By
Dana Rausch
/ December 7, 2012
What comes to mind when you think of the word: comfortable?
Does your mind go to a place of contentment or somewhere comfy?
Comfortable is defined: affording or enjoying contentment and security, physical comfort, free from stress and anxiety, ease, support, relaxed and calm.
Where is that place of comfort for you?
My place of comfort is:
· sitting by a fire on a rainy day,
· in a fat comfortable chair,
· covered with a sheepskin blanket,
· wearing my Ugg boots,
· sipping a Starbucks gingerbread latte ,
· reading a riveting book.
Yet, I can’t live there. I have to get out of my comfort zone and live in reality, unlike my one year old Labrador retriever, Hank.
As a puppy Hank was crate trained. I read that it creates security for a young pup and they thrive. So he slept in his crate near our bed, he stayed in his crate when we left the house, and rode in his crate in the car. 
As he grew in size so did the crate. Although we have no need to use the crate anymore, we can still find him going in it with the door wide open. Yet more interestingly, Hank loves to be in tight and confined places. While I am working at my computer, he lays at my feet in the small area of the desk cutout for your legs. He sleeps at night next to my bed between the wall and my night stand which only leaves him an area about 16 inches by 36 inches, however he pours his large body in the area and sleeps. It is where he finds comfort.At times I’ve been comfortable in an area that I did not know was doing more harm than good. For example, last year one my kids was showing me how to take my online bank statement and drop it into an accounting program. As we sat at the computer seeing the results he blurted out, “Look Dana, you have spent over $200 at Starbucks in the last six weeks!” I quickly placed my hand over his mouth before my husband heard it!
· How embarrassing!
· How revealing!
· How does that happen?
Little by little that’s how!
I LOVE the Gingerbread Latte at Starbucks. Yes, to some a $5.00 cup of coffee is ridiculous, but once in a while it’s not so bad. But when you go every day (and sometimes twice) it adds up. That $5.00 cup of coffee on a daily basis for one month adds up to $150.00! For the year….it’s $1800.00!
Last week I found an interesting feature on my car I never knew I had. At the push of a button, I can track my mileage and can see what type of gas mileage I am getting. Without this device I would have no clue. I used it for an hour long drive this week and how revealing! I watched as I pushed the pedal down going up a hill what it did to my gas usage. I also could see a difference between freeway driving and city driving. Interesting that I could drive for the past 30 plus years without that knowledge, but now I know the implications and it bothers me. I can see that what I have done for years as habit is not beneficial. I need to get out of my comfort zone to work on those areas of compromise, laziness and pride.
Luke 16:10 says, “If you are faithful in little things, you will be faithful in large ones. But if you are dishonest in little things, you won’t be honest with greater responsibilities.
The little things count. It’s the little things that grow into big things. And often those little things are what God uses to push us into the big things.
He is urging us to get out of our comfort zone in order to reach our destination. Jeremiah 29:11 declares that God has a plan for us and that it is for our good to give us a future and hope. Nevertheless we remain in that place we have grown accustomed to because we are afraid, insecure or unwilling.
Be encouraged and stand on the promise of Romans 8:28. “And we know that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to his purpose for them.”
You can know:
· God works EVERYTHING to work together…
· For the good…
· To those who love God…
· And are called….
· ACCORDING TO HIS PURPOSE FOR THEM…
You can KNOW when God has called you (who loves Him), out of your comfort zone to move you toward His purpose for your life, that things will work together for the good!
So my friends, get up and put a move on! God has BIG things in store for you and they are good!
