*This is the same article as "Don't Let the Illusions of 2017 Effect Your Progress In 2018" but there have been slight modifications made. The personalization of this blog is an important part of My Story so I incorporated it into this section. I changed the title to connect the with my journey.
DON'T LET YOUR PAST FAILURES AND MISFORTUNES DEFINE YOUR FUTURE
As I watched the movie the Illusionist, I could not help but notice the similarities with the progress of my life and how being focused on the wrong things will have you feeling like you are sooooo right, but actually so wrong. The movie illustrates the power of truth versus illusion. It shows how powerful illusions can be and how difficult it can be to accept the truth. Which made me ask myself what illusions are affecting my growth and progress in my life? Not the obvious things, but illusions. What are the things that would be hard for me to accept that is holding me back from being closer to God, my family, building and maintaining relationships, being financially stable, and being more established in my career while walking within my purpose?
Since I decided to focus on this website and take the action to get closer to the Lord, my life has gotten better BUT I have had to deal with numerous trials. It seemed like whenever my nose got just above water, I had another situation push me right back down. I will not name every trial but here are a couple examples. My place flooded, car issues, finances, hospital visits on two different occasions within a week (with almost a third visit), and missed opportunities. I know this sounds like life and it may not even compare to your trials but we are all dealing with life in our own way. Everyone has their own struggle and their own journey that they must endure and overcome. The Lord kept me strong and I did not complain throughout and I accepted every challenge with a smile, flipped the situations and over came them BUT I still messed up.
Although I was faithful and followed what I thought the Lord wanted me to do, I STOPPED focusing on the goals I had set for myself. So although, I was diligent in what God wanted me to do, I was not consistent in what God needed me to do in order to step into what He has for me. Where I should have been 10 steps closer, I was 20 steps behind (could this be an illusion).
How you ask? Although, I progressed it was not at the rate that I should have grown (a possible illusion). I read the Bible, but I have not finished reading the entire Bible. I built a stronger relationship with God, but it should be much stronger. I have a number of notes to share, but I should have much more and I have not consistently published (last blog was in May). My individual goals were not nurtured as consistent as they should have been. They were not priorities although they were a focus. My priority was to handle my trials instead of balancing the trials with my goals. This is where I need to be better. I need to be able to balance both and progress while I am in the storm in all areas of my life.
This is where we need to be better. When we are focused on making changes for the better, we will be challenged not with the will of completing goals but by balancing them with the trials and obstacles that are unforeseen. Successful people have the ability to not only handle the unforeseen, but also BALANCE the the unforeseen with the goals they have set out to achieve.
Satan uses “life” to distract us. Life can be an illusion. There are things you wouldn’t necessarily attribute to being an obstacle but those are the things that get through when the obvious is noticed. Satan’s goal is not necessarily to keep you from obtaining your blessing, but to postpone them. He relishes when he can keep people from receiving their blessing, but he understands that postponing them is just as good.
Think about the Israelites journey to the promise land. The Israelites were guaranteed to make it to the promise land BUT the trip took 40 years when it should have taken 11 days. Many missed their blessing while Caleb and Joshua had to wait despite being faithful when the majority was not. It was the circle they were associated with which caused them to wait to receive. What would have happened to Joshua and Caleb if they lost faith during the 40 years they had to wait for their blessing? How much different would Israel’s history be if the people who saw the Red Sea parted completed the journey to the promise land?
The focus of the negative is the illusion that can hold you back from your blessing. What could have been is a common illusion. It is an illusion that is hard to overcome depending on the situation because of your mindset, perspective and your focus. You can easily move on from a relationship, but a missed dream is something you are still dealing with. You are not able to get over a promotion you thought was yours, but you were able to move on from not pursuing a higher degree. It is a matter of perspective, which makes this illusion so tough to overcome. It is tough to overcome because this illusion is situational. Situational illusions can be the easiest to identify but the hardest to accept and change.
In Philippians 3:12-14 Paul writes a letter while in prison to encourage a church he helped create. In the letter he highlights that they have not arrived yet, to make sure their past does not define their future and to aggressively approach their future. He did all this while being in a storm. He was able to walk in his purpose and help others while in the midst of his own trial. Paul did not let his situation determine his actions. He would have written that letter regardless of what he was dealing with at the time.
Despite everything I have done, I have to use the 168 hours I am giving each week more efficiently and not allow myself to be distracted. I have to do better with balancing my goals with my career and handling what life brings while walking within my purpose. Being discouraged is no longer an issue for me; it is all about making sure I do not lengthen my journey to my promise. I need to understand that I maybe able to get to my blessing quicker through executing the correct plan, but also realizing regardless of what I do I still may have 40 years to wait.
Illusions seem complex but are actually very simple. The three illusions I have identified for myself are managing distractions, balance, and follow through. What are your illusions in your life? If your life were a magic trick, what would go unidentified or unnoticed if you did not know the trick? If you are not sure, think about your purpose and what is keeping you from it. Pray for enlightenment and once you receive the truth, accept, take action, adjust, and grow.
If you are like me I am sure you have had progress this year as well as mistakes and failures but have grown a lot this year. I have made some big strides towards my goals and walking within my purpose. I have identified a number of my mistakes and have developed a plan to ensure that I do not repeat my mistakes. Do not ignore the progress that you have made. Celebrate them. Do not let your failures overshadow your progress. If you feel like you have not progressed, you have identified an illusion.
Although this blog has a New Years resolution feel. It was written to help you assess your growth for not just 2018 but throughout life. Reread and assess your progress throughout the years. Remember as long as you consistently believe in God and work towards what He has for you a breakthrough will follow. It could be 11 days or 40 years or somewhere outside of that window, but it will come. Be patient while aggressively attacking your future while walking within your purpose.
In the comments feel free to share your illusions, struggles, progress and blessings to provide encouragement to others. Revisit and share with others of the blessings you gained during the year but never forget God has more in store for you.
VisualizeExecuteTransform
lluv
Although I was faithful and followed what I thought the Lord wanted me to do, I STOPPED focusing on the goals I had set for myself. So although, I was diligent in what God wanted me to do, I was not consistent in what God needed me to do in order to step into what He has for me. Where I should have been 10 steps closer, I was 20 steps behind (could this be an illusion).
How you ask? Although, I progressed it was not at the rate that I should have grown (a possible illusion). I read the Bible, but I have not finished reading the entire Bible. I built a stronger relationship with God, but it should be much stronger. I have a number of notes to share, but I should have much more and I have not consistently published (last blog was in May). My individual goals were not nurtured as consistent as they should have been. They were not priorities although they were a focus. My priority was to handle my trials instead of balancing the trials with my goals. This is where I need to be better. I need to be able to balance both and progress while I am in the storm in all areas of my life.
This is where we need to be better. When we are focused on making changes for the better, we will be challenged not with the will of completing goals but by balancing them with the trials and obstacles that are unforeseen. Successful people have the ability to not only handle the unforeseen, but also BALANCE the the unforeseen with the goals they have set out to achieve.
Satan uses “life” to distract us. Life can be an illusion. There are things you wouldn’t necessarily attribute to being an obstacle but those are the things that get through when the obvious is noticed. Satan’s goal is not necessarily to keep you from obtaining your blessing, but to postpone them. He relishes when he can keep people from receiving their blessing, but he understands that postponing them is just as good.
Think about the Israelites journey to the promise land. The Israelites were guaranteed to make it to the promise land BUT the trip took 40 years when it should have taken 11 days. Many missed their blessing while Caleb and Joshua had to wait despite being faithful when the majority was not. It was the circle they were associated with which caused them to wait to receive. What would have happened to Joshua and Caleb if they lost faith during the 40 years they had to wait for their blessing? How much different would Israel’s history be if the people who saw the Red Sea parted completed the journey to the promise land?
The focus of the negative is the illusion that can hold you back from your blessing. What could have been is a common illusion. It is an illusion that is hard to overcome depending on the situation because of your mindset, perspective and your focus. You can easily move on from a relationship, but a missed dream is something you are still dealing with. You are not able to get over a promotion you thought was yours, but you were able to move on from not pursuing a higher degree. It is a matter of perspective, which makes this illusion so tough to overcome. It is tough to overcome because this illusion is situational. Situational illusions can be the easiest to identify but the hardest to accept and change.
In Philippians 3:12-14 Paul writes a letter while in prison to encourage a church he helped create. In the letter he highlights that they have not arrived yet, to make sure their past does not define their future and to aggressively approach their future. He did all this while being in a storm. He was able to walk in his purpose and help others while in the midst of his own trial. Paul did not let his situation determine his actions. He would have written that letter regardless of what he was dealing with at the time.
Despite everything I have done, I have to use the 168 hours I am giving each week more efficiently and not allow myself to be distracted. I have to do better with balancing my goals with my career and handling what life brings while walking within my purpose. Being discouraged is no longer an issue for me; it is all about making sure I do not lengthen my journey to my promise. I need to understand that I maybe able to get to my blessing quicker through executing the correct plan, but also realizing regardless of what I do I still may have 40 years to wait.
Illusions seem complex but are actually very simple. The three illusions I have identified for myself are managing distractions, balance, and follow through. What are your illusions in your life? If your life were a magic trick, what would go unidentified or unnoticed if you did not know the trick? If you are not sure, think about your purpose and what is keeping you from it. Pray for enlightenment and once you receive the truth, accept, take action, adjust, and grow.
If you are like me I am sure you have had progress this year as well as mistakes and failures but have grown a lot this year. I have made some big strides towards my goals and walking within my purpose. I have identified a number of my mistakes and have developed a plan to ensure that I do not repeat my mistakes. Do not ignore the progress that you have made. Celebrate them. Do not let your failures overshadow your progress. If you feel like you have not progressed, you have identified an illusion.
Although this blog has a New Years resolution feel. It was written to help you assess your growth for not just 2018 but throughout life. Reread and assess your progress throughout the years. Remember as long as you consistently believe in God and work towards what He has for you a breakthrough will follow. It could be 11 days or 40 years or somewhere outside of that window, but it will come. Be patient while aggressively attacking your future while walking within your purpose.
In the comments feel free to share your illusions, struggles, progress and blessings to provide encouragement to others. Revisit and share with others of the blessings you gained during the year but never forget God has more in store for you.
VisualizeExecuteTransform
lluv
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