What does a helpful bias toward action look like for you in this season?
Each of us can fall into the trap of over-thinking or under-thinking our actions and activities. Both “over and under” thinking can undermine our discernment and action to follow God’s lead. In this blog post we will focus on how a helpful bias toward action moves projects and initiatives forward, confronts challenges head-on, and seizes the right opportunities. It’s not an invitation to run ahead of God or try to control our path. It is an invitation to go boldly into the light we’ve been given.
An invitation to stay prayerfully present, discerning God’s will and walking in a posture of courageous obedience to his purposes for us! We surrender in trust, and then we act in faith to follow his illumination.
Ideas are meaningful, but it’s the art of execution that often separates ideas that take root from those that die on the vine.
Of course, there are many obstacles that can hinder bias toward action, including:
- Procrastination
- Paralysis by analysis
- Insecurity and impostor syndrome
- Fear of leaving the comfort of the known
- Rumination on the past
As you’ll notice, reflecting on the list above, none of those obstacles align with God’s best for us. As many of us also know from experience, sometimes it is easier to stay stuck in an unproductive pattern that we know, than it is to release the old and learn the new. Learning the new always puts us out there in new territory, which can be uncomfortable and uncertain.
One saying from the world of sports that offers powerful encouragement is “Next Play.”
Next Play reminds us to focus on the immediate upcoming opportunity or task rather than dwelling on past successes or failures. It promotes a mindset of continuous improvement, adaptability, and presence, in place of ruminating on things outside of our control or outcomes we wish were different.
Today is another opportunity to embrace a Next Play mindset. God has equipped you with skills, experiences, and the resilience needed to add value and impact outcomes. He has sealed you and filled you with his Holy Spirit (Ephesians 1:13).
Keep moving forward—Next Play!
