2018 Resolutions...Kind of

Resolutions.

I understand it's to start the new year with the best of intentions and a goal which I am all about! Believe you me, out of all of my friends I'm the nerd about goal setting and vision boards.  However, why wait until January 1?  Really though, ask yourself why does January 1 sound like the perfect date.  Is it because you believe it's easier to start on the 1st?  Is it because everyone else starts at the time?  (I know I'm asking a lot of questions and  really making you think, but hey, it' what I do).

I mean, if you want to lose 20 pounds,  quit smoking or be more present why not now?!  

Did you know that it takes 21 days for something to become a habit?  So whether you start going to the gym on January 1st or January 15th you still have to do it for 21 days for it to become a habit.  I'm not trying to deter you from going to the gym - it's one of my fav activities - but according to USA Today, on average 12% of new gym members join in January and of that 12 percent 95% drop off after January 15th.  BUT, what if we started a week or two earlier?  You would be that much closer to developing a new habit and you might not mind how packed the gym got for those 15 days.

What I'm trying to say is don't wait.  Don't use the new year as an obligatory starting point for this new goal you have in mind.  If it something that is important to you and God has put it on your heart than go out and DO IT!   

"Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men, knowing that from the Lord you will receive the inheritance as your reward. You are serving the Lord Christ.” Colossians 3:23-24  

So, if you decide on March 25th that you want to start a daily prayer journal than start that day!  If you decide on November 4th you want to lose 15 pounds than start that day!

Sometimes starting is the hardest part, but if you think of it as working for God's good and not your own it will become easier.  Serve Him and blessings will follow.

Love you always,

Leah


P.S. I'm pretty versed in goal setting and have a few tips and tricks if you guys would be interested.  

Trust is hard

As you can tell by the title of this post I have a hard time with trust.  

Not just trusting people but with trusting in God.  Their I said it!  Can ya blame me though?  I'm Type A all the way.  I like to plan and I'm an extrovert so I have no problem spilling my guts to anyone who will listen.  The issue with that is I tend to get hurt...a lot.  Hence, the trust issues.  

About two years ago is when I realized I had a hard time trusting God.  

I was engaged to my best friend of 4 years and I had just picked out my wedding dress (it took me 8 months to find the "right one" so at this point I was pumped).  I remember it was a Sunday afternoon and B walked in from a weekend away with his dad and brothers.  He was shaking and sobbing.  My immediate thought was that something terrible happened. Maybe his dad got hurt or worse,  his Nana died.  Little did I know the terrible thing that was going to happen would be to me.  He claimed he wasn't in love with me anymore and we couldn't get married.  I was blindsided.  

Here was the love of my life, my best friend, the person who I thought God wanted me to be with saying he didn't want to marry me anymore.  I want to emphasize the word  "anymore".  At one point he loved me so much that we moved in together and were engaged.  He even told me  that in his mind he was already married to me and their was no going back.  He said and did all the right things, so I thought.  

You can imagine how mad I was at B and at God.  How could God take away the one person who I thought I could fully rely on?! How can I trust in God if He took away the desire of my heart?! I thought that this man God brought into my life would always be there for me like B claimed to promise.  Promise; what a word.  When someone promises things to me I expect them to keep their word.  Now,  I have a really hard time believing anyone.  I've ruined the start of potential relationships because of my now prominent trust issues.  

But,  I'm learning to trust in people again by trusting in Jesus first.  It is SUPER hard.  Especially after that traumatic life incident. A verse that helped me out of my darkest hour is, "Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge Him and he will make your paths straight." - Proverbs 3:5-6.  

Guys, do you see what God did their?!  I've always had a hard time trusting in the promises He says He has for us, "Show me your ways, O LORD, teach me your paths; guide me in your truth and teach me, for you are God my Savior, and my hope is in you all day long" - Psalm 25:4-5, and I put my trust in people instead.  God is now rewiring me to learn to trust in Him first (mind blown).   

If you are going through a challenging time in your life, wondering "why", then I invite you to write down the verses in this post on a note card and keep them in your car, in your desk at work or even write them on your bathroom mirror.  Put it somewhere you can easily access it in times of struggle.  Let it ease your aching heart.  
  

Love you Always, 
Leah