Ordinary obedience in extraordinary times

Was very inspired by this write-up by Kara Dedert. Here are the notes I took and excerpts (some slightly rephrased):

• Refuse to match the ’empire’s’ rhythm. Lead the posture of a peaceful and quiet life.
• Do not mirror the world’s instability or amplify its noise. Live with a steadiness that elevates the gospel.
• Even with brittle institutions, low morals, see the extraordinary momentum: technological, economic, missional.
• There are new tools and open doors for gospel work that did not exist a generation ago. Even if the momentum might be disorientating.
• Do not retreat. Do not withdraw.
• Do not let urgency turn into frenzy or opportunity into distraction.
• Be steady. Do not be panicked by what you cannot keep up with.
• Work with resolve, not resignation.
• Do not lose yourself in trying to make gains in chasing the tech (AI) race.
• Do not give political outcomes the attention that rightfully belongs to our households, ministries and vocations.
• Do not neglect what God has given us to care for, whilst erroneously expecting from rulers what only God can provide.
• Do not let overwhelming noise convince us that we are irrelevant – Faithful witness has never depended on volume.
• Do not confuse and mistake being informed with being faithful.
• Do not spend you attentiion and time on things we cannot influence whilst neglecting what we can.
• A quiet life is not a passive one.
• Obey what God has commanded, walk through the doors He opens, work with full presence in the calling already given to you.
• In an unsteady world, steadiness itself becomes witness. The gospel is also testified to in this way.
• God will work out His purposes, regardless. We do not need to feel defeated by what we cannot keep up with, or inconsequential because the world has outpaced us.
• We are called simply to faithfully plant seeds – without distraction, with expectation, trusting the Spirit to use finite work offered to an infinite God.
• God’s kingdom advances through quiet, steady, fearlessly convicted faithfulness to Christ.