Move it!

STORY: On the Move Again!

Get ready to move. Again? My husband and I have lived in a total of 26 dwellings in 35 years. Sometimes, a new ministry causes us to relocate. Other times, it’s an upgrade or downgrade in where we live (in the same town). Unfortunately, we’re not finished. Currently we’re in a temporary residence caused by what we hope to be a temporary holding pattern.

We’ve moved so often I joke that my next “Just Moved” notice is going to be on a new address book page—because our families have worn out the “W” section of their address books, trying to keep up with each change.

Moving makes people do crazy things. Like dumpster diving to look for perfect moving boxes. Or going on a shredding frenzy to destroy old paperwork that doesn’t need to go to the new home. One night when we shredded what seemed like a million pages, we were up to our eyeballs in the shredder confetti. Guess we were throwing a moving party before the boxes were ever packed!

Sure, we long to put down roots. But more than that, we long to be where God wants us. So with that desire comes the willingness to be ready to move. Are you? Could you sort through everything you own and determine what to sell, trash, give away, or pack? One thing about it—as often as we have to do it, we’re getting pretty good at it! And I’ve gone from accumulating collectibles to minimizing possessions—partly to simplify life, but mostly to be ready when the orders come down from the One who orders my steps, and says, “It’s time to move. Here’s your next destination.”

STUDY: Get Ready to Follow the Leader

Sometimes God wants us to be ready and willing to move to a new destination. Other times, He wants us to stay put, but be ready to make a move on a decision or new direction.

Move, Settle, Build

Then God said to Jacob, “Get ready and move to Bethel and settle there. Build an altar there to the God who appeared to you when you fled from your brother, Esau.” (Genesis 35:1 NLT)

• What are some actions of obedience you see in this verse?
• Is there anything God is asking you to be ready to do?
• What does God want you to move on that you’ve hesitated to do?
• Why do you think it’s meaningful to have an altar experience once you settle in to what God wants?

Where’s the Blessing?

Then Naomi heard in Moab that the Lord had blessed his people in Judah by giving them good crops again. So Naomi and her daughters-in-law got ready to leave Moab to return to her homeland. (Ruth 1:6 NLT)

• Notice an important principle here. Naomi wanted to take her daughters-in-law to where God was blessing his people. When you aren’t sure where to go or what to do, look for where God is blessing, and go there. How might that apply to your current situation?
• Sometimes when God gets us ready to leave, it doesn’t mean going somewhere new, it means returning to a familiar setting. If you feel restless right now and wonder what new thing God might have for you, is it possible He wants you to be willing to go back to something you already know?

Who Moved My Staff?

Then Elisha said to Gehazi, “Get ready to travel; take my staff and go! Don’t talk to anyone along the way. Go quickly and lay the staff on the child’s face.” (2 Kings 4:29 NLT)

• What are Elisha’s instructions for Gehazi?
• Where is God sending you?
• What is He sending with you to equip you for the mission?
• What might distract you along the way (based on previous missions)?
• What does it show when you’re willing to do the mission quickly?

Fill Up Your Engine with Oil

Meanwhile, Elisha the prophet had summoned a member of the group of prophets. “Get ready to travel,” he told him, “and take this flask of olive oil with you.” (2 Kings 9:1 NLT)

• Why did prophets in Bible times use oil?
• What might oil represent in today’s times?

STEPS: Get Ready to Be Ready to Go

1. Listen carefully. It’s difficult to know when God wants you to move on something, so be sure to listen for His still small voice. (See Genesis 27:43)
2. Anoint the spot. Make a virtual altar and commit to follow wherever God sends you. (See Genesis 31:13)
3. Be early. Don’t be late or procrastinate when it comes to preparing for God’s move in your life. Early obedience shows trust in God. (See Judges 19: 5, 8)

Copyright 2016 Kathy Carlton Willis. Used by permission.