Embracing the Journey: 5 Strategies to Overcome Obstacles and Triumph

Obstacles in life happen. What is your reaction to them? These 5 strategies can help you conquer challenges and walk confidently in life.

1. Cultivate a Growth Mindset: Learning is a great way to discover techniques that you need to accomplish tasks. One way to cultivate a growth mindset is by reading and challenging yourself. When you refuse to stop, the boundaries that may have held you back before get broken. You step out of your comfort zone and stretch yourself when you have a growth mindset.

2. Set Clear, Achievable Goals: Habakkuk 2:2 says, “…Write the vision, and make it plain on tablets, that he who reads it may run.” Having clear goals is important because where is the end of the race without a finish line? I believe it was Desmond Tutu who said, “There is only one way to eat an elephant: a bite at a time.” Whatever your goal may be, it can be broken down into bite-sized goals. Maybe you want to run a marathon, so you could start training with a mile, then two miles, then three. One of the main reasons goals do not get accomplished is that we take on too much at once. Set short, achievable tasks every day and you will meet your goals in no time!

3. Build a Supportive Network: Who is around you? Surrounding yourself with the right people is imperative to achieving your goals. The right people will encourage you to conquer challenges, not distract you. The right people will motivate you, not cause you to stumble. You want to surround yourself with people who are where you want to be in your life. Choose mentors and learn from them, even if it is through a book.

4. Embrace Flexibility and Adaptability: Being adaptable is key to walking confidently. Thomas Jefferson once said, “In matters of principle, stand like a rock. In matters of taste, swim with the current.” Being able to be flexible will help guide you through the obstacles by helping you to accomplish whatever it is that needs to get done.

5. Practice Self-Care and Persistence: Self-care can help you regroup, and take things in from a different perspective rather than emotional. Water and exercise are important, but creativity, relationships, and rest are also valuable in our lives. Without caring for our well-being, we run the risk of not reaching our goals and burning out. Self-care will aid in our persistence by rejuvenating and motivating us.

Whatever obstacles you are facing, just know that you can overcome them. From cultivating a growth mindset to self-care, you have the tools inside you to win. Find the right people to pour into you, and watch what happens with just a few sessions!

Searching for Peace: A Journey From Chaos to Serenity

"And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus." Philippians 4:7

 

 This verse constantly pops up in my life. Believe me, I know how it feels to have a thousand racing thoughts and to have your mind never at rest. I went through a tough season in my life during my twenties. I know how Job felt (to an extent lol) when Satan tried to get him to turn his back on God. It was a testing period that took a lot of out of me physically, mentally, and spiritually. My family was also going through a rough season with my dad passing, so my family did notice what I was going through. I started having health issues and kept getting weaker by the day, and I thought I was going to lose my mind! It was rough experience, but God is faithful and brought me through by His grace. During that time, I had dreams and God spoke to me about my calling. Even though I was going through so much turmoil, God  spoke to me and gave me a heart for missions.

During this time, one of my sisters went to a church and invited me and two of my other siblings to go with her. I had so much that happened in my life during that time, so my mind stayed constantly worried. But one night the pastor called for prayer, so I went up. I did not expect anything to happen, but when the pastor prayed for me God's peace filled me! I had never experienced anything so sweet as the peace of God as I did that moment. The singers were worshiping, and it sounded like angels! I remember I tried to stop worshipping, but I could not! God's presence was so strong that night! God gave me so much peace! All the anxiety and racing thoughts stopped. His peace will help you through anything you face  too! Go to Him and receive it! You cannot explain it, but there is nothing like the peace of God!

 

BIBLE VERSES ABOUT PEACE:

• "In peace I will lie down and sleep, for you alone, LORD, make me dwell in safety." Psalm 4:8

• "The LORD gives strength to his people; the LORD blesses his people with peace." Psalm 29:11

• "I will listen to what God the LORD says; he promises peace to his people, his faithful servants— but let them not turn to folly." Psalm 85:8

• "Great peace have those who love your law, and nothing can make them stumble." Psalm 119:16

• "A heart at peace gives life to the body, but envy rots the bones." Proverbs 14:30

• "You will keep in perfect peace those whose minds are steadfast, because they trust in you." Isaiah 26:3

Here is a link to more verses:

http://www.biblegateway.com/keyword/index.php?search=peace&version1=NIV&searchtype=all&limit=none&wholewordsonly=no&startnumber=1&resultspp=500&displayas=long&sort=bookorder

The Pity Party (part 2)

Well it's been a while since I wrote The Pity Party. I wanted tho give you guys an update. A couple months ago I received news that the prodigal son did come home!!!

I prayed for their salvation almost everyday! I am truely glad that now they are found! The Lord did a work in my heart & I began praying for them. Keep praying for your loved ones! It might take time but the Lord will answer your prayers!

The Pity Party

  “The older brother became angry and refused to go in. So his father went out and pleaded with him.  But he answered his father, ‘Look! All these years I’ve been slaving for you and never disobeyed your orders. Yet you never gave me even a young goat so I could celebrate with my friends. But when this son of yours who has squandered your property with prostitutes comes home, you kill the fattened calf for him!’
 ^{Luke 15:25-30}

I've been through a lot with this one person in my life, and I love them...but I have to be honest and say in this relationship I felt like the older brother from the parable of the prodigal son. Many times, I have found myself hurt, rejected, or jealous but God always comes as the Father reminding me that everything He has I am a co-heir to. So I can have a party whenever I want! But the question is is it a pity party? God has revealed to me while I was talking with a friend the other day, that I should rejoice and be glad when this person in my life returns to Him! He revealed to me what was in my heart and the feelings that I had. I asked God to forgive me and help me to change my attitude and feelings. I want to be there! Apart of the celebration and giving God praise for this person's returning.

 “‘My son,’ the father said, ‘you are always with me, and everything I have is yours. But we had to celebrate and be glad, because this brother of yours was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.’”  Luke 15:31-32

 I am thankful that one day this person will return and become the prodigal son, but until then I'm praying for this person to return and come to know the Father's love! So I have to ask, have you ever felt like the older brother or the prodigal son?

Feel free to leave a comment and share your story :)