HAPPY FIRST WEEK OF 2020 EVERYONE!!! (Can you feel my excitement?)
I recently posted a YouTube video on my Rhealism channel, and felt inspired to write a blog post about this topic as well. (Tip: You can also see it by clicking “video” on this website.)
I have always been one who appreciates a fresh start in any area of life, and truly believe that there is never a time where a person cannot start anew when they get off track. Below I want to share 5 points to support us as we start our “NEW THINGS”….
1. Isaiah 43:18-19
“Forget the former things; do not dwell on the past. See, I am doing a new thing!”
Point: Let it go! We often spend a lot our time, energy, and emotions ruminating over things that happened to us in the past. As a chronic over-thinker, I know about this all too well. My challenge for us is to embrace the art of letting go of things that hold us down emotionally, mentally, psychologically, physically, and in any other way that blocks our progression in life. There is a verse in the Bible that also talks about putting “old wine into new wine skins,” that I also find appropriate to share (Luke 5:37 — And no one pours new wine into old wineskins. Otherwise, the new wine will burst the skins; the wine will run out and the wineskins will be ruined.). We can’t begin new things with old patterns, or else we get the SAME results! It simply won’t work! Something has to change in order to sustain growth…
2. 2 Corinthians 4:16-17
“Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day. For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all.”
Point: What you see outwardly does not reflect the whole picture! (God is still working even where we CAN’T SEE)… We can be renewed DAY by DAY! All we have to do is ASK and BELIEVE that we can change…
3. Plan Your Work. Work Your Plan!
Point: No Vision + No plan = NO FOCUS + NO PROGRESS!!! (Period.)
This goes without explanation, but I will give props to the group Dead Prez for introducing me to this mantra…it has been with me for 20 years now, and it is one that I will never stop living by! (*extracted from an interlude called “Discipline” on their Let’s Get Free album)
4. Sacrifice brings REWARD!
Point: Nothing at all worth having comes easy. We all ask, ask, ask, and beg God (or the Universe) for things, but are we willing to deny ourselves ANYthing in order to get what we ask for??? The biggest testament to our faith in us asking for something is not only believing we can have it, but sacrificing something to show how serious we are in our preparation to receive it. Not all things come by blood, sweat, and tears…but I do believe some things come by an intentional maturity to say “hey, I seek a different outcome therefore I will stretch myself, maybe become a little uncomfortable by doing something different.”
The theme in some of these points I’ve mentioned reveal that every moment brings about an opportunity for a FRESH START. God has made and is making all things new – this includes me & you…yo mama and yo cousin too! (Shot out to my favorite Hip-Hop group of all time – Outkast)
In closing, I want to leave you all with the encouragement to face this new year and decade with zeal and a hopeful perspective regarding your personal goals to begin anew. No matter what areas of your life this applies to…YOU CAN AND YOU WILL DO IT!!! I often like to remind myself of these things with daily affirmations. You can personalize your own affirmations as well. Whether it be a sticky note posted somewhere you frequently look, a daily calendar reminder on your phone (one of my favs), a piece of jewelry with the word or phrase on it, a personalized item, or even a tattoo (also a personal fav of mine). It is important to know and remember that an affirmation is a declaration of what something IS or WILL BE. Even if in current day it does not appear as such… WHEN YOU DECLARE A THING, and remind yourself of it often… IT – SHALL – BE !!! (…and so it is…AMEN)
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