New Beginnings

Posted by & filed under Motivational, Spiritual.

WOW! Here we are again! The conclusion of a year that seemed like it just started; and they appear, as we get older, to get here quicker! Not sure if you are like me but if you are you are looking back at this year and reflecting; what went well, what didn’t; what do we want to be different in the upcoming year and what and how are WE going to have to change to make it come to be. New Year’s Resolutions are something many of us make, year after year, as we see it being an opportunity to “start over”! The fact that most of us really only give ourselves ONE opportunity per year for a fresh start is somewhat insane as we have the opportunity to make the decision to change every second we are on this earth. But when we fall short of our goals and commitments to ourselves, we have a tendency to fall back into our old ways and begin looking towards the NEXT New Year; the next reset, in many cases checking out for the remainder of the existing year giving up the blessing of NOW! I read a statistic in Forbes Magazine that stated only 8% of people making New Year’s Resolutions actually have success! That leaves the other 92% to be the ones beating themselves up, giving into failure and all the negative thoughts that seem to swarm our minds. Why is this? If I am honest with myself, I could be the Captain of this 92% Club! But I can also honestly say that I do not want it to be that way any longer! I know I’ve been put on this earth for greater things which have yet to be realized! SO…. What needs to change for this to be the change to occur? How must I begin approaching life in such a way that I can evolve into my God destined purpose?; That I may become who I was created to be?

For starters we have to quit viewing our short-comings as failures but rather as a means of gaining knowledge, wisdom and understanding of who we are and what we were placed on this earth to accomplish. Everything we do, whether on the surface appears to be a thumbs-up success or not, can be a step in the direction we need to go; IF WE CHOOSE TO VIEW IT THAT WAY! I have come to a complete belief that without God I can do nothing; yet I continually venture into this world “solo”; chasing what “I” want; what “I” think the solution may be; what feels good to “me”; choosing the path that is easiest for “me”. Romans 8:28 tells us “And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.”. If we believe that everything happens for a reason, even the things that initially seem horrible or a total failure AND we turn to God for an understanding of those events, He can reveal to us the GIFT that lies within; the lesson we may need to learn; the wisdom we may need to obtain; the growth we may need to have the strength for the next step of our journey; the redirection to get us ON that journey; and the clarity to help us see what our purpose and mission in this life truly is!

Secondly, and I am only speaking from my own experiences, is I believe we have a tendency to hang on to the past; hanging on those things that work against us. This could be habits, attitudes, experiences, memories, sins, etc. If we apply the first thing I listed above, we may be able to revisit these things and extract from them some positive lessons; and revisiting these things are a must because we have to move beyond them; they are taking us out and robbing us of our life, our purpose and our future! But once we have taken from each the fruits that they most definitely possess, we must have the strength and wisdom to “let go” of them! I have a horrible habit of replaying every sin I have committed; revisiting every failure I have perceived in my life and allowing those moments to control my current actions! Scripture tells us in Matthew 5:30 “And if your right hand causes you to stumble, cut it off and throw it away. It is better for you to lose one part of your body than for your whole body to go into hell.” When I read this I don’t immediately run to the knife drawer (although there are times that might not have been a bad idea..lol) but I am seeing that it is merely telling me to sever from my life those things that are robbing me of my purpose! I could imagine nothing being more equal to hell than leaving this earth having never fulfilled my purpose; never obtaining the fullness of life that was written out for me! Never making an impact in the lives I could have helped change for the better!

Before we can change others we must first change ourselves; and we can’t expect to undo years of negativeness in a matter of days! We must first reflect on where we are and how we got here; then pull from all those decisions, and they were decisions, the things that we were meant to gain from them; the fruit of the outcome of those decisions. Once we have a bearing of where we are we can begin to really focus on where we want to go; what we want to achieve and the purpose behind it! Are we pursuing God’s purpose and will for our life? There are two scriptures to remember:

2 Corinthians 5:17 “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here!

Philippians 4:13 “ I can do all this through Christ who gives me strength.”.

If you have not already accepted Christ, my prayer for you going into this new year is that you take this man who loved you so much that he laid down his life for YOU and invite Him into your life, your heart and your new year! Those of you who will want to debate over whether there is a God or not I just ask you one thing; if you know of a way that is working 100% for you, please share it; but if you are not you have nothing to loose; but maybe another year! For those who have accepted Him but may not be experiencing the graces of that decision, I ask for you to consider recommitting to Him! It is what I have found myself needing to do and I can tell you I feel so much better now that I have; it prompted me to write this blog which I haven’t done in two years I am sad to say. But it has also given me a sense of peace and hope that I WILL BECOME WHO I WAS CREATED TO BE; ONE DAY, ONE DECISION AT A TIME!

You can do it! I invite you to make this upcoming year YOUR YEAR! Let go of the past; let go of the failures; invite God into your life and begin finally living!

HAPPY NEW YEARS and much love!

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