We know the phrase, “Ready, set, go”, but recently I came up with a variation of that phrase: “Ready, set, stop”.

When you read that, it doesn’t seem to make any sense. It’s like waving at someone to come over to you but telling them to stay where they are. 

Why would anyone give mixed signals like that? It’s crazy.

But my actions recently proved that this statement and this kind of action is not only possible, it happens.

I remember when our kids were babies and we had plans to go out. We would decide where to go and get ready. And just when we were about to leave the house, it would be feeding time for one of them. That would momentarily put the brakes on our plans, and sometimes it was enough to cancel the trip altogether. 

There is a construction site I pass by every day on my way to work. Years ago there was a motel on that site, but it was bulldozed. A company purchased the land and put up a sign that a fancy boutique hotel was going to be built on the site.

I kind of got excited to see what this boutique motel would look like. I was all ready for them to build it … then nothing happened. 

One year went by and the only thing on the site was the sign. The next year the sign disappeared. 

A few years later, someone built two stores on the lot. Then footings for what might be a motel appeared … but then nothing. 

Now about three or four years later a building is starting to go up. 

I’m just waiting for them to stop again. 

Recently, we were looking at putting some insulation around our windows to cut down on drafts in the winter. I looked at some YouTube videos and kind of got excited about the project. 

If it has anything to do with home maintenance or improvement, Lily is all for it. So I said I would really need to buy a nailing gun to do the job quickly and neatly. 

She was sold on it. And I got even more into the project with the idea of getting a new tool. 

Off I went to purchase all the items we would need to get the work done. 

It was “Ready, set” … and then I looked at the trim around the windows and I wasn’t sure how easily that trim would come off. 

We don’t want to have to repaint the walls. 

As I looked at the first window, I was ready, and all set, but instead of going, I stopped. I didn’t want to make a mistake taking that trim off and so, instead of exploding out of the blocks, I just stopped. 

Well, maybe today will be the day. I’m going to start in a room that needs a new paint job, so if I make a mess of the paint around the windows, it won’t matter. 

Today it’s “Ready, set, go!”

Here’s the thing: We can be ready to do something God is calling us to do, or we can even come to the place where we want to put our faith in Him. But it’s all for nothing unless we do the next step and go. We can be “ready, set” but if we stop, it’s no different than if we never did anything. Go for it and go for God.

That’s Life!

Paul

Question: What do you need to follow through on and do right now? Leave you comments and questions below.

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