Isn’t it incredible to be filled with fresh hope?! Sometimes life can seem to become routine and a bit monotonous. Days turn into weeks, and weeks into months. And before you even realize it, a year has passed.
But this is where intentionality comes in. Where we must pause and refresh, break up the routine of ordinary days and insert a fresh hope for the future ahead! This is yet another of a myriad of choices that we get to make in life. Don’t ever settle at being a victim of your own life.
Encourage yourself in the Lord and commit to living for Him. If you will do this I can guarantee that your life will have far more meaning and depth. To live to please God and get in alignment with His plans for you is far beyond the most incredible life that you can imagine!
Shake Monotony
Fresh hope can be found on the other side of shaking monotony. Life is truly what you make it. Your attitude is a result of your choices. You can choose to find joy, beauty, and hope in life because God’s creation surrounds you. It may seem novel to think you don’t have to wait for these things to come find you, but the truth of the matter is that you will find what you look for.
If you are keen to prove your point that life is dull and unexciting, that’s what you’ll see. Drudgery, overwhelm, exhaustion are par for the course with these expectations. But if you will shift your focus, look for the good and beautiful, you can be sure to find it!
Making this shift simply requires a decision. A decision to focus on things above and disregard elements that may discourage or bring you down. Don’t overcomplicate the how – you are incredibly capable of shifting gears, if you will make the decision and the effort. You can begin by praying and asking God to help you get in agreement with Him, to align your focus with His plans. Then begin the work of reprogramming your reactive thoughts and words. Forget what is past and press towards what is ahead.
Shifting perspectives, shaking monotony, and reprogramming your reactions and responses isn’t linear work. Some days will go better, other days you will revert a bit. Be patient with yourself and keep pressing on. It is beyond worth it to serve God better and have a more grateful heart for where He has you.
Be Present and Intentional
So much of finding and pursuing fresh hope is being present and intentional in the here and now. Don’t pine for what you don’t have or what’s in the past. God has you right where you are for a specific reason. Out of everyone else in the world, He created only one you and gave you an opportunity like none other!
So lean in, rest in where He has you, and work to bring your absolute best to the opportunities He presents you with. Live in a bold and intentional way. Attentive and expectant, present and alert. He has plans beyond your wildest dreams!
It is interesting, it would seem that the more we live in surrender and expectancy, the far more we will see God move in our lives. But when we try to control and manage, things seem to stand still. This doesn’t mean we live in a free for all. But rather we press towards the goal we believe we are called to work towards, while holding everything loosely, trusting God and willing to wait on His lead.
I can’t help but think that perhaps it is a reflection on life. Sometimes it seems that the things that need to be done immediately are less desirable. But the things that we want are further off in the future. If we will be disciplined in taking care of the immediate details, I think we will find new opportunities unfolding all around us!
Align Yourself with God’s Plans
It’s funny how I notice something for the first time, and then somehow it seems to be on repeat all around me. For instance, the idea of getting in alignment with God’s plans. This completely agrees with the idea I shared years ago about asking God to make His plans my dreams, but this new phraseology seems to build on that idea. Perhaps it helps reallocate the responsibility we have to step into agreement with God, not just ask for things blindly and selfishly.
Another new phrase I have heard that has helped my understanding of things is the realization that it would seem very few things are linear. I first heard this take in association with healing. Healing isn’t linear, the document said, so some days may feel like you are more sore than others. And to step back and think about it, this makes sense to me. But for some reason, I realize that I expect things to be linear. To progress, progress, progress, and then reach a climax or the desired goal, without reverting.
But I now realize this is not how things work. In fact, I might argue next to nothing works in this absolute way (outside of God). And to me, this helps explain why sometimes we struggle even though we know what kind of attitude we are supposed to have. Perhaps growing in the Lord isn’t linear either. Business, personal, spiritual, relational – I believe they all follow this same pattern.
Realizing this has helped me not grow discouraged, but rather pause and find fresh hope, knowing that perhaps the goal of growth isn’t linear but rather a commitment to pressing on.
Fresh Hope
Fresh hope is always available, waiting to be searched out and found. Commit to always pressing on, getting up again when you fall, trying harder when you mess up. God is merciful and compassionate. He isn’t waiting on your perfection, but rather your willing and eager heart to get in agreement with Him.
Even if everything feels like it is falling apart, search for things to thank God for. Gratitude will encourage you like nothing else! And I truly believe a grateful heart pleases God!
Until Next Time!
Hope.