Romans 12:2
Here we are y'all, 13 days into the new year...the new decade (well, some would argue that it isn't a new decade until 2021, but we don't like those people...let us have our fun). A new year (and especially a new decade) brings about so many emotions for me:
- Did I do enough last year?
- Was I a good Mama, wife, daughter, sister, friend, follower of Jesus, employee...?
- What didn't go so well? What changes are needed to prevent that this year?
- What are my bad habits that I need to replace?
- What are my good habits that I need to keep up?
Last year, I discovered the Enneagram (more on that another day...well, probably a lot of days because it is fascinating to me). I'm a 7 and if you know anything about the Enneagram, you know that many 7s are really uncomfortable with negative emotions. So, when I'm contemplating all of the things above, which inevitably bring about some negative emotions, I'm uncomfortable. Very uncomfortable. So much so that all of the anxiety rose up in me on New Years Eve morning and I had a mini freak-out moment.
New years resolutions, dealing with non-serving habits, finding a word of the year (7s also struggle with commitment)...they all inspire me, motivate me, give me hope, and leave me feeling...slightly uptight.
Now I know I don't have to partake in any of these things, but there is nothing like a new year to reflect, attempt to sit with those negative emotions, and hype yourself up for the next thing. So, I just can't pass it up. So, I made a mental list of a few things I'd like to change and after several months of prayer, I chose a word for 2020.
Discipline
I have Hannah Brencher to thank for this word. I admire her from afar (aka, Instagram) and attended her webinar on discipline late last year. I have certain areas of my life that really need an overhaul in discipline: health, getting into the Word, prayer, consistency with my child, date night, managing finances, screen time, etc. and that webinar really gave me handles on how to be a more disciplined person. But man, is change hard.
Thankfully, God has been putting things in my life that have been encouraging me the past two weeks. Our pastor has been preaching a sermon series called If You Only K'New' and it is rocking my world. Yesterday, he talked about gaining control of your thoughts, which is a huge thing when it comes to being disciplined. He read Romans 12:2..."be transformed by the renewing of your mind...".
So I asked God, "How do I renew my mind?"
He said, "You don't. You ask me to do it."
Here's the thing. God has been teaching me that a lot of what "I" need to work on are things that I can't do by myself. For example, I want to become more creative in my work, and although I can listen to podcasts about creativity, look at creative works to inspire me, and all that, creativity comes from God. I need Him to place creative ideas in my mind. So, I need to pray for creativity.
The same thing comes with renewing your mind. Ask God to renew your mind. Ask God to give you ideas on how to do that. Some ideas He's given me: set up appropriate boundaries, step away from influences that are bogging you down, read your Bible, worship music during times when your mind may wander to unhelpful thoughts, listening to uplifting podcasts that challenge your ungodly thoughts.
No matter what changes you want to make this year, I hope you'll realize that it all begins in your mind and the mind is a tricky thing. Not all of your thoughts are truth and you have to take hold of what lines up with what God says and throw out the things that are not true or wise.
Join me and ask God daily (or multiple times a day) to renew your mind so that you can go after the perfect will of God. That's what I want most of all.
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