Hi friends, 

Many of us came into the new decade with starry eyed hopes and dreams. 

You may have had the best intentions of making 2020 the year that your goals were finally accomplished. 

Perhaps you planned to get out of debt this year.

Or maybe your goal was to train for a marathon. 

Well, little did we all know that we would face a pandemic, political unrest, and well life as we knew it to be different. 

I was on a role before COVID-19 hit.  I had my diet and routine down pat and was starting to feel better health wise. 

But as many of us did during quarantine, I threw in the towel and slowly veered off my plan. 

I indulged more frequently and you guessed it,  it led to weight gain and me not feeling as good as I once did. 

Did you get off plan during quarantine?  Or did you stay on track? I’d like to hear, comment below! 

I have to keep reminding myself, it’s never too late to start again. 

It’s never too late to start over.

Every day is a new day. 

That’s hard for me to accept because I like things to be linear and neatly packaged. 

I like a formula — I like success. 

Instead I think thoughts like these…

“You failed, why try again, it always ends the same.” 

Or 

“You will always be overweight no matter what you try, after all Hashi’s is working against you.” 

Or 

“You may succeed for a little while, but as you always do, you will give up eventually.” 

Uhhh, the negative thought cycle can be so so well, NEGATIVE. 

But you and I DO have a choice on what we will meditate on….

We can meditate on our setbacks and let defeat win. 

Or we can meditate on truth and keep moving forward. 

Like Paul said:

“Not that I have already attained, or am already perfected; but I press on, that I may lay hold of that for which Christ Jesus has also laid hold of me.”

Philippians 3:12 (NKJV).

But how??? I mean, I’m sure we have all been stuck in a rut.  

What is the practical way to take the first step? 

It all starts in the heart (mind).  

What comes in will come out. 

That is why we have to ensure we are ingesting the word of God, speaking truth over ourselves constantly. That is why I made this list, to have handy when i’m feeling lost in negative thoughts. 

Here are five thoughts with scriptures to meditate on when you feel like throwing in the towel.

 “If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all liberally and without reproach, and it will be given to him.”James 1:5 (NKJV).

“Commit your way to the LORD, Trust also in Him, And He shall bring it to pass”  Psalms  37: 5 (NKJV).

“Trust in the LORD with all your heart, And lean not on your own understanding;  In all your ways acknowledge Him, And He shall direct your paths.” Proverbs 3:5-6 (NKJV).

2. Don’t fret over the details or success rate

 “In the morning sow your seed, And in the evening do not withhold your hand; For you do not know which will prosper, Either this or that, Or whether both alike will be good.” Ecclesiastes 11:6 (NKJV).

“Fear not, for I am with you; Be not dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you, Yes, I will help you, I will uphold you with My righteous right hand.” Isaiah 41:10 (NKJV).

3. Do it with Joy!

 “Now may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that you may abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.” Romans 15:13 (NKJV).

“My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience.”  James 1:2 (NKJV).

“Therefore, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God.” 1 Corinthians 10:31 (NKJV).

4. Troubleshoot, it won’t be a straight line to success 

“The plans of the diligent lead surely to plenty, But those of everyone who is hasty, surely to poverty.” Proverbs 21:5 (NKJV).

“A man’s heart plans his way, But the Lord directs his steps.” Proverbs 16:9 (NKJV). 

“Happy is the man who finds wisdom, And the man who gains understanding;” Proverbs 3:13 (NKJV).

“For I can do everything through Christ, who gives me strength.” Phl 4:13 (NLT)

“So I say, let the Holy Spirit guide your lives. Then you won’t be doing what your sinful nature craves.” Gal 5:16 (NLT) 

5. Keep at it!

“Through the LORD’s mercies we are not consumed, Because His compassions fail not. They are new every morning; Great is Your faithfulness.” Lamentations 3:22-23 (NKJV).

“But forget all that–it is nothing compared to what I am going to do. For I am about to do something new. See, I have already begun! Do you not see it? I will make a pathway through the wilderness. I will create rivers in the dry wasteland.” Isa 43:18-19 (NLT)

“Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might.” Ephesians 6:10 (NKJV)

Conclusion

“So it may appear far more agreeable to live in the same defeated status quo than to experience the extraordinary life God has planned for you. “

From the devotional Jesus Our Perfect Hope. 

I just love this quote, it came right when I started writing this blog post.  It’s like the Lord comes at the right time to spur you on, and to confirm to you that you are on the right path.  He doesn’t want us to live in defeat or stay in negative thinking patterns.  

The hardest part is to tell our mind where to go.  So let’s choose wisely friends and choose to meditate on the word of God.