There's a Lot of Trudging Between Great Moments

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December 4, 2008

"And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not." (Galatians 6:9) I'm close enough to hear your sighs. It seems as if all creation is sighing and groaning, waiting for the sons of God, the mature ones, to step up to the plate and show us the way through the very choppy waters we are heading into. If you feel like you're not making progress, but you know you are putting in the effort, you are probably on the path of discipleship. And discipleship, like mastery, is a process that has extended periods of time where we plateau. Then, there are brief spurts of growth upwards, followed by a downward slide, but leaving you at a higher level. Think of it as walking in a straight line on level ground, trudging, trudging, trudging along. Then comes a slight rise, a place of increase shall we say, where you gain some elevation. Let's say you climb 10 feet and it's rather all of a sudden, this progress upward, and rather delightful and exhilarating. It is short lived however and immediately followed by a decline of 2 or 3 feet, but then you get level and walk on the new plateau for another period of trudging, trudging, trudging along. You are a net of 7 or 8 feet higher than before the spurt, but now find yourself in another period of unexhilarating trudging. What this means is that you are truly on the path of mastery or as Jesus called it, discipleship. He will keep you on that plateau while He works out something seemingly mundane in you. Kind of like Karate Kid... polish right, polish left. It feels punishing and wasteful, but it will bear fruit in the long term, if you faint not. Most folks don't want mastery. They want to be master. They don't want the pain that mastery requires. They want to set their own pace and skip all the discipline stuff. Our job as disciples is to stay on the path. A disciple is after all, a disciplined learner. We must choose to learn along the path, especially along the plateau. Another rise is coming. It will give you a better vantage point. Furthermore, you will learn to love the process. It becomes less and less about the goal, and more and more about the process. More and more about learning His ways. More and more about being conformed to His image. When you grasp this, you have stepped up a little. That is hard for those of us who are goal oriented and want it now! I suggest you submit to the process, embrace it, try to discern what the Father is working out in you and cooperate with that. Don't try to cut it short. You may be on a plateau now, but there is a rise coming, and more after that, for I believe you are chosen for mastery, for maturity, for discipleship. Mastery is not something you achieve. It is a process you embrace.  For those of you interested in joining me on the path to mastery, our coaching program is scheduled to be released December 15th, possibly sooner. Stay tuned for details. Warning: The following information is commercial in nature and may result in personal growth. Read at your own risk. Earlier this year, John Muratori and I did a six hour teleseminar based on his incredible book, Rich Church - Poor Church. In it, we take a hard look at the poverty mentality that is pervasive within the modern-day Church and how God has designed 12 Laws of Wealth Creation that should be used by believers to win influence in every sphere of culture. Christian Wealth Building: Besides receiving six hours of audio teaching and the full PDF transcript on CD, you will also receive the hardcover edition of John Muratori's book: Rich Church -- Poor Church. Here's the exciting part. We only have 41 sets left and Cheryl has marked them down from $127 to just $49.97. (Sale ends forever December 12th and she really doesn't want to pack anything when we move at the end of the month!) Get this for someone you love this Christmas. P.S. It's okay to love yourself too... (o-:
Comments (9) - Post a Comment
Keep your eye on the prize. Pursue God with all of our heart, mind, soul, and strength. God's will complete the purpose in each of our lives regardless of what is going on around us. Live by faith. Hebrews 11: 13 \"All these people were still living by faith when they died. They did not receive the things promised; they only saw them and welcomed them from a distance.\" Rejoice always, again I say rejoice, in good times and bad times. Kern
Kern at 12:42pm EST - December 4, 2008
I remember my initial enlightenment to this process many years ago and equated it to feeling like I was falling and holding on to the edge with just my fingertips to keep from dropping into a pit only to discover once I was on the plateau that I had actually been pulling myself up (or actually being pulled up) to the next level as you described. Unfortunately, you are so right in that it doesn't ever make it easier to go through it the next time, but it does instill hope because you know you're really going up instead of down. Thanks for all of your knowing and timely messages. I share them with many of my friends.
Lynn T at 12:54pm EST - December 4, 2008
Michael, This is a most brilliant and powerful post with such descriptive imagery of us pilgrims trudging along between great moments. All I can think of to say is: Suffient for the day is the trudging thereof! Trudging toward mastery, I remain, working through the mundane with kingdom coming on my brain. David Thompson
David Thompson at 1:46pm EST - December 4, 2008
As you are writing these blogs, you cannot imagine the seriousness and timely-ness of these posts. At a time when it \"seems like\" every thing that had once been a way up the mountain has become a rock slide, it is amazing that God would use you to put into words His truth about our circumstances. The reality is, in the pain of the downward fall, not to become angry, bitter and resentful, but to keep your eyes on Him who is truly leading upward. Thank you for your obedience to help us keep our right perspective.
Kathy at 2:48pm EST - December 4, 2008
3 steps forward, 2 steps back comes to mind. It also may appear that we are like a dog chasing it's own tail even though we are making very slow progress. Our life expectancy these days isn't the same as OT times but it did take Noah the best part of his 600 years to build the ark before the flood hit so it shows how patient the Lord is with us.
Martin Allan at 7:06pm EST - December 4, 2008
I can hear the Oswald Chambers infuenence and this is something we all need to learn. It is the process, not the goal HE is interested in our lives. I have to keep reminding myself daily, sometimes hourly. Bless you and your staff, Kara
Kara L. Harris at 8:00pm EST - December 4, 2008
Great article and definitely makes sense, but the phrase 'polish right, polish left' should actually be 'wax on, wax off' btw, I do lots of 'wax on wax off' and 'paint the fence' 'up - down' and 'side to side', 'make big circle 'danny boy' That's God talking to me! :)
Nathan David at 4:00am EST - December 5, 2008
Hey Kara... Nice to hear from you again! Hey Nathan... Thanks for the correction. I tried without success to find the right quote. Appreciate the help! Blessings All
Michael Q. Pink at 8:13am EST - December 5, 2008
I am still out here in Arizona desert cyberspace. This is a busy time for me and this week I am teaching the boys in our border community. So, up at the crack of dawn here, headed out to my (no) Sexlady (until marriage), \"missionary to the sexually promiscuous\" endeavors! Busy as I am, I am not too busy to check in on all of you! Bless you. KLH
Kara L. Harris at 8:20am EST - December 5, 2008


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