So that's a wrap for 2021! This past year was not the easiest or the smoothest year. I was tested more than ever. I lost a lot, but I also won a lot; I failed, cried, learned, laughed, and loved, but most importantly, I did not BREAK! I'm Still Here, STRONGER and WISER! That, my friend, is something to celebrate! So, as I close one year, I'm excited to open a new one. I have visions of the most advanced version of myself. And that's exactly who I want to be like. I am my muse and inspiration. As I move from 2021 to 2022, I have learned that consistency is the next step toward becoming this version of myself.
After much thought and prayer, I have decided that 2022 will be The Year of Consistency. I realized that there are areas in my life where consistency is not present. I have struggled with consistency over the years. I start with the best intentions, but I stop short of my goal after a few weeks. I must, however, give myself credit for moving in the right direction with consistency. It took a lot of starts and restarts when I first started reading my devotions and praying every day, but I am finally sticking to this daily routine. I actually feel "out of place" if I don't read and pray every day. Year of Consistency is all about being consistent in certain areas of my life where consistency is not present. My theory is if I can read and pray every morning, surely I can apply this type of consistency to other areas in my life.
NOW is the perfect time to overcome my inconsistency. My inconsistency has blocked some of my blessings and opportunities for growth. This has to change, starting today! This year I will focus on specific areas in my life that need some TLC. Here are my 3 Keys to Consistency.
Key #1 - Put God first in every aspect of your life.
The importance of putting God first is simple. I know without Him, I can not do anything as with every aspect of my life. I realize that I have to keep God first in my life to achieve this goal of consistency. I trust that if I can become consistent in my areas of concern, with God's help, I can move toward being the best version of myself. So how do I put God first in every aspect of my life?
Below are actions that helped me to start:
Prayer: The first thing that I do is pray. I tell God all of my plans, dreams, and goals. I ask for his will to be done in my life. I ask God to align my dreams and goals with his dreams and goals for me. I ask that the ones that don't match up with his will be taken away. I pray before I start any new areas that I want God to step into and bless. I pray before I start a workout, I pray before I write a new blog, and I pray when I have a hard time deciding if I should buy something or not. Prayer should always be our first response in every situation.
Read the Bible: Reading the Bible is one way God speaks to us. When I'm constantly praying to God and reading my Bible, God reveals the answer to my questions and concerns.
Community: I've learned that being a Christian isn't just about my walk with the Lord. Instead, we as Christians are called to live in a community with other Christians. We must learn to allow God to lead us to surround ourselves with believers who encourage us, push us and point us toward the Lord.
Scripture: Therefore, do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ For after all these things the Gentiles seek. For your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things. But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you (Matthew 6:31-33)
Key #2 - Watch out for temptations and have a strategy to walk around them.
The best feeling in the world is starting a goal and being consistent while completing it. For example, one of my goals is to lose weight. To do that, I have to work out more and eat healthier. So far, I've been doing good. I've been planning my meals, going to the gym, and eating right. But a problem has occurred. This past week was my first week on my diet, and let me tell you; it was not an easy week. I have had some of the biggest cravings in my life. The smell of fried food puts me in a "whole other" world, and I'm drooling out of my mouth when I smell it. I have found myself binge-watching food reels on Instagram, wishing I could have some. and to make matters worse, my coworkers love to eat out! This past week they went to my favorite restaurant Wingstop. It took everything in my soul not to put my order in for lunch! Then, I realized this would not be the first or the last time I would face temptation. I needed to find a strategy so I wouldn't mess up my goals. Having a clear and focused strategy is critically important to the success of being consistent, and without a well-defined strategy, my plans may stall or even fail.
Key #3 - Notice and appreciate God's good work now, then, and in the future.
When trying to be consistent, I found that it is essential to make sure that I acknowledge my past, current, and future growth. God has blessed me time after time and will continue to bless me in the future. Now, I know sometimes it gets hard to see God's good works in the future. When I hope and visualize God's good works, it encourages me to keep pushing and moving forward. This activates my faith and helps me to live a life of consistency. To live by faith for the future means that when I start to worry about what might happen this week, next month, or next year, I choose to quiet my mind. I tell my mind that Jesus is Lord, that He is with me, and that He will never leave me. I remind myself that if God is with me, who can really be against me.
Scripture: And we know that God causes everything to work together[a] for the good of those who love God and are called according to his purpose for them. For God knew his people in advance, and he chose them to become like his Son, so that his Son would be the firstborn among many brothers and sisters. And having chosen them, he called them to come to him. And having called them, he gave them right standing with himself. And having given them right standing, he gave them his glory. What shall we say about such wonderful things as these? If God is for us, who can ever be against us? (Romans+ 8:28-31)
Closing
So that is my plan for 2022! I can already tell this year is going to be a great year. Thank you for reading and all the support to Her Light. Since I wasn't consistent enough in Her Light last year, I'm making a public commitment to you! So you can expect to get a new blog and video every month! So stay tuned and make sure you follow our social media pages! Much love and shine brightly!
Inspiring!