A Texas Morning
I stepped onto the elliptical machine in the fitness center at the Hampton Inn & Suites in Waxahachie, Texas to get in my morning workout before grabbing breakfast and hitting the road. As I worked through the settings in preparation for my workout, I came to the part where I would set the level at which I would exercise. I chose middle-of-the-road that day… hey, at least I got up and exercised… and hit the “select” button.
A New Level
Just then, a statement I did not remember reading before came across the display. It read, “A new level may be selected at any time.” At the time, I thought to myself that this was a good thing. If I had selected a level that was not challenging enough, I could ramp it up and get a better result from my exercise.
I began pushing and pulling the arms on the machine. I began stepping with my legs to turn the foot portion. And soon I was zipping right along through my exercise. As I pushed, I remembered that little statement when I was setting up the machine which said I could select a new level.
I realized that it was a little easier than I had thought it would be and decided to take my workout up a notch. Sure enough, I achieved a new level of challenge. But it was a good challenge.
More Than A Machine
And I thought to myself, “Hm… I suppose I could select a new level at any time in the rest of my life also.” It’s true. I can select a new level in my commitment to my wife at any time. I can select a new level of quality and quantity in my parenting at any time. I can select a new level in my relationship with the Lord at any time. I can select a new level in my attitude, in my work ethic, in my talents, in my education, etc. at any time.
So can you! No matter where you started, a new level may be selected at any time. No matter how bad you’ve been, you can choose a new level at any time. No matter how much you have lost, you can choose a new level at any time. No matter how far behind you are, you can choose a new level at any time.
This is true of relationships, of work, of education, of finances, and even of our personal relationship with God. God makes room in our lives for us to make progress… to grow… to expand… to flourish. We don’t have to stay at our current level.
Going Up?
Let me ask you… What area of your life is it today in which you wish you could go to a whole new level? Well, the only thing stopping you is you. You may select a new level at any time. So go ahead… Select that “up” button and go to a new level!
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