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How do you know if you’ve settled?

This one is easy.  Passion, fire, drive, intensity, gratification, pleasure, satisfaction:  if you rarely hear, see, use or feel these words (or synonyms) – you’ve settled. 

Do you know what it means to settle?  Do you understand all that the act implies, including its ramifications?  Let me enlighten you and show you a little tough love.

Settling programs your mind to accept less than the best, to desire for fewer things and ultimately to deteriorate your personal value and worth.   By settling, you are telling yourself that you are not worth what you desire, so instead you will take what is available or left over.    Do not be mislead, there are a number of ways you could be settling and receiving less than the best. 

Anytime you deny yourself pleasures you are settling.  Choosing a job that’s available instead of a career that’s desirable is settling.  Staying in a relationship that’s average at best, instead of seeking love that blows your mind is settling (and yes, mind-blowing love does exist, so stop trying to convince yourself otherwise, so you won’t feel bad that you don’t have it.)  If you don’t have butterflies in your stomach or giddiness and excitement about something worthwhile, you’re definitely settling.  Settling is not like scraping to get by.  Sometimes you can be doing very well in life and still be settling.  Just because you have something good doesn’t mean you are living to your fullest.  There are better things out there for you.  You may not have a desire for more material things or prestige, but there should be a driving force in you that propels your life.  Otherwise, what are you here for? 


Perhaps you don’t think settling is all that bad.  Besides, there is plenty to be thankful for and things are moving along without much friction.  Well, look at it like this:

There is a huge mansion with many floors and a beautiful winding stairwell that stretches all the way to the top.  Each floor is filled with treasures; every floor more treasures than the last.  There are so many levels that the top floor isn’t even in sight.    However, there are no elevators.  The only way to get to the next level is by personal effort and exercise.  As you can imagine, the lower levels are more crowded.  With every passing floor, fewer and fewer continue up the massive stairwell to get to the next level. 

The first few levels are simple treasures like food, shelter, warmth.  A few more flights – health, security, income.  A little higher still are peace, companionship, knowledge.

Affluence, prestige, power are floors less inhabited.  As well as the floors that hold victory, triumph and abundance.  Why?  Too many of us are settling for the basics in life. 
God is always looking for someone to join him on the next level.  There are so many treasures in our Father’s house that they spill out to the Kingdom of Darkness.  You know those people that you see having it all, living it up but are rotten and sour.  You shouldn’t feel jealousy, you should feel entitlement.  Those are your treasures!  They are enjoying your goodies. 

You think having a house, car and a steady paycheck on level 6 is all you’ll ever get out of life.  You don’t see God waiting to bless your business on level 8 or God restoring your marriage on level 10.  You don’t even see him heal your body of that ailment on level 12 – that’s right, your healing is a treasure in your Father’s house.   If you haven’t received all the promises of God, it’s because you haven’t gotten to that particular floor yet.  Keep going, it’s there.  Don’t be lazy.  I know the stairwell looks daunting but I assure you there are rewards at every step.  It’s almost as if God leads us with bread crumbs, dropping little treasures to entice our progress until He can get us to the level He needs us to be on.  Stop settling.  You are not doing yourself any favors by giving up now.  The treasures are already there. 

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