Level Up (eBook)

How to Advance in Your Calling and Never Get Stuck

Chris Pace (Autor)

eBook Download: EPUB

2024 | 1. Auflage
200 Seiten
Messenger International (Verlag)
978-1-937558-28-4 (ISBN)

Infos

IF YOU DON'T FIGHT FOR YOUR FUTURE, YOU WILL FORFEIT IT. Does it feel like your life is in a holding pattern while others all around you seem to be moving forward with purpose? Do you feel disappointed because you're not where you thought you'd be at this point in your life? You're not alone. At one point or another, we've all heard these words spoken over us: 'You're full of potential!' But as life goes on, what was once a compliment can easily become a painful critique-an ever-present reminder that you are not where you could be-where you should be. One of the greatest tragedies in life is unfulfilled potential-all that could have been but never was. Sobering, isn't it? That's why it's not enough to be full of potential . . . unless it's being realized! And no one wants to reach the end of their life only to look back with regret. Level Up: How to Advance in Your Calling and Never Get Stuck provides the roadmap that will help you make up for lost time and accelerate your progress­-propelling you forward

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IF YOU DON'T FIGHT FOR YOUR FUTURE, YOU WILL FORFEIT IT. Does it feel like your life is in a holding pattern while others all around you seem to be moving forward with purpose?Do you feel disappointed because you're not where you thought you'd be at this point in your life?Do you feel frustrated, sensing you were made for more, but don't know how to attain it?Do you struggle with fear and depression, desperate to find fulfillment and meaning for your life?You're not alone. At one point or another, we've all heard these words spoken over us: "e;You're full of potential!"e; But as life goes on, what was once a compliment can easily become a painful critique-an ever-present reminder that you are not where you could be-where you should be. One of the greatest tragedies in life is unfulfilled potential-all that could have been but never was. Sobering, isn't it? That's why it's not enough to be full of potential . . . unless it's being realized! And no one wants to reach the end of their life only to look back with regret. Level Up: How to Advance in Your Calling and Never Get Stuck provides the roadmap that will help you make up for lost time and accelerate your progresspropelling you forward.

Textauszug

1

LEVELS

Keep Progressing without
Becoming Stuck!

“You’re full of potential!”

I’m sure you’ve heard these words spoken over you before. Perhaps it was from a parent, a teacher, or a coach. As early as I could remember, my school report cards would always contain a short note: “Chris is full of potential.” If I’m honest, it was a kind way for my teachers to inform my parents that I was underperforming.

When we consider this statement on our potential, we can conclude that it’s one of the most encouraging things to hear; yet it’s also one of the most discouraging things to hear—depending on when or how you hear it. On one hand, it’s a statement packed with promise pointing to all you can be and have not yet become; all you can do and have not yet done. On the other hand, it’s an indication that there’s room for growth and improvement—that you’re underperforming, not at the level you should be—just like my childhood report cards!

Perhaps later in life, we hit a point where we stop and begin to wonder why we’re “here” and not “there.” And by “there,” I mean the expectations we had for ourselves. Life hasn’t turned out the way we thought it would, and we often feel like we’re once again reviewing a report card informing us that we’re underperforming, or worse, failing. It can even feel like others have moved forward with their life while yours remains at a standstill. And it’s in these moments when we must accept that it’s not enough to be full of potential unless it is being realized.

Let’s face it, one of the greatest tragedies in life is unfulfilled potential—all that could have been but never was. Sobering, isn’t it?

In order to bridge the potential gap, we must first realize that everywhere we look, life is lived on levels. When I consider the concept of levels, I think of progression, like in physical growth, as we progress from childhood, to adolescence, to adulthood. We see levels in our education system, as we progress from elementary, to middle school, to high school, to college. The athletic system is played on levels, ranging from local, to state, to national. There are levels in leadership, government, and even video games! Homes and buildings are built on levels. And that’s just the short list. Levels are everywhere you look.

Realizing our potential is a process of becoming, which is accomplished on levels. The benefit of progressing on levels is that we can grow incrementally, in phases and stages, allowing our growth to occur both organically and intentionally, rather than all at once.

So, before we move on, let’s first establish what I mean by “level up.” The best analogy I can think of is like that of leveling up in a video game. I don’t consider myself a gamer, but I did play my fair share of video games as a child. (A big cowabunga to all my Ninja Turtles arcade fans!)

The goal of every level isn’t just to win it, but to gain as much as you can from it. Within every level, there is always something to obtain or learn that you will need at a later time. Whether it’s a hidden Easter egg, a special weapon, or golden coins—all of these items have a unique value and are often needed to help you both advance to the next level and function effectively within it. There are also items that help accelerate your progress, causing you to move forward in leaps and bounds. So, to level up means both to be equipped for the next level and to also advance to it.

Right now, you may not be where you want to be, but let me assure you: you’re further along than you realize, and you’re doing better than you think you are!

An Upward Path

The path of life leads upward for the wise; they leave the grave behind. (Proverbs 15:24 NLT)

Our life is designed to have an upward trajectory. Every time you find yourself leveling up in life, you’ll find yourself becoming more alive and energized, leaving the “grave” behind. That’s because your potential was never meant to remain buried within you. I’ve often heard it said that if you’re not progressing, you’re regressing. And with every advancement to a new level, a new version of yourself will emerge.

Therefore, if we’re wise, we’ll follow God’s paths which lead upward, paths that are uniquely designed to help us grow “stronger and stronger with every step forward” (Psalm 84:7 TPT). With this newfound strength, we too will discover, “The LORD God is my strength, and he will make my feet like hinds’ feet, and he will make me to walk upon mine high places” (Habakkuk 3:19 KJV). Another translation says, “He makes my feet like hinds’ feet and will make me to walk . . . and make [spiritual] progress upon my high places [of trouble, suffering, or responsibility]!” (AMPC).

So, we see that the “high places” we’re called to refer to making spiritual progress that help us realize our potential—which at times will involve trouble and suffering.

In Hannah Hurnard’s classic novel, Hinds’ Feet on High Places, we find a great depiction of this upward journey that every child of God is invited to experience. This powerful allegory reveals the deep yearning we all possess for new heights of growth, adventure, and challenge.

The book reveals the spiritual journey of a timid young woman named Much-Afraid. Throughout her upward journey, Much-Afraid experiences life-defining moments as she navigates trouble, challenges, and the need to take responsibility for her growth. Along the way, she overcomes her tormenting fears and reaches the High Places, where she receives a new identity and experiences transformation.

The upward path, as Much-Afraid discovered, is a journey of becoming. Once again, realizing our potential occurs on levels. It doesn’t happen in a moment; it happens with a culmination of moments. These moments must be maximized, and will require trust, courage, and a commitment to stay the course.

Similar to Much-Afraid, our upward journey will involve dangers and challenges, rewards and victory. Through it all, we’ll not only grow closer to Jesus; we’ll also awaken to our True Self and experience a transformation that’s only possible as we embark on this upward path. But here’s the reality: everyone is invited to the high places, yet not all of us accept this challenge.

I appreciate the stories of those, like the apostle Paul, who pursued their own upward journey. He wrote:

Not that I have already attained, or am already perfected; but I press on, that I may lay hold of that for which Christ Jesus has also laid hold of me. Brethren, I do not count myself to have apprehended; but one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead, I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus. (Philippians 3:12–14)

Paul stated that his focus and passion was “the prize of the upward call.” Everything he did was in pursuit of this goal, which was to know Jesus, become like Him, and fulfill the Lord’s purpose for his life. But in order for Paul to reach the upward prize, he had to avoid settling for where he’d already been and what he’d already accomplished. He had to continue to level up—pressing onward and upward.

I’ve observed that many people don’t reach the heights of their calling because they’re not pressing toward it. They’ve settled for a lower level of living—one void of purpose, passion, and power. That’s why I’ve written this book. I’m pursuing this upward call, because I want all that God has destined for me. And I desire the same for you.

Why settle for the low calling when the high calling is within your reach?

Little by Little

God leads us into His plans and purposes on levels. This concept is clearly depicted in His dealings with the children of Israel, both the first and second generations, prior to entering the Promised Land. To the first generation, He explained:

I will not drive them out from before you in one year, lest the land become desolate and the wild beasts multiply against you. Little by little I will drive them out from before you, until you have increased and possess the land. (Exodus 23:29–30 ESV)

Here we find the Lord leading the children of Israel forward little by little. We can also substitute “little by little” with “level by level.” His strategy for leading them this way was to give them an opportunity to grow and increase, thus gaining strength for greater conquest. Unfortunately, that generation refused to enter the Promised Land due to their unbelief and disobedience.

This points out that our destiny is not automatic; we must step into it obediently, as the Lord leads. So, a whole generation died in the wilderness as the next generation arose. When it was time for them to possess the Promised Land, the Lord also explained:

And the LORD your God will drive out those nations before you little by little; you will be unable to destroy them at once, lest the beasts of the field become too numerous for you. (Deuteronomy 7:22)

Again, the Lord leads His people forward “little by little” or “level by level.”

This idea of progressing in levels is also observed in the New Testament. When Jesus described the kingdom, He would often use metaphors of growth and expansion that would occur on levels. Consider this example:

And He said, “The kingdom of God is as if a man should scatter seed on the ground, and should sleep by night and rise by day, and the seed should sprout and grow, he himself does not know how. For the earth yields crops by itself:...

Produkt-Details

• Erscheint lt. Verlag: 16.1.2024
• Vorwort: John Bevere
• Sprache: englisch
• Themenwelt: Geisteswissenschaften ► Religion / Theologie ► Christentum
• ISBN-10: 1-937558-28-2 / 1937558282
• ISBN-13: 978-1-937558-28-4 / 9781937558284