𝐒𝐚𝐲𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐘𝐞𝐬 𝐢𝐬 𝐍𝐨𝐭 𝐄𝐧𝐨𝐮𝐠𝐡

“New beginnings are often disguised as painful endings.” – Lao Tzu

Here we are at the start of a brand new year. Although we may have suffered some loss, we made it to 2021. Most people often see the new year as a clean slate, a do-over, and a restart for achieving their goals. Even though I understand the need to be resolute to get things done, I’m not one for resolutions. After the year we’ve had, I don’t believe many are big on the idea of New Year’s resolutions. I recognize the need to set goals for yourself and create corresponding action plans to make strides in fulfilling your purpose. However, success will elude you anytime you attempt to leapfrog over this essential process. And equal to the planning phase is the phase of execution. Creating goals and planning is equivalent to saying yes to what you envision for yourself. Still, saying yes is not enough.

The Vision has an Appointed Time

Then the Lord answered me and said: “Write the vision And make it plain on tablets, That he may run who reads it. For the vision is yet for an appointed time; But at the end it will speak, and it will not lie. Though it tarries, wait for it; Because it will surely come, It will not tarry. (Habakkuk 2:2-3 NKJV)

Most of us have dreams and aspirations we hope to make a reality. Prayerfully these ambitions are God-inspired. I say this because, as the saying goes, “Where God guides, He provides.” We need this assurance in our life because it helps us stay the course while waiting for the vision to manifest. When we are trying to achieve challenging goals, we need to remind ourselves we have God’s backing and His insight. If we don’t rehearse what God has already said about our outcome, when life gets hard, our promises will begin to look like problems.

The scripture in Habakkuk that I referenced above tells us, “For the vision is yet for an appointed time.” What God has placed in your heart will come to pass despite what you endure while waiting. What do I mean? Nothing you go through takes God by surprise. He knows your end from the beginning. (Isaiah 46:10) The pandemic didn’t catch God off guard, and your decisions don’t get Him off-center. The Giver of visions is also the Sustainer of visions, no matter what you go through in life. So, what causes you to question where you are and what is or isn’t working?

You need more than Agreement; You need Alignment

Alignment is when what you say and what you do match. What does not being in alignment resemble? “That’s when the tongue in your mouth and the tongue in your shoe are going in two totally different directions.” (Lisa Nichols) There are times when our mouths say yes, but the rest of us is out of sync. Remember, when I said a few paragraphs ago, equal to your goals and plans is your execution. You can make all the vision boards in the world and color in all the planners and journals you can find, but if you don’t move into consistent implementation, you will be stuck and continuously frustrated.

What helps to facilitate agreement and alignment in your life? It’s discovering and getting clear about your purpose. When we are not sure about what we should be doing, we will agree to external things that have nothing to do with the “why” we were created to answer. You spin your wheels trying to make forward motion only to find you are wasting energy on futile activities. Answer this question - Why do you do what you do in every area of your life? Your ability to give a definitive answer to this question will help you to zero in on creating both agreement and alignment within yourself. What is hindering your process?

Clutter keeps you from Clarity

When we mention clutter, we immediately think about the trinkets or misplaced items in our space. The clutter I am referring to is the misplaced people, places, and things in our hearts and minds. Physically, we can be guilty of accumulating things that we really don’t need or even want. Usually, some emotional driver within us causes us to purchase items to fill a void we have not identified. Similarly, when we are always saying yes to things without thoroughly examining why, our soul becomes cluttered, and we become irritable and overwhelmed.

When you practice self-awareness, it holds space for your clarity. It causes you to count up the cost when embarking on a journey or taking on an assignment. The work of continual decluttering becomes a priority. Stop holding on to and continuing in situations that are unfruitful and unsupportive of God’s vision for your life. Just because we need to get to a particular outcome doesn’t mean we should automatically take on responsibilities that pull us away from the ultimate endgame; executing our God-given vision!

As you create the goals and make plans, determine what you need to execute effectively. Focus on your vision. Make sure you have both agreement and alignment. And regularly declutter so you can maintain your clarity. Doing this will help you discover and do your purpose and assure that you get to your appointed place at the appointed time.

ᗪ爪ㄥ