An Anchor for Change

God’s Hand

Today I want to talk about change. The only constant is change. Circumstances don’t remain the same. They change, for better or for worse. However, they do change. When I reflect on my life, I see major changes and minor changes. My question is how much impact do you want to have when the changes occur?

When we make choices in our lives, do we make them with regard to changes that may occur? I have pondered change for myself. My heart’s direction is to impact my faith. Change it for the better. Strengthen it and grow it. Why? Because my faith will see me through when the changes come that are out of my control.

My faith helps me with the loss of family, friends and other things that impact me. My faith in God is the rock that anchors my soul. I have discovered that I can get through anything that occurs with God at the helm. It is not my intent to make it seem like it is so easy. Faith in God takes surrender and consistency, no matter what it looks like. I would like to add to the point that some may say that it is better to have control of everything by your own standards. That may seem to work for a while, however, things will change. When things are out of your control, what is your anchor? What do you hold on to when no matter what you attempt to do isn’t working out the way you want it to?

My faith in God is through the Son of God, the Lord Jesus Christ. He is my Savior and my Lord. Is everything down pat? Of course not. I will say that is my direction though. This journey of life is not easy, sometimes not even clear. However, through it all, God says He will never leave us nor forsake us. God gave His one and only Son so that this life of mine would be better. And, not only this life but the next one in eternity. What is your anchor?

Resignation Tendered

Whether there are sunny days or cloudy days or both together, God has everyday in His hands.

Happy New Year! to all my readers. Hope this year brings you peace; the peace of Jesus as well as all the blessings He has for you. My hope is even more in Jesus because He brought me into another year with health, sanity, family and friends as well as purpose.

I wanted to share with you something I read that reached out to me. Hence, the title of this post. This statement was shared in a devotional by Andrea Chatelain from YouVersion (Trust Me). The statement is not exact but the point was made. “I resign from the self-made post of control freak and trust God to lead no matter the consequences.” Each level we attain in this journey requires this commitment. My resignation is now tendered. God through Christ Jesus my Lord is my rock, my strength, my hope, and my life. Not saying I don’t miss the mark sometimes but I press on towards the hope of His calling.

This sentence hit home. As we continue on this journey, acceptance is required that we are not in control. Truly, good success comes from the Lord. Whether we are looking for success in our families, our marriages, our businesses or relationships in general. I read this yesterday, 01/01/23. It resonated so that I will have a reminder in several places. When things are not going as I plan, I will have reminders to adjust my perspective.

Jeremiah 29:11 – “For I know the plans I have for you,” says the Lord. “They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope.” (NLT)

God truly wants the best for us. The hope and goal for 2023 is that this Scripture becomes even more of an anchor than it already is for me. My encouragement today is that you develop your relationship with the Lord Jesus Christ. As the past several years have gone by, we see the chaos the world brings. Personally, I will take the peace of Jesus since I am not in control of anything but my responses.

No matter how cloudy, He still knows. Trust Him!

John 14:27 – I am leaving you with a gift-peace of mind and heart. And the peace I give is a gift the world cannot give. So don’t be troubled or afraid.” (NLT)

Blessed and prosperous New Year to all!

Acceptance

Serenity

“God grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change, the courage to change the things I can, and the wisdom to know the difference.” The Serenity Prayer

This part of the Serenity Prayer speaks directly to me. Accepting what I cannot change puts me in a place to see what I can change. We cannot change others. We inspire them to change themselves (allowing the transformative power of God to move) as we model what that looks like. It is a part of growth that is necessary because it clears our perspective and allows us to move forward. I truly believe that transformative change comes from God because it begins with humility.

1 Peter 5:6 – “Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God so that at the proper time He may exalt you,”

God’s Hand

Surrendering to God that He is the omnipotent power is the beginning; accepting that we cannot change anyone but ourselves. Yet, we need His mercy and grace even for that part.

Once you have a clear perspective, you can then ask Him for the courage or power to change the things you can. What does that look like in your life? We all have areas in which we move for change. I only know what that looks like in my life. You know what that looks like in yours. God knows what that looks like for everyone. The Word of God tells us do not fear but be of good courage. He was clear in speaking to Joshua, telling him not to fear but be of good courage.

Joshua 1:9 – “Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be frightened, and do not be dismayed for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.”

The Word tells us that He has given us a spirit of love, power, and a sound mind. We can move for change because God is faithful to His Word.

Last, but certainly not least, we need to move in wisdom. God’s Word tells us that:

James 1:5 – “If any man lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given him.”

True wisdom comes from God. He is the all-powerful, all-knowing, present everywhere God. This prayer speaks truly to who God is on this journey. I would say that speaking this prayer out loud everyday moves us out of the way for Him to do what only He can do. Change us for His glory.

He died for me.

Don’t Become Weary in Well-Doing

I want to encourage all my readers today with Galatians 6:9 – “And let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap eternal life.” This Scripture is very important for a believer because we have hope. Our souls are eternal and we must keep our eyes on doing well. God knows that we sometimes get tired. That is when you ask for His strength to keep going, His courage. The Scripture does say not by power, nor by might but by His Spirit.

The Journey – Stay in the Faith Lane

This journey is not easy. However, nothing is impossible with God. 1 Corinthians 15:58 – “Therefore, my beloved brothers, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that in the Lord, your labor is not in vain.”

As we help others out of a pure heart, we must keep our eyes on Jesus. His word is a lamp to our feet and a light to our path. God says He will never leave us nor forsake us. No matter what you are going through, He is with us. We will face trials and tribulations. We are overcomers. We have the victory through Christ Jesus our Lord.

As we walk in victory, we share our journey of faith and encourage others. I just wanted to speak into your spirit today with the truth of God’s word. No matter what it looks like, God is still in control.

Navigating

Keep moving ahead!

My hope and prayer for anyone reading this post is that you are doing well. I wanted to talk about navigating. Typically refers to steering ourselves in a particular direction or plotting our course. In driving, most of us use an app to help us get where we want to go.

I am navigating this new course God has me on, life coaching. Yes, I do have an app, God. I just wanted to say that navigating new direction is about taking one day at a time. It didn’t start yesterday, however, and that is why it’s one day at a time. Gathering momentum, clarity, focus and consistency in the new direction takes time.

For anyone out there going in a new direction, don’t quit. Breathe, pray, and keep going. Short but sweet and hopefully helpful in your thought process. I must add a last but not least note that all of it is only by His grace.

Have a blessed week!

Today’s Thoughts

Just wanted to share today how awesome it is to have a relationship with the Lord. On this coaching journey, I find that we need our own answers just like our clients need theirs. Having this authentic relationship with the Lord is critical.

God gave me an answer to a question about my own behavior. I had my own version of the answer. In reflection, I found that although my answer was part of the negative behavior, it wasn’t the whole answer. The answer God gave me was directly related to words spoken in my life as a young person and adolescent. God’s answer let me see a part of me that I had missed. The words we speak are life altering, good or bad.

I will say that God gives the truth about ourselves and sometimes that’s buried deep. “Call to me and I will answer you and tell you great and unsearchable things you do not know.” Jeremiah 33:3

Call to God and He will answer you.