How do you end well so you can begin well?
Or How do you do a seamless transition ??
This question has incredible relevance to where we are or will be in the coming weeks. A time when companies, ministries, individuals, and churches are preparing for partial or full slowdown or closedown as the year draws to a close.
I’ve observed this pattern over the last few years: we all seem to stop and rest which is very good and essential for we know God rested on the 7th day after The Trinity had created everything and created the Sabbath as a deliberate time to selah, rest, pause and cease from activity.
It mattered so much that in the first 5 books of the bible God chooses to reinforce how important rest, ceasing from activity and pushing pause is for mind, body, soul and the land is to His people.
Then Jesus Himself confirms this in the NT and consistently models this for us. Where He ceases, and withdraws from activity and others, so He can go up the mountain or to a place of solace and be ONE with His Father for much needed time of filling up, hearing and leaning in, so He can be poured out and effective again with the Father’s Plan and Purpose for the World.
So back to the pattern, after we’ve had the time of stopping and resting, we very slowly start moving again.
I wonder why we start back slowly and not with full momentum or energy until late February or March, some are even April. Have you realised this is not far from being half way through the following year, so half of the year in essence is used up? Hmm, food for thought and dialogue with God.
Again I am not saying rest is not important for the Lord has made it to be one of His suggestions or commandments to LIVING LIVE WELL (the Ten Commandments) Have a read up in Exodus 20. But my question is can we do this time of ending and starting well, more effectively and efficiently?
I do know how hard it is to get up to start again once you’ve stopped, and how much energy it takes to get things up and running with momentum. So question to the Lord was, Is there a better way? Is there a way that guards us from burnout and exhaustion, and from loss of traction and momentum?
The Lord in His faithfulness took me back to a word He spoke many years ago to me, “Don’t take your foot off the pedal”
Really? It sounds to simple right? Here’s a practical application,
I want you to picture a manual gearbox car as most of you would have learnt in a manual gearbox car or driven one. What pattern follows: we start the car and take off in 1st gear, then as speed builds we change to 2nd gear, then move to 3rd gear and so on until we reach top gear.
Once we’re at top gear we get to ease back on the accelerator and notice that the car reaches its sweet spot, where it cruises with minimal effort from us and is most economical.
This SWEET SPOT is what the Lord wants us to apply to the concept of finishing well to begin well. Where we put minimal energy and effort in, and amazingly as we journey into next year the Lord said the pedal can go down further still, with no loss in momentum to any of us in any area.
He was saying to ease back on the pressure on the accelerator of Life but don’t take your foot of the pedal or turn the engine off.
Ok now we have this new revelation and wisdom let’s look at another area, the discipline of Prayer.
How many of you have heard of the serenity prayer?
In my words.
Lord give me the wisdom to do what I can do,
to put aside what I can not do at the moment,
and to pass on what is impossible to You to do!
What a great prayer this is, one that’s helped and brought breakthrough to many I have counselled. I believe it can bring help and breakthrough to you today and throughout this year too.
Let’s start that pattern now we pray and ask for His wisdom and knowledge about what to press into? What to put off? And What to give over to God?
One other area is Delegation, which is without over burdening of another, but gives opportunity for another to see, realise, and take on responsibility for the year.
This might be a good time to ask Him what are the most important things for me to do?
Be prepared to be surprised by what He says and directs you too.
Challenge time, as you sit with your journal, write what He says.
Start with Prayer
Father God I ask for strength, wisdom and discernment to be able to do what I can do, put aside what I cannot do at the moment, and to pass on to You what is impossible to do. In Jesus name Amen
Challenge Time
- Lord what are the most important things You have for me? Personally, Work or Ministry?
- Ask Him what to do with the rest? Are they to be put off or passed to another?
- Take the things He’s asked you to put on hold, and do it, knowing He will be working on them. The ones you need pass on, ask Him who to pass them on to? And what preparation, guidance and direction is needed? Pass them on then keep hands off!
- Step back, take a breath and give Him thanks for He is the one in charge of productivity, you partner with Him.
- Welcome to cruise mode! Time to dream and allow Him to speak prophecies over this year. Write these dreams, visions, scriptures and words down, enjoy this.
- Worship and Declare over this year, for it’s going to be good. End with Prayer
Father, thank you for an incredible year that has brought forth this word of wisdom and revelation. We ask through it and your leadings that we will do the ending and beginning of something better, so traction and momentum will not be lost but the sweet spot realised. In Jesus name, Amen
Craig and Winnie Patten. Itinerate Pastors/Apostolic Leaders. Encounter Ministries
