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Ladies, I am fighting through each day so far in January. I have hopes and visions for 2020. I believe these are God-given dreams, but they are going to take complete surrender and hard work.
How about you? Are you working towards better? Better choices, better attitude, better relationships. I pray these 20 truths will keep you climbing and encourage your sweet soul to fight the good fight for 2020. These are statements I am preaching to myself! Maybe, they will help you too. Some of the quotes are not new or mine, but hopefully they are a great reminder.
To quote Marilyn Nestle, ‘eat less and move more.’ (Sorry, I just had to go there, didn’t I? 🙂 ) But honestly, as we step into the new year, now is an excellent time for our self-evaluation. There are the right decisions we can make as we turn the excellent decisions into great habits. These habits will lead us to better health. Let’s take good care of the temple we have been given. “Do you not know that your bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; you were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your bodies.” 1 Corinthians 6:19-20 (NIV)
Love others deeply for love covers a multitude of sins. 1 Peter 4:8 reads, “Above all, love each other deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sins.” Trust me; we are probably going to offend someone, hurt a family member, break a heart, say something we did not mean within the next year. However, when the person offended knows you care about them and love them deeply, your love will often cover the hurt. You can ask for forgiveness, and move forward.
Find your tribe, and invest in your tribe because God never intended for us to do life alone. Find your tribe of like-minded friends. Encourage each other and do life together. Your people will make you stronger. They will hold you accountable and encourage you when life is hard. One of my favorites verses on friendships is Ecclesiastes 4:9-10 (NIV) “Two are better than one, because they have a good return for their labor, if either of them falls down, one can help the other up. But pity anyone who falls and has no one to help them up.”
Pray like it is your only hope because it is. Prayer gives power when you are running low. Prayer gives peace when you have none. Prayer unleashes God to change you, mold you into what He wants you to be. Prayer sets us free. Prayer changes the hearts around you. Prayer is the answer. This quote is humbling to me, but Martin Luther King said, “I am too busy today not to spend the first three hours in prayer.” I am not telling you to spend three hours of your day in prayer. I am suggesting that we pray like it is our only hope, because it is.
Be Happy, because happy looks good on you. (Author Unknown) Some things do not look good on me, and I know it. Therefore, I tend to avoid it. Clothes that hug my belly are not pretty. Consequently, you will rarely catch me in a tight-fitting belly hugging shirt. Trust me. I am doing us all a favor. But a smile always looks good on me. It crosses language barriers. It encourages another. Choose to be happy, because it always looks good on you too, I promise.
Make brave choices because it is beautifully contagious. As others watch your life, they will see your victories and want the same. Live courageously, so those coming behind you can choose to be courageous. It is contagious.
“Plan your work and work your plan,” as my daddy says. Create small and attainable steps to get to your goal. Be steady, and work your plan. Adjust when necessary, but keep moving forward.
Let every decision be a holy experience. Our Lord wants to direct and encourage us. He has the answers. Seek His guidance. Allow your decisions to become a holy experience. “Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.” Proverbs 3:5-6 (KJV)
Never forget that God forgives again and again. As I make mistakes, I am so grateful for a loving Father that always forgives. He loves me and you, He forgives us. No need to beat ourselves up. No need to lose your confidence. God will forgive you, so forgive yourself. I John 1:9 (NIV) “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.
Do the thing! The thing! You know, that one thing deep within that you wish you were brave enough to try. The thing that when you come to the end of your life, you will regret, if you don’t try it. No regrets ladies, Just Do the thing.
Let’s continue with each step until we reach the end of 2020! Keep moving with your hard work and complete surrender. Like the old song, I know “the best is yet to come.”
And my sweet friends, I will meet you at the finish line.