Who doesn’t love something new? Especially this time of year, Christmas Time. The most wonderful time of the year! Clothes, gadgets, toys, travels….purchasing is at an all time high during this season. We fight the crowds during black Friday, we are glued to Amazon and our favorite websites on Cyber Monday, all in the name of a good sale! I mean, who doesn’t like to save a few dollars? But what about the gifts you can’t buy. What about the gifts you can’t wrap and exchange with your loved ones? Those gifts are priceless.
God is doing a new thing.
The frenzy and excitement of the holiday season can often fill us with joy. But sometimes the end of the year is a reminder of what we have not yet accomplished. Our goals and resolutions are often left undone due to the sheer demands of life. If, year after year, after year, your resolution list or goals never get accomplished, it might be time for a NEW THING. It may be time for a new dream, a new perspective, a new routine, a new way of doing things.
6 STEPS TO A NEW THIN
1. PLAN A DREAMING SESSION
Set aside some time for yourself where you can be totally uninterrupted. Schedule it in your calendar. Remove all distractions (phones,
Netflix series, put those precious little ones down for a nap). Pray. Ask God to show you what he has in store for you. Ask God what he wants you to accomplish. If you feel you can’t hear from God, think about the things you would do for free. What are your passions? What activities do you do that give you life? What makes you tick?
2. WRITE IT DOWN
This is so important. How many times have you had an awesome idea and totally forgot it three minutes later? WRITE IT DOWN. But don’t just write it down, put it in a visible place where you will be gently reminded because the list is not tucked away on a random sheet of paper (i.e. a cubicle wall, bathroom mirror, refrigerator door). Email it to yourself, put reminders on your phone. And if you want to get really crafty, make a Vision Board. But whatever you do, write it down. There’s just something that happens when you put pen to paper.
3.KEEP IT SIMPLE
Don’t get stuck in the rut of procrastination and perfection because you want to account for every single detail. The future is unknown. You can not plan for everything and that is OKAY. If you only write down two things you want to accomplish, that is OKAY. It is best to keep the list short and concise, otherwise you will never feel accomplished if you only finish two out of thirty three goals. Think high-level, end result.
4. SHARE WITH A LOVED ONE
Accountability. Encouragement. Truth. Motivation. These are just a few reasons why you should share it with a loved one. They can help encourage you when you get discouraged. They can pray for you. They can advocate for you. Don’t be afraid to share your dreams and goals. Pick someone you trust and lay it out there.
5. DO SOMETHING EVERYDAY THAT LEADS YOU TO YOUR DESTINATION
You will not lose 20 lbs in a week (without compromising your health). Typically you can’t write a novel in a few hours. It takes time to restore and rebuild broken relationships. But if you live intentionally each day, you can take steps that will lead to your desired outcome. Step by step, day by day, small decisions you make will shape and direct your path. Sometimes it means choosing the hard things, making sacrifices, changing your responses. Transformation is beautiful and it is possible. Seek God daily and he will order your steps and trust Him even when things don’t look the way you thought they should.
6. REPEAT
This is an ongoing process. God is always doing a new thing, if we allow him to work in our lives. Be open to change. Be open to flexibility. Your marriage can change, your children can bring you joy, you can start that new business, you can accomplish your goals. Work hard, stay focused, give yourself grace, but most of all seek direction from above and the Lord will order your steps.
What new ‘thing’ are you most excited about in your life?