Just Say Yes

I was texting my cousin the other day and said in my text that I was declaring 2018 as the year of yes. I don’t know about you, but I have been known to procrastinate when it comes to what I believe is Gods will for my life. Unfortunately, from time to time, I have also allowed “real life” to stand in my way. What do I mean by “real life?”  For me, “real life” refers to my day to day living. Like many of you that are pursuing your passion or what you believe is God’s will for your life, I work a full-time job. My full-time job often spills over into late night and even weekend hours. The time, my time, which should be reserved for doing what I want to do, or in my case, what I believe God wants me to do as of late has been dedicated to my 9-5. Don’t get me wrong. I am thankful for my job, but I can’t help but to ask myself where I would be if I committed the same amount of time to my passion that I commit to my 9-5.

As I look towards 2018 I’m looking for a new beginning, a new opportunity to say yes. We automatically say yes to those things that we feel we don’t have any control over or those things that are expected of us. I’m employed. It’s expected of me to not only give 100%, but to give my all. I have a family. It’s expected of me to commit myself and go over and above for my family. But what about Gods purpose for my life? Are my job and my family part of God’s purpose for my life? Of course, they are but so is the passion that God has placed in me.

I’m one of those all or none people. I don’t like to start something I can’t complete. I don’t want to commit to something that I cannot see through to the end. This is a challenge for me because life happens. Obstacles appear out of nowhere. I become frustrated with myself when things get in my way that prevent me from moving forward. Those of you that follow my blog probably noticed I was blogging less frequently, then I finally stopped. Well it was the ole 9-5 that was taking up my time. I have been working nights and weekends. Because of my personal work ethic, I don’t see things in my 9-5 changing in the immediate future. I have however decided to make changes. My commitment to my 9-5 ensures I excel in the work place, but what about the souls that are being neglected because I don’t have time to pursue my passion?

In 2018 I’m saying yes. Yes, Lord to your way and yes Lord to Your will. I believe when I rest in the Lord, acknowledging Him in ALL that I do, that He will direct my path. I’m going to seek God. I’m going to listen. I’m going to be still long enough to hear from God. I’m going to accept that He knows my heart and the desires of my heart because He has given me those desires. In doing so, I am going to understand God will also bring my desires to pass because He is the only One that can. I am going to recognize that a little bit is better than none. Whatever the Lord gives me to share in whatever format I can share it is better than not sharing it at all.

I can’t expect everyone to understand nor support my dreams but I can have faith that the God that has given me those dreams will bring them to pass in His time.

A man's heart deviseth his way: but the Lord directeth his steps. Proverbs 16:9

I invite you to join me in making 2018 your year of yes. The year of moving forward in all that God has prepared for a people that will move themselves out of His way, removing all barriers so that He can move mightily through them as He gets all the glory.

Stay the Course

And when Sarai dealt hardly with her (Hagar), she fled from her face.

If you are not familiar with this portion of scripture it is taken from Genesis 16:6. Sarai, the wife of Abram was barren. She was too old to conceive and decided to take matters into her own hands. She literally gave her maid Hagar to her husband for the purpose of conceiving a child which she would raise as her own.

Well just like many plans that we concoct, Sarai’s plan blew up in her face. Hagar despised Sarai after she became pregnant. Sarai retaliated by treating Hagar harshly; Hagar fled.

Sometimes when we feel we are treated harshly, are subjected to adverse circumstances by no fault of our own, or become so sick and tired of certain situations we too may feel like Hagar and want to flee.

We want to leave whatever we feel may be causing our pain. We desire a change. We may feel like we have done everything within our power to improve our situation. If our circumstances involve someone we are trying to help we may even start to lose hope that the person we are trying to help will ever change.

We may be forging ahead as hard as we can to accomplish a goal, follow our passion, or reach our destiny but feel like we are falling short.

Regardless of what brings us to the point that we want to flee or give up we must reconcile ourselves with our situation.

When Hagar fled an angel of the Lord came to her and told her to return to the circumstance which she fled. He comforted her by saying her cries had been heard and she would give birth to a son whose seed would be multiplied. Even though Hagar’s pregnancy was not her plan it was still part of her destiny.

On our journey to reach our destiny we may find ourselves in situations which are unfavorable, paths we would not have selected ourselves, or perhaps the paths we are on are our own choice, but are not the best choice. What do we do? Do we flee as Hagar did? We see that even though she fled, she was told to return to her situation because that was where she was supposed to be.

When times are difficult our natural instinct may be to flee, but if God has allowed us to be in certain situations, He may want us to dig our heels in, stand firm, gather our strength and move forward in what He has predestined for our lives.

We read in Luke 12:48 …for unto whomsoever much is given, of him shall be much required: and to whom men have committed much, of him they will ask the more. Don’t think it peculiar or strange if you find yourself in trying, difficult or what may even feel like unbearable situations. As a matter of fact we should count it all joy as we are encouraged to do by James, when we fall into divers temptations; knowing this, that the trying of our faith worketh patience.

Oftentimes when we are close to our breakthrough, the goal that we have been working so hard to reach, able to see a flicker at the end of the tunnel the enemy brings out the big guns trying to get us to give up, cave in and quit.

Well, I am here to tell you that you are almost there. Don’t flee. Don’t allow the enemy to rob you of what God has told you is yours. Stay the course. You will find that everything you have endured will help you to be a blessing to someone else as you revel in God’s grace and glory.

 

 

Change

We have all heard the only thing that is constant is change. Change occurs all around us. Sometimes we are forced to change. When there are changes in our workplace whether we agree or disagree, whether we resist or embrace them they still occur. We determine our reaction.

But what about self-initiated changes. Have you ever wondered why when change is forced on us we adapt because we have to but when the change is self-initiated it may not occur?

Let’s take a look at a couple of examples. In today’s economy many companies are requiring mandatory furloughs. Employees take unpaid or partially paid time off. Furloughs are implemented as a cost saving measure for the company. Although the impacted employees do not agree they do not have a choice. They are not allowed to work and will not be paid.

Although forced upon an employee, whenever possible the employee should try and use this time off to their advantage. It can be used for personal appointments which may prevent them from having to take time off of work in the future. It can be used for volunteer work if desired. It can also be used to work on a personal business venture or project they may have been putting off.

Not let’s take a look at a self-initiated change. A change that has crossed the mind of a great majority of people is weight loss. We hear weight lost mentioned as New Year’s resolutions, in preparation for vacations, class reunions, weddings, special events or a life style change.

This is a self-initiated change and involves our will. It’s not forced upon us. We can go through with it or we can decide not to. It’s our choice.  Unfortunately for some of us we do not move forward with our change. We have one excuse or another, whatever the reason because it is not being forced upon us, and it is not required but a choice, it may not occur.

A self-initiated change starts as an idea. In the weight loss example. A person may look in the mirror or try on an article of clothing that fit’s a little snugly and think about losing weight. Sometimes the thought goes no further. If it does it becomes a desire. Once the idea or thought becomes a desire implementation will begin. A person may start exercising or change their eating plan but before reaching their goal they may quit. This is where it ends for many people. You have an idea. Your idea becomes a desire. You implement a plan, then for one reason or another the plan comes to an end before reaching your goal.

Why is it so difficult make a self-initiated change? It’s because you have a choice, so the question becomes how do you stick with your choice? How do you prevent yourself from quitting? Think back to the company mandated change. It may have been uncomfortable but it was necessary so you complied. Your job may have been at stake. Even if you resisted in the beginning you accepted the change, and it became part of your lifestyle.

A self-initiated change may be uncomfortable. You are doing something you have never done before. Is it necessary? It is if it is your desire, and you want to succeed. What do you do? You act as though it is required just as the mandated change is required. You act as though you don’t have a choice. You commit yourself to it. You do whatever it takes. Hold yourself accountable, or if you are challenged with accountability ask a friend that believes in your success to be your accountability partner if you do not have a Life Coach.

Record and report your progress. Do something every day towards your goal. Celebrate your progress as encouragement. You can make a change but you must be committed. It’s your choice. Choose to succeed.