Getting stuck is often caused by one common thing — fear, and we are likely to often choose to ‘stay safe’ or remain where we are instead of risking failure or facing things we are afraid of.
However to move forward we must recognize the fears, habits, beliefs and mindsets that are keeping us from taking action. It might be fear of being judged, fear of hurt, loss, or disappointment, but once we acknowledge and recognise these fears, we can then actively seek to deal with them.
A few of the things that can contribute to us remaining stuck and not moving forward are:
1. Limiting Beliefs
A limiting belief is a conscious or even unconscious belief that keeps you stuck. When we find our self believing we cannot do something; when we doubt that what God has said about us or believe less of ourselves than what God’s word says about us we need to take time to look into why we think that, and what is really stopping us.
2. Our patterns and behaviors
God says we are transformed by the renewing of our minds. In other words we don’t have to be stuck in the way we think. We can change and don’t have to stay limited in negative, limiting patterns and behaviours that are contrary to what God says and has planned for our lives. He says, “For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.” (Jeremiah 29:11)
“Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn to know God’s will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect.” (Romans 12:2)
Not making decisions about our life is actually making the decision to allow other people, circumstances, and exterior forces to decide our future and the course of our life. Instead of choosing to fight against being stuck, we can end up saying, “I can’t do anything about it, I am just stuck here, poor me” which is not what God wants for our lives.
The past holding us back
Making decisions that are based on our past experiences, on what has happened in our family, what others have said to us, and believing the lies the devil says about our lives will hold us back and stop us from moving forward.
Far too often we remain stuck because we continue to accept the status quo, and unconsciously make assumptions about our situation based on past experiences that determine what we can and cannot do, and dwelling on negatives things in our lives other than on our successes. Instead God wants us, with His help to identify what is keeping us stuck and to question and challenge our thoughts and what we believe. To ask ourselves, “What is keeping me stuck?” “What‘s actually keeping me from doing what I want.” Deep down, is it a belief, fear, uncertainty or judgment from others rather than what God has spoken in His word?
Choices and habits
The best way to counteract the ways that we get stuck is to create new habits. When you do something new for the first time, it always seems out of place and strange. The second time that you do it, it feels a little less so. However when we are focusing on making new habits we must focus on the new rather than the old habits so that they will eventually unstick the old way of thinking to create new thought patterns, and subsequently new choices and ways of doing things.
The way we think, our subsequent actions, our beliefs and the way we process our past all contribute to how we live our lives and how we are, or are not able to move forward to into all that God has created us to be.
Today, take the time to challenge your thought patterns, what you believe about yourself, and what is really stopping you from moving forward and know that with God we can do all things.
Prayer: Lord please help me to face my past and the things I believe about myself so that I can move forward. In Jesus name Amen.
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