Having recorded new beginnings from
the time this girl could write, there is quite the repertoire of stories to
share about life. In fact, subsequent years have presented an array of
additional new beginnings.
Most label these as a New Year's Resolution. Experience
has taught that a resolve to do something has an element of procrastination
attached. A new beginning is a statement of fact. It is the
start of something already in existence. In thought or deed, something has
started to move toward the mark of achievement. "For as he thinketh in his heart, so is he.” Proverbs 23:7
This verse is the sum total of why we dream and then why we
despair; why we get excited about ideas we would love to see synthesize,
yet a year later, or two, or five, or a decade, and our position has not
changed. Figuratively, we stare down the dream tunnel, defeated, disarmed, and
unproductive.
Have you ever considered that your dreams may be a camouflage for
what really is self-gratification? It has its place. After being awake for eighteen
hours, self-gratification with sleep is a good thing.
At which point have you or
would you invite God, the Author, and Finisher of the Believer’s faith, to mastermind,
and in fact, give you the ‘how to’ on living out your dreams? Formed, as we most definitely are, in the
image of God, as a visionary, He has imparted dreams and He has the tools that
will equip us for success.
In
fact, the heart of the problem is more often a problem with the heart.
In the Bible, Genesis is the
book of new beginnings. It records the beginning of the heavens, earth, plants,
animals, and human life. In addition, it records new beginnings in all human
institutions and relationships. Typically, it speaks of the new birth, the new
creation, where all was chaos and ruin.
The problem with new beginnings
is the problem of man’s sin, as affecting man’s condition on this earth, and
his relationship to God. The Divine solutions of that problem, are here in
essence. Our behavior is not new. Reflected in the garden long ago, we must
acknowledge a propensity to follow our own desires and lusts.
In discipling other women;
under the canopy of their strongholds and patterns of thinking, rather than a
focus on past failures, with proven principles, they are shown how to shift
their thinking onto new beginnings. Do not spin on your tail of regrets. There
comes a point at which you must cut the tail off and move on.
A new beginning for 2012 is to
read the Bible in three months. A plan devised to reach this goal by achievable
increments along the way, will ensure productivity and arrival at the finish
line. In order to read your Bible in three months, one must embrace it by reading
twelve chapters a day. Having read the Bible many times over, it has always
taken a year to do so. This new beginning is exciting! Being fed chunks of Scripture is very nourishing to the soul.
The motive behind this new
beginning is a desire for the blessings of God on my life. “Blessed is he that readeth,” Revelation 1:3 this verse is not
restricted to Bible prophesies on Christ’s return. It is applicable to our
whole lives, that is, in our mind and memory, in our affection and practice, we
must adhere to the truth, whatever trials, and temptations it may expose.
In light of what is taught to
those under my personal influence, withstanding as I practice and apply these
principles to my own life; a move toward righteousness will procure growth in
many areas. In addition, when we open the living, breathing Word of God with the
purpose of seeking Him and a motive to live a righteous life; we are empowered
with the tools of wisdom and understanding; for our
marriage, family, business, finances, relationships, and future decisions.
You cannot
lose when you live on the winning side.
Upon hearing women say, “I was going so well and now this happened.”
Stuff happens. Remain flexible in your attitude to allow diversion however, not
to allow distractions to take root and sabotage your goal. Have a motto – “No Excuses!” Then there is this statement, “What’s the use? This will never change!”
With that attitude, no it will not.
Change has begun the moment you
decide.
If you would allow the use of a
metaphor, if you get off track, do not park your truck, and walk away. Flat
tires in the form of negative thinking must find a source of fresh air. Pump
the Word of God into your thinking and start your engine up. Then get back on
the road. If you lose focus for a day, do not revisit it tomorrow. In fear and
regret, get with it! This is a new beginning. Do not wait for the motivation to
do right. Do right and the motivation will follow.
Remind yourself, you are
driving away from old ways in the form of old patterns of thinking and old
patterns of negative talk and thoughts. The car is under your control. Keep
reading the roadmap, which in case you do not have it yet, is the roadmap for
life – God’s Word. It is life changing. Our testimony validates our statements,
not the least, what is demonstrated in my own life. There were areas that needed to be changed and that I was very well aware of. There were areas that I was totally unaware of, until God shone the light of truth onto the condition of my heart. The need to align ourselves with
God’s ways and thinking is a motion in progress. It never ends!
We are as busy as the next person
is and there is no excuse for not making time to read the Bible. Excuses come
in many forms. If you always do what you have always done, you will always get
what you have always had.
As Christian women, we are to
embrace truth and apply it to every area of our lives. Not forgetting, when we
have dreams, Satan uses the same strategy to steal the ideal, as he used in the
garden with Eve. He does not want what is best for us. In fact, he wants to
procure defeat and disgust.
Ideally, when the serpent
approached Eve, it would have been in her best interest (and ours), if she were
to have turned to her authority and said, “Adam
Darling. Did you hear what that jerk said?”
The reality is, that we all have the propensity to get off track and run things in our own steam. Steam
has its purpose but it usually runs out. The wrong turns in our life are in the
form of these five signposts; distractions, disappointments, despair, dishonesty,
and disobedience. Signposts come in many forms but nonetheless, they are
diversions.
No one beguiles thoughts, but I.
Stop allowing your stinking thinking to cheat you out of achieving your goals.
The moment we stop shifting blame and take the steering wheel of our decisions,
God will compliment, and in fact, complete what He has begun.
We are all a work in progress.
Learn yourself!
"Being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ:" Philippians 1:6
He loves you and believes in
you. Moreover, I do!
Deborah
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