For our present troubles are small and won’t last very long. Yet they produce for us a glory that vastly outweighs them and will last forever! So we don’t look at the troubles we can see now; rather, we fix our gaze on things that cannot be seen. For the things we see now will soon be gone, but the things we cannot see will last forever. ~ 2 Corinthians 4:17-18 (NLT)
These hard times are small potatoes compared to the coming good times, the lavish celebration prepared for us. There’s far more here than meets the eye. The things we see now are here today, gone tomorrow. But the things we can’t see now will last forever. ~ 2 Corinthians 4:17-18 (MSG)
Stretching Expands Your Mindset
When intentional action follows the plans to execute your vision, it will certainly require stretching. Stretching in mindset for making a conscious decision to put action that provides momentum in doing things differently or things you have never done before. It requires thinking outside of the normal comfortability and probably involves speaking to people you do not even know for feedback, input, insight, or as a result of delivering your vision. Intentional action will stretch thought processes and perspective as you learn how to support the decision to execute your vision. Intentional action stretches the capacity to think broader and wider while writing the plan for the vision as God helps you see beyond what you ever thought or imagined. Uncomfortable is a given as your thoughts expand, those in your circle may not have the capacity to understand the vision God gave you, because God gave it to you and not them.
Call To Action: List two ways you can intentionally stretch your mindset and how you will follow through with those ways.
Stretching Changes Your Circle
Understanding that those you love and who love you may not have the capacity or ability to stretch their thinking in order to support you is more than uncomfortable, it is sometimes painful or disheartening. However, once you recognize that when God gives a vision, He also provides provision and this provision can come from people you know, don’t know, don’t care for, or don’t care for you. Would you rather have sub-par provision from a known source, or an amazing provision that covers what you didn’t know you needed just yet from a God ordained source? This means your circle will have to expand so that your mindset and thought processes can continue to enlarge, mature, and plan for the vision God has given you. This means that once you get comfortable with going outside of your normal circle of influence, you will again become uncomfortable because your new circle will challenge your thinking, and help you develop solid plans, processes, and methodologies. It’s not about leaving people behind, but gaining momentum with a new tribe of like-minded vision seekers. Mourn not the ones you cannot take with you but celebrate the ones who take you with them.
Call To Action: List two ways you can intentionally stretch your circle and align with more like-minded visionaries.
Stretching Shifts Support
Transitioning from having a vision to executing that vision puts the onus on you. You are the one stretched to seek God for the plan to support the vision. You are the one stretched to be open to the right people to be in place for you to execute that plan. You are the one to have milestone markers to track progress on executing that plan to achieve the vision. Sometimes being stretched has those around you standing by waiting to see you fall or fail. Sometimes being stretched has your friends whispering everything that is wrong instead of possibilities for success. Sometimes being stretched finds those you thought would say “Yes” actually saying “No.” Stretching support requires seeking deep within yourself to find strength, stamina, resilience, motivation, inspiration, and determination. Stretching for support may find you looking to strangers who do not look like you, congregate where you congregate, or utilize the same Financial institution as you. Stretching support may have you at conferences all by yourself because your circle is too broke, too distracted, or too negative to be your right hand at the conference. Stretching shifts support where it belongs, trusting God for the next step and the next step and the next step, and the next step.
Call To Action: List two ways you can intentionally stretch your support to God and how you will re-route your expectations.