Never be afraid to trust an unknown future to a known God.” ~ Corrie Ten Boom
“I do not count myself to have apprehended, but one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead, I press toward the mark (goal) for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus”. Philippians 3:13-14
On this Marvelous Monday let’s have the courage to carry out the things you know you desire to do and what God has put into your heart to do. Let’s start writing the vision and goals. Let’s start self-care, exercise and eating healthy. Let’s get it started -make the phone call, complete the application, or start the book.
Let’s have the courage “To Get It Started”. Do not allow past failures, fear and mistakes to stop you now. Pray and Seek God.
Release Baggage. Forgive Yourself. Forgive others. Don’t look back. Press forward.
Courage can be defined as the choice to confront agony, pain, danger, uncertainty, or intimidation; the ability to do something that is out of the comfort zone; the strength and perseverance exhibited in the face of pain or grief; and the willingness to open up to vulnerability.
Confront your fears. Start taking action.
Today Monday is a Great Day
On this Marvelous Miraculous Manifestation Monday, the second Monday of the New Year, praise God for His unfamthonable love for you !
What is your expectation for this week, month , and year? Think Big, Do Big and Think Victory! Praise Him for daily loading you up with benefits. This is the year of victory for you. So start doing what you need to do to make your dreams comes true. Praise Him because you are still here and looking forward to GREATER in 2023!!
Even if things are not what you want for now, shout for joy with Praise now, because you have a God that can “work it out” by working all things –good, bad, and ugly together for your good (Rom. 8:28-30) if you believe. God is amazing and can “ fix it”, bring you through, will never leave you, will help see you through and He listens and answers prayer. Believe and obey His Word. Pray without ceasing. 1 Thessalonians 5:17. Keep praying, pressing forth and pursuing the dreams God has placed in your heart. Don’t be afraid to shine with love and the spirit of excellence.
Write Goals
Have you taken the time to write the goals and steps you will take to achieve them? Even if you have not written your goals for the new year.Take the time as part of your self-care. Spend a few hours mapping out goals for the New Year. Be excited about challenging yourself in several areas. Yet, while you plan, know that your future rests with the One who holds the master plan, so I must always start and end with Him”.
So I am asking you and I am challenging myself too, what three goals have you set for this year and what actions will you take to achieve them?
Now, if you haven’t written your goals or have taken no steps to achieve them, forget the past. Read the second quote at the very top of this page. Begin right now praying and thinking about writing your goals for the year. There is still time. Take the time to seek God’s face first, pray, and meditate on the Word. Listen to what He states to you and write it down. If you aim at nothing, you will hit it every time!”
A goal is a target, the desired end of our efforts. Paul talks about pressing toward the mark in Philippians 3:14. Having a goal doesn’t always mean hitting the target—but it means getting closer than you would have if you hadn’t had a goal at all. Someone once said, “It is better to aim for a star and hit a mountain than to aim for a mud puddle and hit it every time.” See Cynthia Bezek, “What are Your Spiritual Goals? July|Aug 2000 issue Pray! Magazine.
The Bible encourages us to write our goals. Isaiah 32:8 says, “The noble man makes noble plans.” Proverbs 16:3 promises, “Commit to the Lord whatever you do, and your plans will succeed.” We should have dreams and set goals to reach the dreams, but remember that God holds the authority to say “yea” or “nay”-veto power: “Many are the plans in a man’s heart, but it is the Lord’s purpose that prevails”. (Proverbs 19:2)
“Seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness and all these things (temporal things, that is) will be added to you” (Matthew. 6:33).
Some of your goals could be to get out of debt, manage your time wisely, to exercise twice a week or to start a new business. However, one of our first goals should be to seek a closer relationship with God. Start praying and writing.
Call To Action: I challenge you to:
1. Get a journal to write the goals in or a loose-leaf notebook and divide the notebook under the relevant categories. As Habakkuk 2: 1-4 records, we should “write the vision and make it plain…” so that “…he may run who reads it.”
2. Freelance writer, online columnist and former stay at home mom for 15 years, Patricia Chadwick, suggests that you get away by yourself for a day in order to really think about the goals you want to set for you and your family with no distractions. Alternatively, establish 2 or 3 hour sessions until you complete your assignment if you cannot do this for a day. Turn off the phone and television. Do not go on the Internet–especially Facebook. To set her goals, she uses a loose-leaf notebook with a yearly calendar in it and breaks the notebook into 12 categories.
Next week I will provide more suggestions:
Linda D. Fegins, “The Courage Catalyst”
Ldfaygo@gmail.com
Lindafegins.com