Staying Free After Breaking FreeSample

ONE STEP AT A TIME

Focusing on the big picture of anything can be mind boggling, especially when it comes to breaking free or staying free from a stronghold. But thankfully, I’ve taken a few cues from my husband when it comes to tackling large, overwhelming goals.

Under normal circumstances, painting a living room isn’t a terribly huge project. However, when you consider living room walls that extend up to the second story, it becomes a bit more challenging.

I tried to convince my husband to hire a professional painter for this project, but he insisted he could handle it on his own. I was skeptical at first, but after thirty plus years of marriage, I know my husband is a driven man. Once he has put his mind to something, there is no stopping him.

Before he started painting, he put together a well-thought-out plan.

• First, he made sure he had the proper tools and equipment for the project: paint, rollers, a pole, drop cloths, brushes, and a very big ladder.
• Next, he put together a strategy. He didn’t just jump ahead and begin painting at random. Instead, he took some time to decide which walls were best to begin and which were best to save until the end.
• Finally, he split the project into more manageable pieces, tackling one wall at a time.

Sometimes we can become so overwhelmed by goals that we want to reach because we are only focusing on the end result, rather than taking one step at a time. We need to remember that each step, no matter how small, brings us closer to the finish line.

No matter where you are on this journey to freedom, like the tortoise and the hare, slow and steady wins the race.

Remember to take your focus off the end result, and only concentrate on what you can do today. Learn from my husband’s example: make sure you have the proper tools, put together a plan, and divide the plan into smaller, more manageable segments. It’s the key to breaking free and to staying free.

PERSONAL REFLECTION

What tools do you need to have in place so that you can keep your healing momentum going? What is one step that can you take towards your goal today and each day after?

PRAYER

Lord, you know when I sit and when I rise. You know my thoughts from afar. You know me better than myself. Help me to keep moving forward at a pace that lines up with your grace. Amen.