Prepare for Change

“For I am about to do something new. See, I have already begun! Do you not see it? I will make a pathway through the wilderness. I will create rivers in the dry wasteland.” Isaiah 43:19 NLT

 Do you ever feel like you are on the verge of a major change, even though you can’t explain what that change will be? Right now, Tom and I are preparing for a bucket-list trip to Alaska. But I know that this trip is more than just a bucket-list experience. For us, it is a buffer between what has been and what will be. In some ways, the time away will be preparation for the changes ahead. The future is unclear, but I believe God is going to do something in us as we experience the beauty of His creation and step away from our daily life so we will be ready for it.

Part of the preparation has been research and pre-trip purchases so that we can be ready for what we will experience there. Like waterproof shoes! Evidently, it rains a lot. But as I have been getting ready for this long-held desire, I found myself feeling anxious. That’s not what I want.

As I asked myself and God what the source of that anxiety was, I realized the anxiety stemmed from a fear of not being ready for something I didn’t anticipate. How can you be ready for what you don’t know?  A few years ago, God revealed the root of that fear, so now I am more aware of it. I expect myself to just know things that actually need to be learned. That’s a pretty high expectation and completely unrealistic, right? None of us knows the future. We have to live it and learn as we go.

Once I was aware of the root of the anxiety, I had to decide on a realistic reason to prepare. This is what I settled on: The purpose of preparing for the trip, the purchases we make, or any other pre-trip decisions, is to enhance our ability to enjoy it so that we can connect with God and each other. Not to anticipate things I don’t know about. Does that make sense to you?

What are you preparing for, and what motivates you?

To be prepared is to be ready for whatever happens. We prepare outwardly for things we anticipate as possibilities. For our trip, that might be purchasing needed items, having a first-aid kit, or having a backup plan in case weather conditions are unfavorable. You get the idea. We don’t know what will happen, but those are things we know might happen.

We also prepare inwardly, like getting perspective on how to approach an experience. For example, deciding that the reason to prepare is to enhance our experience on the trip.

One way I am preparing for the trip is to practice combatting those anxious thoughts with truth. When I feel that anxiety rising up, I tell myself that God will work everything together for good, no matter what happens, because I love Him and am called according to His purpose. (Romans 8:28)

What preparation steps do you need to take for what is happening in your life right now?

Preparing for change requires introspection. I hadn’t expected this part of the process. But I have discovered that I must allow God to search my heart as I get ready for this change. As I do, there are things He brings to light.

I must let go of every hindrance (Hebrews 12: 1-2). I must prepare practically. (Proverbs 24:27) Above all, I must be willing to do whatever God asks. No part of life is outside His jurisdiction, even a bucket-list trip.

I’ve heard it said that the key to hearing God’s voice is to be willing to do whatever He says. That requires letting go of my expectations and imaginations. I need to let God paint the picture. When He is doing something new, the tendency is to try to fill in the details and the colors. Let Him sketch it. As you begin to recognize the outlines, resist the tendency to fill in the colors.

I can imagine the trip. I know the itinerary, the sketch, if you will. But the colors will only be filled in as I experience it. The same is true for whatever change you are anticipating.

Preparing for change means letting go of the past and looking with expectant eyes and open hands towards the future. That is the bottom line, my friend. Let God paint the picture. Let God fill your hands. What He has is so much more than you can ask, think, or imagine. (Ephesians 3:20)

 Key Question: How do you prepare for change?

A Scripture to Consider: “For I am about to do something new. See, I have already begun! Do you not see it? I will make a pathway through the wilderness. I will create rivers in the dry wasteland.” Isaiah 43:19 NLT

A YES Challenge: Set a timer for two minutes and sit silently before the Lord. What thoughts rise to the top? What might God want to say to you about those things?  

Prayer: Lord, when I consider the future, sometimes I am excited, and sometimes I feel anxious. I want to be ready for whatever You have for me. Guide me to the practical things I can do to be ready for the change You are preparing me for. Show me what I need to adjust inwardly to have a proper perspective. There is so much I don’t know. Help me be ready by trusting that You hold it all in Your hand and are working things together for good because I am Yours, You love me, and will fulfill Your purpose for me. Amen.

Check out my book The YES Adventure: Transform Your Life with One Word for encouragement, inspiration, and more about God-centered goal-setting. Please leave a review on Amazon! That will help other people find the book and receive guidance and encouragement in their God-centered goal setting.

If you are stuck and would like a partner to help you process your next step, I’d love to help. Schedule a 30-minute complimentary coaching session here.

Change With Intention

“And so, dear brothers and sisters, I plead with you to give your bodies to God because of all he has done for you. Let them be a living and holy sacrifice—the kind he will find acceptable. This is truly the way to worship him. Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn to know God’s will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect.” Romans 12:1-2 NLT

When you look back at the early part of this year, are you content with the progress you’ve made? If so, it is time to celebrate. Don’t forget to do that! Celebration is an important part of reaching your goals and motivates you to keep moving forward.

But if you are not pleased with your progress, it is not too late. You can take stock of where you are and start now to change your outcomes. You can make a fresh start right now.

So, what elements are part of making a fresh start now? How do you know you are on the right track?

A fresh start must happen intentionally. Change is always happening. It’s true that you can’t get away from change. Your cells are replenishing without your awareness. Your body is processing energy from your food without your awareness. Your car is deteriorating daily. Suddenly, the child in your life is taller than you. In the spring, all that snow finally melts, and the trees start to leaf out. If you don’t pay attention to the trees, all of a sudden, you see the leaves have returned! You get the picture. Change will happen with or without your intention. However, a fresh start requires intention. Purposeful change only happens when you decide to change.

You can intentionally change much about yourself. You can change your attitudes and behaviors. You can change on the outside. That kind of change is easier than the change you want on the inside. Internal change starts with introspection and decision.

New behavior begins with new thinking. You can’t develop new behaviors without recognizing your current behavior. And you can’t change the way you act without recognizing how you think. You live according to patterns, whether you acknowledge them or not. To develop new patterns, you must identify the old ones. The old ones are rooted in patterns of thought that become patterns of behavior. That kind of change is only possible as you slow down and consider. Take a hard look at yourself now, so you can become the person you desire to become in the future.

I have been wrestling with some thinking patterns recently. I haven’t gotten to the root yet, but I am wrestling through it with Jesus. He knows me inside and out. He understands what motivates the thinking that leads to anxiety and fear-based behaviors. I am not out of the woods on this yet. One thing I am doing to combat these thinking patterns is to counter them with scriptural truth. Even though I may not fully understand why I respond the way I do, I recognize that it’s not God’s best for me. I may fear failure, but the truth is God is with me to strengthen me and help me in difficult situations. (Isaiah 41:10) Things may not turn out as planned, but God works all things together for good because I love Him and am called according to His purpose. (Romans 8:28) Over time, my thinking pattern will change, leading to a better behavior pattern.  

Here are some things to consider as you evaluate how you want to change.

What to examine when you want a fresh start:

• Attitudes – How are you thinking about your daily life? What is your self-talk?

• Habits – What are you doing regularly? Are those habits serving you well? What do you need to adjust?

• Relationships – How do you approach your closest relationships? Do you give them proper attention? Do you have healthy boundaries? Are there any relationships that draw you away from God and His purposes for you?

• Commitments – What are you committed to outside your home? Are those commitments leading you closer to God and deeper relationships with others?  

Dear friend, you can’t change what you do not recognize. You must know where you are to change your direction and head where you want to go. As you intentionally stop, evaluate your thinking, and change your behavior, you can begin to progress toward your desired destination. Ultimately, a fresh start is about developing your character. Thoughts lead to actions lead to patterns lead to character. Character is what other people see when they see you. You want to look more like Jesus. You want to become a better representative of His Kingdom. So, take the time to stop, review your thought patterns, and let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think.(Romans 12:2) As you do, your behavior will change, and you will become the person you desire.

It takes time, my friend. It doesn’t just happen, but it will happen.

Key Question: How do I make a fresh start?

A Scripture to Consider: “And so, dear brothers and sisters, I plead with you to give your bodies to God because of all he has done for you. Let them be a living and holy sacrifice—the kind he will find acceptable. This is truly the way to worship him. Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn to know God’s will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect.” Romans 12:1-2 NLT

A YES Challenge: Open a digital document or a blank page in your journal. List areas you want to examine for current behavior patterns. Sit with each of those areas and prayerfully consider your current patterns. Write down what you want to change and why. Note what new behavior or attitude you want to develop and the actions you will take to change. Give yourself plenty of time for this process. Pray over one area you want God to change and let Him show you where to change your thinking so that you can change your behavior.

Prayer: Father, I see so much in me that needs to change so I can become the person I know You want me to be. At times, I am overwhelmed. I can’t change on my own. I need You. Guide me as I consider my current patterns. Show me what You want to change and lead me into the new behaviors that will better represent You. My life is Yours. Amen.

Check out my book The YES Adventure: Transform Your Life with One Word for encouragement, inspiration, and more about God-centered goal-setting. Please leave a review on Amazon! That will help other people find the book and receive guidance and encouragement in their God-centered goal setting.

If you are stuck and would like a partner to help you process your next step, I’d love to help. Schedule a 30-minute complimentary coaching session here.

My Shepherd, And Yours

Psalm 23

 Because the Lord Himself is my Shepherd. I will always have all that is essential for my life.

He brings me to places of abundance and peace. He soothes my inner struggles and renews the hope of my heart.

He leads me to walk in the paths that please Him. He guides me to go in the way that honors Him because He calls me His.

When my path unavoidably passes through the evils of earthly life and the darkness of death dims the way ahead, my heart is at rest because I know You are present in the pain. You comfort me with your correction. You lead me within the loving limits of Your long-proven pathways.

You provide a banquet of blessings that confounds my evil enemy. You call me Your chosen and pour out your empowerment.

Certainly, Your faithful goodness will surround and seek me wherever I go for as long as I live. I will delight in Your dwelling and reside in Your residence for all time.

 Originally posted August 14, 2022

Why Rest Matters for Reaching Your Goals

“The Lord is my shepherd; I have all that I need.” Psalms 23:1 NLT

 Rest matters. If you are not carving out time to take care of yourself, it is time to start. And I mean NOW! If you are like me, you wear multiple hats. Whether you are a mom, dad, pastor, CEO, or grocery store clerk, or all of the above, you function in more than one way. You serve others in a variety of ways, whether you recognize it or not. Every task you have on your never-ending to-do list serves someone. It could be your family, your company, or your church, but other people are reaping the benefits of your actions.

If you don’t take care of yourself, you have nothing to give anyone else. You will run out of energy and concentration. What are you doing to rest and replenish?

God initiated the Sabbath for His people after 400 years of slavery, working every day with no rest. He told the prophet Elijah, the disciples, and others in the Bible to come apart and rest. Why would He expect anything else for you and me?

 So, why is rest important for fulfilling God’s purposes for you?

 Rest results from following His guidance. When you and I are so busy trying to come up with a plan, we expend a ton of energy and, whether we recognize it or not, we operate with a measure of anxiety. Consciously or unconsciously, being unsure of what is next prevents us from truly resting and relaxing.

If you are a responsible person, and I know you are, you don’t want to be unproductive. You want to feel like you are making a difference. So, your brain is almost always busy because you feel responsible for outcomes. You feel like you have to figure everything out. But you don’t.

Because the Lord is your shepherd, He is prepared to guide you. He wants to guide you. He wants to take care of you. He’s got the plan and you don’t need to figure it out. That is rest. Knowing that He’s got the plan leads you to internal rest.   

Rest leads to restoration. Restoration only happens in the place of rest. To be restored is to be brought back, returned to a place or condition. A woodworker cannot restore a table that is prepared for a family dinner. The dishes, food, and other items must be removed, and the family must dine somewhere else. Then the craftsman may begin his work.

While our house was being renovated, we lived with my sister for five months.  Was that a place of rest? Maybe not so much for us, but it was for the house! The house had not been cared for and could not be a place of rest for us until its restoration was complete.  Staying in the house would have prevented the contractor from doing the work. We had to remove ourselves so that restoration could happen.

We envisioned some simple, quick cleanups that would allow us to move in after a relatively short period of time. Our contractor envisioned a house that was completely new on the inside. It was inconvenient. It took longer than we wanted, but it was completely worth it. Because we “rested” from living in the house and the house “rested” from having people live in it, we have a beautiful home that provides us with a place of rest. 

Where do you need to be restored? If you are busy doing, there is no room for restoration.

Rest leads to replenishment. When you rest, you are refilled. You end up with more to give. And if you make this a regular practice, you will have more than enough.  Restoration leads to overflow. Overflow is what we give to others. When we have all we need and more, we have enough to share with the people we interact with.

If I don’t rest, I get grumpy and emotional. What about you? When I do rest, I become filled with peace, and that is what overflows to the people around me. I know peace is not my natural state. I may seem pretty even on the outside, but inside my mind is always busy. Learning to slow down and let my mind and spirit rest is what leads to an overflow of peace. I am still working on this. Believe me!

 So, my friend, are you ready to stop trying to figure it all out and let Him lead you to rest? Do you long for the restoration that only happens in a time of rest? Do you need more? When you rest, you allow restoration to happen, and that leads to more progress on reaching your goals. You’ll also be able to better serve the people around you and knock out more of those to-do items. Isn’t that work planning some rest?

 Key Question: Why is rest an important part of fulfilling God’s purpose for you?

A Scripture to Consider: “The Lord is my shepherd; I have all that I need.” Psalms 23:1 NLT

A YES Challenge: Honestly evaluate your self-care practices. Decide when and how you will rest and replenish yourself. Make that evaluation a weekly practice as you review your schedule.  

Prayer: Father, I want to serve You, my family, and other people well. It’s easy for me to get focused on doing for others and forget that taking care of myself is not selfish. When I refresh and replenish myself, I can serve those around me from a full tank rather than an empty one. Show me how to do this intentionally. When I serve from a place of rest I honor You and that is my highest goal. Amen.