Positively Proactive Help for the Best Rest of the Year
Today is the first day of the second half of the year.
So, let me ask you … how’s it going so far?
If you’re like me you started the year with goals, plans, hopes, and dreams along with some good habits to start and a few bad habits to break.
So..?
In my own case, I keep thinking of Paul’s words…
And I know that nothing good lives in me, that is, in my sinful nature. I want to do what is right, but I can’t. I want to do what is good, but I don’t. I don’t want to do what is wrong, but I do it anyway.
Romans 7:18–19
I’m so good at having good intentions and so bad at having consistent follow-through.
Something I’ve realized in the last few days is that I have a problem with being more reactive than proactive with my days.
For example…
I consistently get up each morning and brush my teeth, wash my face, and tame my hair. I get dressed and make the bed. I feed and walk the dog. And then I sit down and spend time with the Lord.
That’s all good but that’s also when I stop being proactive. From that point on I spend much of my time going “squirrel, squirrel” to almost anything that floats by and distracts me.
A post on social media can have me digging around the internet. An email can send me off to do some online shopping. A news article or opinionated post can agitate and distract me. Or a random memory can put me on a path to visit my reserved spot in a town called melancholy.
Yep, I start out positive and end up wondering “what in the world just happened here.”
It all became a little clearer for me the other day. I was just finishing up my Bible study and prayer time when the phone rang. The conversation was with one of my favorite people and we were just having fun when all of a sudden one of my “trigger” topics came up and I found myself chasing a squirrel down the path of “truth” and “self” righteousness.
Now, it’s not that my views were wrong, it’s just that (1) I couldn’t help but wonder what my pontificating was accomplishing because (2) I was “preaching to the choir!”
After our conversation ended, I felt that still small voice whisper, “Do you feel better? Was that helpful? Was it”
…true, and honorable, and right, and pure, and lovely, and admirable. Think about things that are excellent and worthy of praise? Philippians 4:8
Nope! Not so much!
That’s when I realized how much is lost when I’m reactive rather than proactive.
So, I’ve made a list of action steps I’m calling “proactive help” to get back on track. Things I believe will bless the rest of the year and maybe even make it the best yet!
Positively Proactive Help for the Best Rest of the Year
1. Count your blessings every day.
I started “Counting My Blessings” during one of the most difficult times in my life. I launched it to hold myself accountable to noticing God’s goodness in the middle of the pain.
Whatever is going on in the world, even in my world, God’s grace and mercy never change. His perfect love is unfailing!
Whether I write them in a journal or on a piece of paper to drop in a jar or basket, I want to go back to keeping a list of the many ways God is providing for and protecting me … heart, mind, body, and soul every single day.
Let all that I am praise the Lord;
Psalm 103:2–4
may I never forget the good things
He does for me.
He forgives all my sins
and heals all my diseases.
He redeems me from death
and crowns me with love and tender mercies.
What does it mean to “seek God first?”
I sometimes think I can think of it as beginning each day in prayer and Bible study.
But I wonder if it’s more than that. I wonder if it’s more of an attitude … in finding my purpose in Him.
Do you remember the 5 Purposes of a Purpose Driven Life?
1. You Were Planned for God’s Pleasure.
Rick Warren
2. You Were Formed for God’s Family.
3. You Were Created to Become Like Christ.
4. You Were Shaped for Serving God.
5. You Were Made for a Mission.
I think it just may be time for me to reread that book! I just may be allowing too many “squirrels” to distract me from focusing on and doing what’s most important.
You can also click on the link above to find the goals I made at the beginning of the year … I know I needed to read it again!
3. Assess your goals and the progress you’re making.
I’m going to be completely honest with you here…
I am terrible at goal setting, time management, and follow through.
I am a Sanguine who like to chase “squirrels!”
So, I can spend all kinds of time making a list of goals and thinking about the best ways to plug them into my schedule and on a good day, I might make it ’til lunchtime before I’ve abandoned it all and gotten off track.
But I will not give up! I’m making a new list of goals this afternoon and attaching to my planner. Although I may not plug in specific times, I’m going to be intentional about doing a weekend assessment of my progress.
4. Learn to say “no” so you can say “yes” to the best.
I want to be able to live my purpose intentionally. And I believe that God sometimes sends interruptions to help me grow in different ways.
But I also know…
Not every interruption is from God and it is not God-honoring for me to chase every “squirrel” I see.
So, I want to prayerfully set those goals I talked about above and live purposefully.
And as a reminder, I’m going to keep the following quote from one of my favorite time-management instructors…
“You have to decide what your highest priorities are and have the courage pleasantly, smilingly, and non-apologetically – to say no to other things. And the way to do that is by having a bigger yes burning inside.”
Stephen Covey
5. Let go of the past and refuse to worry about the future.
This is a hard one, isn’t it?
It’s so easy to bring yesterday’s baggage into today and worry about how today’s doubts and concerns will affect tomorrow.
But Jesus clearly told us not to worry about today’s troubles or tomorrow’s unknowns.
Why?
Because when you and I seek God first, He is faithful to give us everything we need.
Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and live righteously, and He will give you everything you need.
Matthew 6:33
Jesus very next words are … “so don’t worry about tomorrow.”
And we can let go of the past because we are forgiven and free in Jesus.
I don’t know about you…
but I’m ready to stop chasing “squirrels.” I’m ready to stop living a reactive life.
Be proactive!
I’m ready to apply proactive help to the rest of the year and enjoy the freedom and blessings God offers to those who live with purpose as they place their hope and trust in His Son, Jesus.
And I’m praying the following words of Paul for each of us as we make the the next six months the best rest of the year.
I pray that God, the source of hope, will fill you completely with joy and peace because you trust in Him. Then you will overflow with confident hope through the power of the Holy Spirit.
Romans 15:!3
One more thing…
I believe being positively proactive can bless every area of our lives.
So, are you ready to look back at your goals for the year and make some positively proactive changes to bless the rest of the year.
I love this mid-year check up you’ve offered us here, Deb. Yes, it is the perfect time to take stock of our goals, our focus, our proactivity. I do need to read Rick Warren’s book, too.
Blessings!
Thanks, Martha! Have a great day, my friend! Blessings!
This came at a perfect time for me. I too am so easily distracted and “squirrel” many times in a day! I thought I was the only one who used that term lol Thank you for this post, I definitely need to prioritize some things. Especially my time with God that I have been struggling with lately. This year was supposed to be about cultivating and abiding in Christ. I started off well but need some proactive help. This was much needed! Thank you for allowing the Lord to use you!
Thanks so much for making me feel better, Andrea! It’s nice to know I’m not the only “squirrel” chaser out there. Isn’t it wonderful to know that we get a fresh start any time we need it? God’s grace overwhelms me every day! Thanks for visiting and for taking the time to join the conversation! God bless you!
Oh, Deb, so much came through this post directly to my heart! This morning is one of those I-planned-to-be-proactive-but-ended-up-being-hyperactive mornings. I, like you, tend to get side-tracked easily. Today’s detours began with Facebook, then a search for a new devotional to use (one I had laying around the house …), then finding the perfect journal among my huge stash of journals to use for the one I found (which just happened to be a writer’s devotional I started years ago and didn’t finish), then deciding to take the dog for a walk before it got too hot, then realizing I never finished my quiet time nor ate breakfast. Before I knew it, the time is 10 o’clock and my whole morning to write, a luxury for me, has been seriously reduced. HOWEVER, all that said, those things produced joy in me for my day! I loved that devotional when I bought it, and the timing to restart it is perfect! The journal I chose is one our daughter surprised me with at a time I was feeling quite down, and I’ve longed for the perfect use for it! And a new blog post idea came through the blinding sun on our walk! Perfect timing, perfect joy … all from getting a little side-tracked. I’d like to say that always happens, but as you well know, those internet searches can take us down the winding road to sites on how to trim a turtles toenails and when to prune plants only seen in Africa! LOL! Thanks for sharing your thoughts. I posted the quote about “a bigger yes” on a post-it note on my computer background so I can see it clearly! Blessings!
Cathy, I love this! I do want to remember to look for the blessings in my distractions. Too often, I just beat myself up for losing focus and getting off track but those “squirrels” can be God’s interruptions or simply little moments of joy! Thanks so much for joining the conversation. You totally blessed my day!
So happy to have done so! One of the interruptions that used to irritate me were the phone calls and other things which happened during my quiet time in the morning. My mom found a quote which changed that forever: “Those interruptions are just opportunities for more prayer.” Makes a difference to make a difference!
I love that, Cathy! It’s so true!!
Hi Deb
Just read your message, and I do all you do in the morning except more/less in reverse!
I get up and say ”Good Morning” to God, then to Jesus, then to the Holy Spirit. Then I go downstairs (still in my nightie!) make a cup of tea/coffee and when it’s made I stand by the kitchen window and say ‘Thank you” for the new day ahead, and ask God’s blessing on my drink and on everything else I will eat/drink during the day, and to bless me to do His Will.
Then I go into my conservatory and light a candle and spend my time with Bible reading and daily prayers from UCB, David Jeremiah, etc and end playing the Aaronic Blessing sung in Hebrew from a cd.
Then I get washed and dressed, take dog out and come back and we both have our breakfast, read the paper and try and do all the things I should but usually don’t mange it all. I’m retired so it doesn’t much matter!!!!
Thank you for your messages I enjoy reading them and feel connected to someone who is encouraging and helpful etc, etc!
Love and Blessings,
Carolyn
I love it, Carolyn! I am so thankful I’m able to spend that time with the Lord each morning. Our routines do sound very similar. Thanks so much for your kind encouragement and for stopping by to connect. Blessings and hugs!
I am always hearing “ squirrels “ and “ toddlers “ and life just goes in different directions
But I love all these amazing points you gave us
Love you
Having little ones is like having the “squirrels” right under your nose! It’s so much fun but oh my, is it unpredictable. Love you, Girlfriend!
Really blessed by this post. God is good.
Thank you, Evelyn! I appreciate your very kind encouragement. God bless you!
Let go of the past and refuse to worry about the future.
This one hit me spot on. Every day I pray for patience, peace in my mind and heart, and acceptance of God’s plans for me.
I am impatient, anxious, and overthink things constantly. I pray to be still and trust in God’s timing. It’s not easy to stay on course.
Thanks for the encouragement. It helps to know that we’re not alone in our daily struggles to stay on task.
You are very welcome, Debra! I am a recovering anxious overthinker … by God’s grace, much better than I once was but still have days I struggle. Hang in there. I am praying for you today and asking God to hold you close and fill you with His perfect peace. God bless you!
Amen to the prayer! God help us (because those squirrels can be really sneaky!) Thanks so much for this post, Deb. Many blessings to you!
So much good input here for taming the squirrels in our life.
Blessings to you, Deb.