Archive for Growth and Maturity
Grow Into Your Full Potential
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We are forever evolving into the person that God has called us to be. We can never learn too much. We can never experience all there is to experience.
We can never be too wise, or too strong, or too smart. God always has more for us. But the fact of the matter is that it’s easy to settle. It’s easy to get comfortable where we are in life.
Many stop growing. They stop pushing and striving to reach their ultimate potential. But know today that God wants the best for you. He wants you to continue to grow. He wants you to continue to thrive, flourish and blossom into your God-given destiny.
Here’s encouragement for you- don’t get settled. Don’t get so comfortable that you miss out on the next dimension in life.
Continue to grow. Let the lessons, the hardships and the setbacks of life catapult you into a better, stronger and wiser person.
Before long, you’ll be able to say, “I’m stronger than my yesterdays.” “I’m more equipped and empowered than I was before.”
But it all starts with a mindset to grow. It starts with the decision to Read More→
Did You Get Bitter or Better?
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There is a lesson in every life experience. But It’s up to us to fish out the good from the bad. You have the choice to take every little positive nugget from every situation and grow from it.
When you face a negative life experience, it might be easy to get down in the dumps. You may be tempted to crumble and get bitter. But God has a better way for you.
The scripture says that that the almighty God has placed life and death before you. It was the creator of the universe who placed blessings in curses at hand. Now, it’s up to you to choose–choose life!
Maybe you got a bad hand in life, don’t get bitter, get better. Maybe you’ve faced some disappointments. You’ve had a bad relationship or you’ve faced some Read More→
ShareAvoid the Bandwagon, Jump on the God-wagon
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It’s human nature to do the thing that everybody is doing. The bandwagon effect is something that, too often, we fall prey to.
Just because everyone is doing it, doesn’t mean you have to. When everyone goes left, sometimes you have to go right. Sometimes you have to say “no” to the things the crowd says “yes” to. And other times you’ll have to say “yes” to the things they’re saying “no” to.
You are unique. You are set apart. You were designed by the almighty God with a purpose. You weren’t made to blend in the crowd. No, God distinguished you and called you to do something great.
Dare to be bold. Dare to be courageous. Think outside of the box. You can make a difference in a way that no one else can. You can change the world in Read More→
ShareTake the Other Route
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Day in and day out, we face the same routine things. We do the things that are most comfortable. We get stuck in a rut and settle for mediocrity.
For many, stagnation can become the one thing that holds them back from reaching their full God-given potential. In the natural, we take the same route to work. We eat the same foods. We take the same approach that winds us no where.
But if you’re going to come into your divine destiny and experience the better life God has for you, you’re going to have to change some things. Step out of your comfort zone. Change your approach.
Take a different route in the game of life. You’ll discover that in Read More→
ShareStuck in a Rut? How to Get Out
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By nature, we all desire to progress forward in life. We all have hopes, visions and dreams. But for many, its the same day in and day out, year in and year out.
For some, traditions are holding them back. Others fall prey to the barely-get-by, lackadaisical mindset. But know today that we serve a God who makes all things new. He doesn’t want you to be stuck in a rut. He wants to bring you into increase, promotion, and a higher dimension.
If you’re going to come into your God-given destiny, you’re going to have to leave the old mindset behind. Don’t fall prey to that toxic mindset that says, “I’ll never achieve that dream” or “I don’t have the talents to be an achiever.”
Don’t say what you can’t do, say what you can do. Don’t be stagnant, make positive declarations that will catapult you into your destiny.
I’ve heard it said that you believe more of what you say, than what anybody else says about you. If you’re going around saying, I’ll never break this bad addiction… I never get the right breaks… I never come into the right relationships, then that’s all you’ll ever acquire. Like the Children of Israel in the Bible, you’ll be stuck in a rut. You’ll be circling that same mountain over and over again, day in and day out.
In order to progress, you’re going to have to break bad traditions. If you’re going to stretch forth to the next level, you’ll have to change some things.
Instead of saying, I don’t have the talents, say I have everything I need to do anything I could imagine. Instead of saying, this relationship will never work, your Read More→
ShareIt’s All in the Attitude!
Posted by: | CommentsToo often, we allow the circumstances of everyday life to take our joy away. So many go around with the mentality that says, “I’ll smile, when I have a reason to smile.” And what’s even worse, is that sets a bad example for others who need to see a positive light.
Many have made a habit of going around with a sour attitude. We’re on the edge. We’re on the defense. We allow the doom and gloom to set in and bring us down.
Instead of being affected by the negative circumstances, we should make a decision to be a positive effect. We can choose to be a light in a dark world.
When you wake up in the morning, your goal should be that no matter what happens, you’re going to operate in the joy of the Lord.
Friend, it’s not God’s desire for you to walk around sad, discouraged, doom and gloom. No, the scripture says you’ve been anointed with the oil of joy more than your companions. That means that as ambassadors for Christ, we’ve been chosen to set an example for Christ.
I heard an interesting statistic. When you smile, you’re communicating to your body that everything is going to be alright. I’ve heard it said that when you Read More→
ShareIt’s by no Coincidence
Posted by: | CommentsYou weren’t just birthed into this world by chance, God has had a purpose for your life since the very beginning. Your life is divinely orchestrated by God, and He has great things in store for you!
Too often, we find ourselves being tossed back and forth in the wind. Many people feel a since of no purpose. We’re just taking chances hoping for what the world calls “luck.” But with God, there’s no such thing as luck. No, you’re not here by chance. There is a method to His madness. You’re not doing what you’re doing by coincidence. Your steps are ordered by the Lord, and He has every step planned out for you.
Maybe you didn’t have the same upbringing as your peers. Maybe you’ve had it rough all your life, and you’re tempted to think that God has deserted you. Well know today that what you’ve been through is not by chance. Jeremiah 1:5 says that “even before you were born God knew you and He set you apart.” And Jeremiah 29:11 pretty much answers this when it says, “God knows the plans He has for you. He wants to prosper you and give you a future full of hope!”
The seemingly insignificant things that you partake in day in and day out, could be the very things that lead to the next major opportunity. It’s no coincidence that Read More→
ShareTake Bigger Risks
Posted by: | CommentsToo often we fall prey to contentment and complacency. And in the end, all this does is bring stagnation and hinders our growth.
But do you know that it’s better to take risks in life than to end up short changing yourself? When you play it safe and take the comfortable road in life, you end up holding the short end of the bargain.
Know today that God wants you to go above and beyond the call of duty. It’s easy to get comfortable and lackadaisical, but you should know that when you go out on a limb, God will carry you the rest of the way.
In order to grow, you have to stretch your abilities. Take risks in life. Do the unexpected. Do the things that you’ve always feared.
When you set out to achieve things that are outside of your comfort zone, you’ll be surprised at the outcome. The good thing is that the outcome will give you the confidence to take even bigger risks in life.
When you venture out and take more chances, you’ll start to see your dreams come alive. You’ll start to see your goals being fulfilled. You’ll start to notice more doors opening. But when you play it safe and do the same expected things day in and day out, you end up forfeiting your growth.
I’m reminded of what Luke 19:26 says in the Message bible. In this passage of scripture Jesus says, “That’s what I mean: Risk your life and get Read More→
ShareDon’t Limit Yourself
Posted by: | CommentsThere are times when we end up shortchanging ourselves. Too often, we judge our strengths and abilities based on past experiences.
We forget that everyday is a new day. Today we’re stronger than we were yesterday. We’re wiser and better than we were yesterday. And when we place limits on ourselves we limit our growth. We end up falling into a rut.
I want to encourage you not to place limits on yourself. Don’t measure today’s strength by yesterday’s strength. Don’t judge the talents of today based on past abilities.
Today I was at the gym and I was doing an incline bench press. Normally I do less weight on an incline bench press than I do on a flat bench press because the incline press is harder. But this week I unintentionally put the same amount of weight on the incline press that I put on my flat bench press. And it turns out that I was able to bench the same amount of weight on the incline press than I can on the flat press.
The lesson I learned was that I was limiting myself. I assumed that just because the inclined press was harder than the flat press that I would need less Read More→
ShareEnjoy The Journey Along The Way
Posted by: | CommentsToo often we say to ourselves, “if i can just get this in order then I’ll be alright” or “if I can just get to this point in my life, or get through this semester in school, life will be better.” Does this sound familiar?
Well, I don’t think that God’s plan for our life is that we go through life stressing over everything. I believe that His ultimate will for your life is for you to live a joy-filled, peaceful life full of happiness, and wholeness!
The truth is that if you keep looking to the future for things to get better then you’ll never live a stress-free life. The enemy will always be planting more attacks in your life that will constantly cause stress and anguish.
John 10:10 says, “The thief (the enemy) cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I (Jesus) am come that they (you and I) might have life, and that they might have [it] more abundantly.”
In actuality, you should learn to enjoy the present moment in every area of your life. If your job is stressing you out or that class is overwhelming you, then you should look to God as a source of peace in your life.
I believe that one way to enjoy the journey along the way is to make positive declarations. In other words instead saying, “once I get that new Read More→
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