What good is making a decision and being in position if you don’t take action?
The third step to moving forward as illustrated in John 5:1-11 is to “Take up your bed. ” If you missed Step 1 and Step 2 of the series you can read them here: Dear Future I’m Ready and It’s Time to Get Up.
In John 5: 1-8, Jesus is saying if you want to move forward, you have to get rid of the crutches in your life, the comfort zones, and the safety nets. The bed was this man’s safety net for 38 years. This was all he knew. Jesus commanded him to stop lying in his bed, to pick it up. Part of picking up your bed means you can no longer use it as an excuse as to why you cannot act. You have to acknowledge that the bed, while comforting, has allowed you to stay in your condition for so long. Picking up that bed means you have to acknowledge the issue and no longer dress it up with pretty covers, pretty pillows. Picking it up means facing the very issue(s) that may have prevented you from moving ahead.
What kind of bed are you still lying in? What kind of bed is preventing you from taking those steps to enter into your future? Some of us are lying in beds of unforgiveness, shame, hurt, and disappointments. For others, it is a bed of self doubt, self criticism, procrastination, self-pity, or unhealthy habits.
What comfort zones are you relying on ? Pick it up! Don’t allow it to control your action, you take control of it. When you pick it up, you determine what happens. Picking up your bed requires faith. It takes faith to say “I’ve been here for this long, but I can move forward.” It takes faith to say “there is still hope for me.”
Some beds are heavier than others. Some beds require more strength than others. I’m not sure how heavy the load will be, but it is not too heavy or too light for Jesus. Jesus has already invited us to bring our heavy burdens to him. He says come all of you who are tired and weary.
Lord, show me the bed that has prevented me from moving forward. I can no longer lie in this bed just because it is what I am used to. Help me to face the issues so that I can move foward as a new person, with a new heart and a new perspective.
