I’ve been thinking about a teaching I’m listening to about comfort zones. Comfort zones can be disguised as a good thing, but tend to keep our lives out of balance. For example, our body needs good nutrition and rest, but when these natural desires are out of balance, our body does not metabolize food properly and a non-resting sleep pattern can cause other health issues. Other comfort zones are hobbies, or watching too much television etc.! Spending too much time in seclusion with hobbies, or alone in front of the TV, may put relationships at risk with family members and with God.

Out of balanced comfort zones can make a person selfish; wanting only to be comfortable instead desiring to allow God to do His workmanship in them to fulfill His plan for their lives (Ephesians 2:10). Selfishness is really a self-worshiping attitude – of the created – rather than the worshiping of God the Creator (Romans 1:25).

 Comfort zones are a deceptive tool of the devil because they are a form of denying Christ and the power of God to work in our lives. Comfort zones are a form of lukewarmness of our heart towards God.

Comfort zones may not necessarily be sinful in and of themselves, at least in the beginning. But when left unchecked, they become like unbalanced weights that sabotage our commitment to serve our Lord (Hebrews 12:1) and lead to disobedience to God. Matthew 6:24 states, “No man can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other.” We cannot serve two masters. We cannot serve our own selfish desires and serve God at the same time. The comfort zone of lukewarmness results in a lack of inconsistency in a person’s faith, and their commitment hinges more on convenience than in a desire to serve the Lord.

All comfort zones have their beginning in fear; fear of failure or rejection. But God tells us in Second Timothy 1:7 that He has not given us a spirit of fear; but of power and of love, and of a sound mind.

Each of us need to take a deeper look within our heart at our priorities. Asking God where we need to make changes is the starting point of victory over comfort zones.