Beginning to be

Here we are almost at the end of  the first month of the new year and I feel like I am beginning to be. I am still very excited about my goals to have a deeper relationship with God. I am encouraged that I do not have to be overwhelmed to do that. Today, let’s look at what it means to “be” and how important it really is.

My goals have not changed since the beginning of this new year. I want to be with God! Mysteriously, God makes me a better person. There is a quote by Marianne Williamson that says, “I am better than I used to be. Better than I was yesterday. But hopefully not as good as I’ll be tomorrow.”  I find so much comfort in the fact that I am a work in progress and God is not done with me yet! He’s not done with you either.

If you want to reach your goals this year, then you have to be intentional. Review your goals daily and even track your progress.

My list looks like this;

1. Deepen my relationship with God. How? Spend more time with God in His Word and in prayer. Block out time each day to be with God.

2. Be healthy. In fact, this is my word for the year, “healthy.” To be healthy, physically, mentally and spiritually. Also, I would like to be financially healthy and have healthy relationships.

Along with my goals list, I write out action steps for each one. Reviewing the list and working the steps helps me stay focused. It also helps me to not get overwhelmed.

Find an accountability partner. Someone who will check in on you and encourage you to move forward with your goals.

Do you want to accomplish your goals this year?

If you want to accomplish your goals this year, write them down, review them daily, and find an accountability partner.

I use this saying from time to time to motivate me, “Don’t quit! Recommit!” Recommitting my life to Christ every day helps me stay focused on my goal of having a deeper relationship with God. Focusing on God helps me to begin to be.

I mentioned my word for the year is “healthy.” A few years back, a friend of mine was struggling to find her word. She had been bouncing around from the word “clarify,” to “clarity,” but landed on “to become.” I love the word “become.” The definition is; “to begin to be.” It sounds new and fulfilling, like a fresh start.

Have you ever thought about what it would mean “to begin to be?” When we deepen our relationship with God, we begin to be. God reveals who HE is and who HE is in us. We begin to be the person God created us to be.

Isaiah 43:18-19 says, “Forget the former thing
    do not dwell on the past.
 See, I am doing a new thing!”

2 Corinthians 5:17 says, “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here!”

The new is here! 

As we move into a deeper relationship with God, we get a fresh start. We become that new thing that Isaiah talks about, a new creation in Christ Jesus. We begin to be.

Make it your goal this year to begin to be all God created you to be. Become the person God made you to be. Focus and recommit every day. God has so much in store for you.

And no matter how far you think you can go with God, you can always go farther. Because, we can never get to the end of God or His love for us. There is always more God and there is always more love.

Let us pray:

God of new creation, help us to be who You have called us to be. Remind us that we get a clean slate with You, a fresh start. Give me wisdom and understanding so I may deepen my relationship with You. In Jesus Name, Amen. 

P.S. Many of you left me comments last week, and I thank you for your kind words. Leave me a comment below because I love hearing from you. Forward this message to a friend and ask them to subscribe to the website so that they can receive a little encouragement in their faith journey each week. Share on Facebook and tag me in it. Until next time, be intentional. -M