You Are Just Getting Started!

How many of you started the New Year off motivated to change? Were you motivated to set new goals and actually meet them? Were you motivated to create a vision board? What motto did you adopt for 2018? Perhaps it was “New Year, New Me”; “Out with the Old, in with the New”; “No New Friends in 2018”; or “Debt Freedom in 2018”. Maybe you have a list of the top 10 things you will do in 2018. 

I personally did not start the year off with a New Year’s Resolution, a Motto or a Vision Board. Our church had Sunday morning service, so it was my first New Year’s Eve at home, in my bed, in 14 years. On January 1st I woke up and said, “Lord I just want to take this year day-by-day.” It was weird and freeing at the same time. If you read my last blog, you know I am reading Reset by Bob Sorge. While reading this book, taking it day-by-day, the Lord has been speaking to me. The last two days in the book are “Day 19 –Endure” and “Day 20-Grow”. All I could think was, “I am just getting started"!

This message is for the person who completed their 2018 Vision Board in August of 2017 and for the person with the Vision Board still sitting empty in the corner. This is for the person with 10 items already checked off on their New Year’s list and for the person still working on #1. This is for the person whose family activities are planned out for 2018 and for the person taking it day-by-day. YOU ARE JUST GETTING STARTED!

Do not count yourself out of the race because you do not have a list yet, and do not count yourself out of the race because your “list” is not happening as planned. If your New Year’s Motto is “No New Friends in 2018”, change it! Do not miss your blessings. (Just saying J) 

Press into God no matter where you are. We can do nothing without Him (John 15:5). As you press into God, you will birth vision. Cast down every vain imagination that exalts itself higher than the knowledge of Christ. Take those negative thoughts captive and obey Christ. (2 Corinthians 10:5) He will equip you with everything you need! YOU ARE JUST GETTING STARTED!

  

I have been encouraged by Rebecca Barlow Jordon Prayers for strength found at https://www.crosswalk.com/faith/prayer/prayers/a-prayer-for-strength.html

Lord, I’m weary. My energy is sagging, and my motivation is lagging. And I am so in need of you. I need your strength and your fresh touch to get back on track again. Your Word says the joy of the Lord is my strength. If that's true, then I need your joy to replace all the bone-tired parts of my mind, body, and soul.

The pressures of life sometimes push me into a corner, rendering me helpless to move forward. A hundred voices call my name, and I feel paralyzed at times to answer, not knowing where to turn. Lord, help me not to quit, to keep running the race faithfully, and to find strength in that safe, secret place of yours, under the shadow of the Almighty.

I need your strength to say no when I'm tempted to surrender to harmful things, or when selfishness clings to my clothes and won't let go. I need your strength to say yes, when cowardice and fear nudge me to deny the convictions of my heart. I need your strength to reach out in love to those both close to me and all around me. When don't I need your strength, God?

You are my rock, and I run to you today, believing that you will lift up my heavy arms, that you will fuel me for the tasks you've given me, and that your joy will completely consume the weakness of my life and make me strong again. I don't want to stay grounded, crippled by limitations and failed attempts. I'm tired of feeble efforts. Lord, I want to mount up with wings like an eagle and not just fly. I want to soar.

Renew my strength, Lord. Fill me with your supernatural power to overcome each obstacle in my path. With my eyes on you, Lord, with you walking beside me, working through me, I can make it. 

Thank you, Lord! In Jesus's name, Amen

RESET 2018

 My church here in Clayton, NC is reading Reset: 20 Ways to a Consistent Prayer Life by Bob Sorge. As I started the book, I prayed one simple prayer: “Lord I know I need a reset. I know I need you. I know I want you. I know that I can do nothing without you. Let this book be a tool to help me make the time for you EVERYDAY!”

On day one I had this conversation with the Holy Spirit: (It went something like this) 

Me: I know how to pray but my prayer life is stronger in some seasons and weaker in others.

HIM: That is not the point of reading this small orange book. Tiffany you make a lot of life altering decisions on your own without really sitting and talking to me.

Me: WHAT??? I’m confused. What decisions have I made without asking you Lord? (Even tho I already knew the answer.)

HIM: It’s not that you did not ask, but you do not always wait for my answer. Do you come to me with the Word in your hand so I can guide you? I will answer you through my Word. When you’re weary, do you come to me? When things seem to be going great, do you make personal time for me?

As I sat and talked with the Holy Spirit, one of my life scriptures came to mind. 1 Corinthians 9:26-27 “Therefore I run thus: not with uncertainty. Thus I fight: not as one who beats the air. But I discipline my body and bring it into subjection lest when I have preached to others, I myself should become disqualified.” The Lord was telling me I needed discipline in the place of prayer, fasting and reading the Word. Nothing new but a reminder!

Disqualified means to pronounce someone ineligible for an office, activity, or competition because of an offense or infringement.

An offense is an annoyance or resentment brought about by a perceived insult to or disregard for oneself or one's standards or principles.

An Infringement is the action of breaking the terms of a law, agreement, etc.; violation. It is the action of limiting or undermining something.

This type of discipline will keep us from bringing insult to the Gospel. It will keep us from disregarding our standards concerning holiness and righteousness. We should discipline ourselves because people are watching. People are looking for the truth. This type of discipline will help us to repent quickly. It will keep us from walking in continual and habitual sin. This type of discipline will bear fruit of love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control in our everyday lives.

I am hitting reset because I have found myself living life based on how I feel. I am hitting reset because we are in evil times and I want to be hidden in Christ Jesus! I want to be “woke” not the world’s “woke” but I want to be “woke” in Christ Jesus! “Therefore gird up the loins of your mind, be sober.” (1 Peter 1:13) I want to find rest for my soul vs. looking for rest in worldly standards. “Truly my soul finds rest in God, my salvation come from Him.” (Ps 62:1) I want the Word of God to be alive and active in my life! I refuse to allow the enemy to choke the Word of the Lord from my mind and heart. “Those by the wayside are the ones who hear; then the devil comes and takes away the word out of their hearts, lest they should believe and be saved.” (Luke 8:12) I am hitting reset because now is the time for the Word of the Lord to reign! The world is looking for hope. True hope is found in Christ and His Word given to lead and guide us! “For whatever things were written before were written for our learning that we through the patience and comfort of the Scriptures might have hope.” (Romans 15:4)

Your reset may not come by reading Bob Sorge’s book. But find a biblical tool to guide you. We need to reset our mind on things above and not on things below. We need to reset our gaze on a Holy God who saved us from sin. No matter where you find yourself in life, the Lord is calling you. He desires to fellowship with us. He wants us to find strength in Him. He wants us to create a habit of meeting Him in the secret place. Will you answer His invitation?

Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and dine with him, and he with Me. (Revelation 3:20)

Let’s all hit the reset button! Let’s turn our desires towards the Father!

One thing I have desired of the Lord, that will I seek:that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life, to behold the beauty of the Lord, and to inquire in His temple. (Psalm 27:4)

If you are interested in doing the book by Bob Sorge check out www.PrayerReset.com