No More Business-As-Usual

I’m kind of a creature of habit. For the most part I have the same breakfast every day. Lunch is often similar too and I do pretty much the same classes at the gym each week. I like adventure and exploring new places but often I get onto ‘autopilot’ because it’s easier to do that than think about a new breakfast, or gym class or way of getting somewhere. 

As humans we are wired to find comfort in the familiar. We like our routines and, even if you’re not a creature of habit like me, our way of doing things. Now is not the season though, to just do business as usual. This is a season where God is doing a new thing (Is 43:19) and as the NIV asks, “Do you not perceive it?”

Over the past few weeks and even before God started doing something different in Asbury, I felt like the Lord said, “No more business as usual. No more church as usual. No more life as usual.

”Well, okay God, what does that mean?"

For me it meant taking a look at pretty much everything I do and asking Him what He wanted me to do differently. As a result, my morning routine is different. I’m up earlier so I can spend a little more time with Him and squeeze in some extra bible reading. I’m revisiting some old practices of intentional prayer and declaration. My day looks different too, as I’m intentionally leaning into what the Lord has each day for me to pay attention to. My prayer life is different. My word life is different. My expectations and thought life are different. We are sitting in a new seat each week at church (and possibly unintentionally ruffling some feathers). The weekly online live gathering is different even though the old ‘format’ was good. There is not an area of my life that isn’t open for the Lord to say “Hey, it’s time to change things up.”

So what is the Lord up to? Why is He asking me, and I believe all of us, to change things up? I believe it is because He really is doing a new thing and if we are stuck in our old way of doing things we won’t even notice. When Moses was walking around in the desert and came across the burning bush he turned aside and met with God. This is the season for us also to turn aside and meet Him in a new way. It’s going to take us doing something different for us to step fully into what He has for each of us in this season. It can’t just be ‘business as usual’ and ‘God could you just do something on the side that doesn’t interrupt my life too much?’ I believe that God wants to do something in us and through us that we have been longing for, but it is going to take a new level of sacrifice to enter into it. For me that has meant repenting for the way I’ve seen myself for years. I’ve had to examine my heart and mind and ask if I’m really ready to step into what’s next. And there’s areas where I’ve had to say I’m not ready and repent.

The good news is that I have found Him all too ready to meet with me in new ways, to change my thinking, and to bring fresh revelation. I’m more aware of His presence and more aware of His goodness and I’m growing and changing all because I was willing to say, “Yep, let’s not do business as usual anymore.”

In addition to being an outstanding mom of four powerful young adults, Janine Mason's super power is asking highly perceptive questions that quickly reveal the heart of the matter. For the last two decades Janine has been Andy's strategic business, personal and life advisor (and best friend)!

Janine's background is in horticultural consulting and adult education. She is also an accomplished life coach working with individuals and small groups. Janine has authored multiple books including Dream Culture: Bringing Dreams to Life and Kingdom Tools for Teaching: Heavenly Strategies for Real Classrooms.