#move #waterwalkinggirls
I have grown accustomed to sitting in the same place every Sunday at church. How about you? I am guessing you do too! Why do we do that? We like familiarity and predictability. Sitting in the same place every week is comfortable and easy. However last Sunday I sat in the balcony in our church and what a blessing it was for me. Not only was my view different but God blessed me with a new perspective. The picture on the cover of today’s blog is a picture of the cross in our church. When I am sitting downstairs at church I am looking up at the cross but in the balcony I had a straight view of the cross. I was able to have a new appreciation for how large and impressive it is. I especially noticed the light than emanates from behind the cross. Most importantly I was able to see firsthand the work of our dedicated media crew. These men consistently show up to serve our church by making sure the sound and video is working properly. They are such an asset and blessing to our church. I would not have had the opportunity to truly appreciate them or the beauty of the cross if I had stayed downstairs. My point is that moving helps change and shape our perspectives.

My life as the daughter of a United Methodist minister has taught me the value, beauty and importance of moving. As a child I did not have that perspective. In fact, as a child moving to a new home, town and church often caused me to be nervous of the unknown. However I think early on God equipped me with the ability to look for the positive in what could be perceived as a negative situation. After all, who wants to have to be uprooted and placed in a new environment with new people? Who wants to have to leave good friends and a place of comfort? However through my experiences from moving I met people from so many different walks of life and I learned to adapt easily. In fact I now embrace change more easily and often look forward to it.
As a Christian we are called to be still and commune with our Maker. However we are also called to move. Without movement water grows stagnant. Without movement our bodies grow weak. Without movement growth is unattainable. Mark Batterson says, “A change of pace plus a change of place equals a change of perspective.”
The Bible gives us many directives as to our calling to move and here are just a few.
“But seek first the kingdom of God…” Matthew 6:33
“But one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead, I press on toward the goal…”Philippians 3:13-14
“…but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God.” Philippians 4:6
“Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.” Romans 12:1-2
We must sit still and listen to God and then we must get up and move as individuals and as a church. How is God calling you to move? Is He calling you to move to a new place? Is he calling you to move to a new position? Is God calling you to move your body so as to be healthier? Are you being called to be a force of movement in your church? Whatever it is I challenge you to embrace the new, embrace the change, and embrace the movement. I guarantee that if you do, God will bless you with new realizations and new perspectives. Together as God’s people let’s get up and move!
P.S. I dare you to sit in a different seat at church Sunday! If you do, you just might gain a new perspective!