I am with you...
John 14:1
Do not let your heart be troubled...
Zechariah 4:6
Not by might, nor by power, but by my Spirit says the Lord.
Hebrews 12:1-2
...Let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, let us fix our eyes on Jesus...
Hebrews 10:39
We are not of those who shrink back and are destroyed, but who believe and are saved.
4. Then Evaluate Again- keep evaluating and checking your life and if your gears are right. Ask God to help you so your life stays maximized! We often don't follow a plan for long enough for change to take place. Or we don't evaluate enough and can quickly go down a wrong road or fall into old pattern. Find good accountability with others. Have others pray for you and with you. We're better together!
I have many gear shifts I'm trying to make this spring and New Year- 2019.
Two big ones are... Amharic (language) learning and book writing. Please pray for those. I started full time Amharic classes a few weeks ago and I'm thrilled to make this long overdue intentional move.
I'm also creating space to finish a writing a book I started long ago. May God help me maximize the time and focus to get those mastered and done. To get these added in, I had to cut some teaching hours and change my program. That was hard but necessary and intentional... it was a needed gear shift!
Please keep me in prayer also as I live intentionally to maximize my days here.... making the most of each day and investing wisely in the lives of those here. I'm so honored to get to share life with so many here!
My family is also gear shifting. Most of you probably have heard or seen, NOEL GARRETT, my sister, is getting married this year!!!! Oh my goodness. Our small family of four and one small dog will be adding one. :-) Pray for that. I'm thrilled to be gaining a brother in law and that my sister has been blessed with a friend and partner for God on life's road. Welcome to the Garrett Tribe- Mike Martin. I will travel home in June to be part of these two live joining. So wonderful!
May we live well, love well, and shift gears well in honor of our God.
May our lives be a blessing and not a curse!
May we live intentionally and wisely for God. May we shift gears and have wisdom to honor God in all areas!
Blessings to you and let me know how I can pray for you! Grateful for each of you!
In life, we often have to shift gears, don't we? Seasons change. Circumstances come, planned or unplanned... and if we don't shift gears, we won't have enough power or the right speed to make it over and through the terrain we're passing through.
For a long time here in Ethiopia, I've sensed the need to shift gears, to change up some things. I've had millions of things going on and one season has turned into the next and things have piled up.
So for a more healthy life and better rhythm, I need to be intentional and shift gears. It's time to clean things, learn things, write things, do things. But I've known these things couldn't happen without change.
Change is scary. Shifting things. We like our usual pace and our comfortable areas. But God calls us to walk wise and to often live outside of our comfort zone. He might call you to run for a season on a hard trail or through a desert. Or go up a mountain or through a valley. And life in general has all kinds of ups and downs and twists and turns.... and if you don't have your life in the right gear... if your power source is off, and if some things are misaligned, it could be miserable or a dangerous season for you. God can use the various roads in life to make us better, stronger, and often to reach others who might be on the same road.
I remember one year, a gym trainer told me... "Holly, you've done this same routine for too long. It's too easy for you now. You're too comfortable. Your heart rate isn't going up at all when you do this. You have to change your routine, make it harder. Then you will see muscle strength increase." When this trainer made me run on an incline and changed my program, I almost had a heart attack. My body couldn't handle the change at first. I had thought I was really strong, but I was very wrong. True strength is shown when you're able to change up your speed and the strength required and can still master the routine or road. How spiritually fit are you to run well on ANY road?
Are you strong enough to slow down and be still if God asks you to? That's strength.
Can you continue to hold a position that is painful? That's also strength.
Can you run fast up a hill or make a crazy jump for God if He says to? That's strength.
Can you recover from a devastating hit that you didn't see coming, continuing to stand though hurt and angry... allowing God to shape you and teach you through that hard tine? That's strength.
Are you able to let go if God says to, to not fight when you want to, at God's command? That's also strength.
If God changes up your path, can you still shift gears and not fall down... mastering and running with the grace and skill God can teach you? That's strength as well.
Is God asking you to shift gears? Has your road changed? Or does it need to?
One great leadership talk I heard recently said... "Most people accept their life, they don't lead their life. To lead your life you have to be intentional."
So, to be intentional in my life, to be more healthy, what do I need to do? What do you need to do?
And when do you shift things, change gears? How do you know when that's even needed?
If you're stumbling, struggling, overwhelmed, or feeling burned out... a shift or change is probably needed. If you're disconnected, isolated, and patterns of unhealthiness are developing.. a shift is needed.
Sometimes life just happens, making you shift. Things like a job change, a relationship beginning or ending, a death in the family, the birth of a child, starting school, finishing school, a new medical condition... all can make you shift gears. Sometime God leads you to shift. And sometimes God just gives wisdom to make the choices you need to make. But shifting gears is so necessary.
 |
| graduating from one season to the next.. causes a shift |
 |
| death can shift gears for you and those you love |
 |
| Marriage and relationships involves shifting gears... |
When and How to Shift
So how can you know if a shift is needed? And what can you do?
1. Evaluate Your Life - We don't like exams or evaluations... but they help us see where we are. How are you doing in all areas... spiritually, physically, financially, emotionally? How is your family, your priorities, your time management, your stress levels? Are you in a good rhythm, pace? Is there peace, joy, good connection with God? Is anything in access? Is there anything you need to do more of? What needs changed, shifted? Evaluate and see the gaps or areas that might need shifted.
Psalm 139:23-24
Search me oh God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts. See if there is any offensive way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting..
Psalm 90:12
Teach me to number my days...
2. Pray - Ask God to show you if the road is right, if your run is a good run for Him. Does anything need changed up, moved out, added, deleted, shifted, realigned? He will show you.
Jeremiah 29:13
You will find me when you seek me with all of your heart...
Psalm 32:8
I will instruct you and teach you the way you should go
Proverbs 3:5-6
Trust in the Lord with all your heart, lean not on your own understanding, in all your ways acknowledge Him and He will make your paths straight.
3. Then Intentionally Move (clean, cut, save, stop, start)... Make the moves God leads you to make, and trust Him. Follow Him. Do what needs done. Do what He says. And keep accountable to the changes made.
Deuteronomy 31:6
Be strong and courageous...
Psalm 41:10
Do not fear, for I am with you...
John 14:1
Do not let your heart be troubled...
Zechariah 4:6
Not by might, nor by power, but by my Spirit says the Lord.
Hebrews 12:1-2
...Let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, let us fix our eyes on Jesus...
Hebrews 10:39
We are not of those who shrink back and are destroyed, but who believe and are saved.
4. Then Evaluate Again- keep evaluating and checking your life and if your gears are right. Ask God to help you so your life stays maximized! We often don't follow a plan for long enough for change to take place. Or we don't evaluate enough and can quickly go down a wrong road or fall into old pattern. Find good accountability with others. Have others pray for you and with you. We're better together!
I have many gear shifts I'm trying to make this spring and New Year- 2019.
Two big ones are... Amharic (language) learning and book writing. Please pray for those. I started full time Amharic classes a few weeks ago and I'm thrilled to make this long overdue intentional move.
 |
| Amharic... language learning |
I'm also creating space to finish a writing a book I started long ago. May God help me maximize the time and focus to get those mastered and done. To get these added in, I had to cut some teaching hours and change my program. That was hard but necessary and intentional... it was a needed gear shift!
Please keep me in prayer also as I live intentionally to maximize my days here.... making the most of each day and investing wisely in the lives of those here. I'm so honored to get to share life with so many here!
My family is also gear shifting. Most of you probably have heard or seen, NOEL GARRETT, my sister, is getting married this year!!!! Oh my goodness. Our small family of four and one small dog will be adding one. :-) Pray for that. I'm thrilled to be gaining a brother in law and that my sister has been blessed with a friend and partner for God on life's road. Welcome to the Garrett Tribe- Mike Martin. I will travel home in June to be part of these two live joining. So wonderful!
 |
| Mike and Noel ... two becoming one... June 2019 :-) |
May our lives be a blessing and not a curse!
May we live intentionally and wisely for God. May we shift gears and have wisdom to honor God in all areas!
Blessings to you and let me know how I can pray for you! Grateful for each of you!
