Question Yourself. Then Challenge The Answers.

Answer this question:

How do you end up in a situation that you vowed you would never be in despite yourself?

Here are some answers:

• Trying to be everything to everybody


• Not being honest with yourself or others


• Not listening to people who could help you


• Taking yourself away from a good opportunity


• Letting life happen to you instead of taking charge of your life


• Many times it's just God

Life is challenging. The problem that many of us have is that we want our lives to go the way we plan them. We have to realize that we are not in charge, God is. You can make all of the plans you want, but if they are destroyed they were not meant to be. God will never give you anything that you don't need. If there is something, someone, or some issue in your life that you feel is a hindrance challenge yourself to see what God is training you for. Every obstacle is your training. "Thou therefore endure hardness, as a good soldier of Jesus Christ". II Timothy 2:3 It is when you overcome the challenges in your life and begin to help others overcome their challenges that you grow. Here's a tip: after every challenge is a victory and after every victory is a new challenge. Keep rising to the challenges and you will grow everyday. Be blessed!

Clean Up the Clutter

The cleanliness of your personal space is vital to your peace and your peace of mind. Keep it clutter free. Clutter does not only refer to a physical mess, but also mental, spiritual, and emotional baggage. Do not allow yourself to be buried under a pile of things that are no longer useful to you or that you no longer need in your life. If these things are spiritual take them to God and seek out people of God to help you. If these things are mental seek out therapy or read a little and educate yourself. If these things are emotional find a friend and gain a different perspective. If these things are physical within your home or office space sign up for a consultation with a professional consultant. Be Blessed.

Keep Everything in Perspective

Just when you feel down and out, God will send you an angel in disguise. This angel will remind you of the greatness of the Lord you serve. Always remember that salvation comes by grace and your good works are proof of that. For good works alone could never achieve what you obtain through favor. For God’s grace is a privilege we could never earn. Do not let anyone discourage you if you are doing what you can to grow in this life. Read I Peter 2 it really blessed me this week, especially verse 15.

Joy

Today is a new day. Make it the best that you possibly can and enjoy it. If you find today difficult just appreciate that you are here, and be joyful that tomorrow the day will be new again.

Go For It

Is there something that you have always wanted to do? Is there a desire within you to achieve more? Then you should go for it. No one ever realized a dream come true by staying asleep. Wake up. Ask yourself what it is that you want out of your life, and then go get it. If you feel like you don't know how to get started ask someone who does. There is always someone who can help you. Your dream and the next person's may have nothing to do with each other except that person has already tried. Since you have not the other person's story gives you insight. People who have gone before you have great value in that they can let you know where the bumps in the road are. They can tell you how thick the bumps are and how to get around them. The key to success is trying. You can't succeed until you try. You can't be concerned with failure. The only failure is not giving yourself an opportunity to learn a new lesson by trying.

Act Before You Must React

Stress is not something to get used to. It is a response that your body has to things that could slowly kill you. Fight or flight is the term used to define the situation. Either you make the circumstances better or you run away. Life is a race. You must decide your pace. Do not let insignificant things throw you off track. Are you fighting or are you flighting?

What is your in/effective way of handling short-term pain?

Silence works for a short time because it gives me an opportunity to clear my head and assess the entire situation. Solutions usually come by doing, whether that is conversation, prayer, or helping another. The key is movement, because movement brings about blood flow which maintains life.

Always Remember To Move

Recently one of the Real Housewives of Atlanta said "every saint has a past and every sinner has a future". This quote rocked me to my core because often we tend to forget this concept. We spend so much time remembering the sins that kept us from God that we can't do the work he calls us to right now. What good is a Christian who only embraces other Christians? We can't build a mighty kingdom without the best bricks. Some times the hardest bricks are those that went through a more strenuous process. A person who has experienced the life choices that he or she warns against or encourages others to lead is more effective. Most people try new food once a friend has told them how good it is. By the same token if a friend says a certain food tastes nasty we are hesitant to try it. Life is not a time to be hesitant. We must use all the strength that we have to build God's kingdom now. We don't want our lack of movement to be our ticket to remaining outside of the gate. When you're hungry that's the time to feed someone. When you're lonely that's the time you spend with someone else who is lonely. When you're low on funds that's when you sow a financial seed into someone else. When you feel like giving up that's when you press on. When your dream is deferred that's when you help someone else realize a dream. God is capable of more than we could ever ask or think. Many times our opportunity is around the next corner, but we're too tired or lazy to walk. We want everything placed square in front of us and we don't want to do the heavy lifting. Faith without works is dead. The sad thing is that we don't even realize when we short change ourselves. We're waiting for God and He's there like "your turn". We think that life should be without strain, pain, or obstacles. The truth is without pain most people would die. Pain is the signal that your brain gives your body to alert you that something is wrong. Without it you would have no idea what you or a medical professional could do to save your life. Obstacles make you stronger. You don't know how strong or weak you are until you are faced with a challenge. Some challenges are to build your character, test your faith, and make you a better Christian. How is God supposed to use you if you're always scared? You can't run from life. Fear is a lie told by the enemy to destroy your self-confidence and your relationship with God. It's up to you whether to call the enemy out or not. It's up to you to walk right past him to the promises God has in store for you.