Taking action in your life and in the lives of the people around you is vital to a joyous life.
Ready, set, go! Many of us have heard this phrase many times in our lives, most likely for the first time as children in grade school during a race or other competition where the joy of victory was often enjoyed by only one person. We have all experienced defeat at times in our lives - you may be experiencing it right now! But there is hope! Think of the profound order of the phrase - the first being "ready." So what does ready mean and how do we get ready?
“We have all experienced defeat at times in our lives - you may be experiencing it right now! But there is hope!”
Ready
Profoundly, readiness begins with a vision. What is it we are trying to accomplish and why? Without vision, it is impossible to be properly prepared for anything. Vision is the ability to "think about or plan the future with imagination or wisdom." Of all the classes I've taken in high school and college, there was never a class named "Vision 101." So how do we properly develop a healthy vision for our lives and furthermore, the communities in which we live, work, and enjoy? It starts within - your spiritual ideology. This is what you believe about your life, its meaning, origin, and destination. In the Bible book of Genesis, God tells us that we were created in His image and likeness to His good pleasure. He describes the plan He has for us in the book of Isaiah and provides the Holy Spirit, the source of power to enjoy a relationship with Him. He equips us with knowledge, wisdom, and standards of living and relationships to enjoy Him and the company of one another.
The joys and rewards of this life are directly dependent upon your relationship with God.
While there is so much more to describe God and our relationship with Him, I encourage you to connect with a local Christian church to learn more. The Bible is available to anyone who asks and getting to know God and develop a relationship with Him is the one most important thing anyone can do in their entire lifetime. The joys and rewards of this life are directly dependent upon your relationship with God.
Set
So after you've developed your vision and plan, you're almost 'set' to begin. But what's left? The resources, priority, and timing of what you're about to begin. This means you'll need to develop your resources, priorities, partners, and timing. Who is the team that is going to help you? What are the resources you have or don't have in order to succeed? What trusted relationships do you have in place to ensure authenticity and accountability in your journey? These areas are vital to your life's journey as you embark on your journey in action and intention to experience joy and fulfillment in your life. So inventory where you are and where you want to be and prepare to infuse the necessary elements to help you get there.
Go
“Be authentic, embrace your gifts, engage others, and live out your story.”
The 'Go' stage is often confused as the first step in a journey, however, it's a common mistake that we've all made without the proper vision and plan. This does not mean that if you come across a bear in the woods, you don't go very fast in the opposite direction! It means that we go with purpose, meaning, and intention together. This is the time to be authentic, embrace your gifts, engage others, and live out your story.
Let your personality shine through inspired by your gifts and creativity. Be inspirational, authentic, and embrace the fullness of your vision and plan. There will be challenges and mistakes along the way that may require substantial effort and energy to address and as strange of this sounds, this is part of the joy of the journey. Some of our greatest memories encompass the challenges and barriers we were able to overcome. That is why so many people love a 1-in-a-million story or the victory of an underdog.
No matter what, stay focused on your vision and purpose, and adjust your plan along the way to best accommodate your circumstances and the people in your life. One thing is for certain, embracing the fullness of God's plan for your life will place you on a path of joy and reward for your good and His glory.
Now What?
Connect with us and connect with your local Christian church. Maybe its time to put some of your thoughts down on paper. Think about where you've been, where you are, and where you want to be. You may even find yourself inspired to engage with others in your family, your circle of friends, coworkers, or others - be courageous, your joy and the joy of others depends on you!
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