Wednesday, June 14, 2023
It Is Time to Pivot
A pivot is not a drastic move. A pivot is a small, but extremely important move. It is a redirection of focus. The first and only thing we should do when we don’t know what to do next is to pivot towards God. Our focus should always remain on Him while doing the work He has called us to do, but when it is time to transition, we need to pivot all our focus and attention on Him. He will guide us and reveal the direction of the next step.
A small, important move like a pivot can change everything.
What happens when we pivot?
· We are obedient in focusing on Christ.
The story of Joshua is one where we see a pivot take place at an important and crucial time. The mantle was passed from Moses to Joshua so he could lead the Children of Israel into the Promised Land. Joshua had to pivot into the role of leadership at this crucial moment, but God had prepared him. Everything that had happened to him leading up to that very moment was all part of God’s plan to prepare him to fulfill this purpose. All along they all thought Moses would be the one but when it came down to it, God’s different plan was revealed. What if all the children of Israel sat down right there on the banks of the Jordan and said they would not go unless Moses was the one to lead them? They would never have the blessing of the Promised Land. Their ancestors before them missed the blessing because they would not pivot, focus on God, and trust Him.
But truly, as I live, and as all the earth shall be filled with the glory of the Lord, one of the men who have seen my glory and my signs that I did in Egypt and in the wilderness, and yet have put me to the test these ten times and have not obeyed my voice, shall see the land that I swore to give to their fathers. And none of those who despised me shall see it. But my servant Caleb, because he has a different spirit and has followed me fully, I will bring into the land into which he went, and his descendants shall possess it. Numbers 14:21-24
When it comes time to pivot, step, leap, or jump, if we are not obedient, we will miss what God has for us - both purpose and blessing. God loves His children and has good things for us. Those blessings will only be realized if we are obedient, focusing on Him, listening to Him, and looking to Him for His next direction for us. If we quit because it is not the way we thought it would be, we miss out.
· We are unified in focusing on Christ.
When it was time to go into the Promised Land, the Children of Israel had to be unified. They had to all agree on what they were doing, work together, and move forward together as a body. They had to trust God and trust the leader He had given them. Standing on the threshold of new territory that was theirs to claim, they had pivoted, looked to God and trusted His plan, even though it was not how they thought it would be. For most of them, being born in the wilderness, the only leader they had ever known was Moses. Sometimes when we have to pivot, it is not easy. It may even feel unnatural and uncomfortable, but when we choose to focus on God, we can trust Him no matter what. We push through our feelings and emotions and move forward with God’s direction. He cares about our hearts more than we could ever imagine and because of that, we can always trust Him to lead us in the right way with the very best plan, which often means we must leave our comfort zone.
The threshold is both an exciting and scary place to be, especially when you are going somewhere you have never been before. But when we pivot and focus on God, He will give us peace, strength and prepare us with everything we need to obediently move forward when He tells us to go.
