You have arrived, and now you are entering 2024 with an attitude of “Bleak or Promising” for this new year. I always love selecting my new appointment calendar [and yes, I like old school best!] and selecting stickers for birthdays and anniversaries I do not want to forget. I also use my special “gold pen” to write the word “HEAVEN” across all those loved ones who have changed their address from earth to heaven. And then, I look at my desk and see this:
The unfinished items from the previous year. You know, I have come very close to just brushing the entire pile into the trash can; that way, I have a clean start. Well, I don’t do that.
Since I was a young teenager, I have felt the need to rearrange my entire room. You know, give it a “refresh.”
So, I take everything out [yes, even the furniture], and I start with a blank slate. “Releasing” the old things and way of doing my business. This process somehow clears my mind.
I clean the entire room, air it out with a coat on, and begin fresh and new. “refreshing” my office. If a pen doesn’t work, the big black trash bags are at hand. “Releasing” that which doesn’t work or fit my business anymore.
I file the many books I have back into their place on the library shelves, toss old magazines, look at cards and correspondence, and decide who needs a reply or thank you. I set all my current studies and references for the entire year on a special shelf, and look at my new refreshed office. “Renewing” my mind for the year ahead.
So, what about you? You can think of this process as a three-step activity if you like.
Release – If you touch something or bring it into your office or home, do something with it. Don’t just lay it down and say, I’ll look at it later. That’s how clutter is formed. Release/Toss that which no longer serves you. I once had a great mentor who was a clothing coach [yes, there is such a thing]; she and I spent an entire day in my closet. She was on a comfortable chair with a teacup in hand, and I had a large black construction bag. She had me try on every single piece of clothing in my closet. [Yes, it was exhausting, but it taught me a great lesson.] I would put on a dress or other item, and she would ask: “Do you love it?” “When was the last time you wore this?” and the questions got harder. If I said YES, we kept the item. If I said NO, then she would cheerfully say: “You know, there is another woman just waiting to wear that outfit. Let’s give her a chance to shine in it!”
Refresh – If it is possible and you have a hallway or a long table you can use, take everything out of the room you use as an office. Start with a blank slate, so to speak, and clean everything. If it’s cold where you are, shut the door, put on your coat, and open a window to air out the place. It only takes a few minutes. Then clean everything, sort of like spring cleaning only in winter. If something needs repair – do that now. If you want to repaint, do that. Add a new decorative item or picture or, better yet, something inspirational to the walls.
Renew – Now, think about where you work best and in what light. Thoughtfully place your furniture first, then your books, binders, or whatever is essential for your optimal work environment. Make sure everything works and is conveniently placed for your best production activities. I especially am particular to “spaghetti” [all those tech wires running amuck!]. There are thousands of solutions. Choose one and cinch those lines up.
Now, you can begin to put your mind to work in a “Growth mindset.” This doesn’t just magically happen. You must have your office, your home, and your life in an order where you have the bandwidth to think, make decisions, clear thinking, and presence to move forward.
Are you a person who seeks out and prays for a “WORD for the YEAR?” Perhaps you can do this activity. The word doesn’t magically show up. You must be very focused and have a quiet, calm atmosphere where you can pray and think and listen to God’s voice. I highly recommend you do not follow the “likes” on Facebook around items that try to help you with this activity. Why? What works for one person [just like a lifestyle food program] will not work for everyone. Trust your inner feelings [AKA Holy Spirit] to guide you in this process. If this isn’t for you…. stop beating yourself up and move on to your reading through the Bible in a year, or daily devotional, or your next small group study. Look up in your Bible and read Jeremiah 29: 11-13 again.
“For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope. Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me, and I will hear you. You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart.”
God corrects our behavior. Did you know this? How did God correct your behavior, your decisions, or the outcomes you were praying for, and you did not get the outcome you prayed for? Interesting question, right? What about all the blessings He bestowed upon you in 2023? Can you name them? Did you thank Him for all those blessings? Many times, I have discussed on this blog what stops the answers we ask for when we pray. In fact, I took my own small group through an entire year of “Prayer.” I found it informative and very enlightening. With your permission, I want to tell you about those exact reasons so that you may benefit and test your own prayer life here and the answers you receive.
These items come directly from a study entitled Walking in Fellowship with God, Disciples’ Prayer Life, by T. W. Hunt & Catherine Walker. Published by LifeWay.
Dealing with Hindrances and Delays: Did you ever wonder about the reason behind these four answers given by God to your prayer request? No, Yes, Wait, & Refuse to hear His answer. These are pretty straightforward if you are a mature Believer, but sometimes even a mature Believer ignores or is blinded by the reasons.
Let’s take a look at these.
SIN – is the biggest reason. If we continue to sin, the answer will be just outside of our reach. Until we learn the lesson God has for us by stopping a sin or multiple sins, we will continue to hear NO from God.
WRONG MOTIVES – often, the reason [motive] we want something is not in alignment with God’s way of wanting us to live, work, and serve His kingdom.
UNBELIEF – this one is perhaps the biggest stumbling block to many. We may fear God doesn’t want to give us the answer, or we fear what we are asking for is too difficult or big for God. We do know that is a falsehood from the pit of Hell, and still, we entertain the thought.
SIN ROADBLOCKS – We may pray and pray, and nothing happens, but there are certain roadblocks to our prayers. There are six of these roadblocks we must examine when we pray.
- Anger – see what 1 Timothy 2:8 says about Anger.
- Idolatry – Look up Ezekial 14:3 and see what the Old Testament says about Idolatry.
- Indifference – In today’s culture, many fall prey to Indifference; see Provers 21:13.
- 4. Hypocrisy – Looking for attention, 15 seconds of fame in media, and so on will cause a delay in His answer; check out Matthew 6:5.
- Unforgiving Spirit – Sometimes, it is hard to forgive another person for a sin committed against you, and yet, we are told this is a roadblock to answers to our prayers. Mark 11:25 talks about the Unforgiving Spirit.
- Broken Relationships – yes, there are times when a relationship with another person becomes broken. God tells us to mend those relationships. Look up Matthew 5: 23-24.
This month is a month of new beginnings. Take off the old and put on a new being in Jesus Christ. If you are looking for a friend to walk beside you on your journey to Christ-Centered Living in 2024, may I offer my hand to hold yours and walk with you? All you have to do is email mail me at the address below. Let’s start our conversation and journey together in 2024.
janice@janicebastanicoaching.com
8914 Collina Ct.
Granite Bay, CA 95746
908-229-3797
www.janicebastanicoaching.com
www.johnmaxwellgroup.com/janicebastani
You have arrived, and now you are entering 2024 with an attitude of “Bleak or Promising” for this new year. I always love selecting my new appointment calendar [and yes, I like old school best!] and selecting stickers for birthdays and anniversaries I do not want to forget. I also use my special “gold pen” to write the word “HEAVEN” across all those loved ones who have changed their address from earth to heaven. And then, I look at my desk and see this:
The unfinished items from the previous year. You know, I have come very close to just brushing the entire pile into the trash can; that way, I have a clean start. Well, I don’t do that.
Since I was a young teenager, I have felt the need to rearrange my entire room. You know, give it a “refresh.”
So, I take everything out [yes, even the furniture], and I start with a blank slate. “Releasing” the old things and way of doing my business. This process somehow clears my mind.
I clean the entire room, air it out with a coat on, and begin fresh and new. “refreshing” my office. If a pen doesn’t work, the big black trash bags are at hand. “Releasing” that which doesn’t work or fit my business anymore.
I file the many books I have back into their place on the library shelves, toss old magazines, look at cards and correspondence, and decide who needs a reply or thank you. I set all my current studies and references for the entire year on a special shelf, and look at my new refreshed office. “Renewing” my mind for the year ahead.
So, what about you? You can think of this process as a three-step activity if you like.
Release – If you touch something or bring it into your office or home, do something with it. Don’t just lay it down and say, I’ll look at it later. That’s how clutter is formed. Release/Toss that which no longer serves you. I once had a great mentor who was a clothing coach [yes, there is such a thing]; she and I spent an entire day in my closet. She was on a comfortable chair with a teacup in hand, and I had a large black construction bag. She had me try on every single piece of clothing in my closet. [Yes, it was exhausting, but it taught me a great lesson.] I would put on a dress or other item, and she would ask: “Do you love it?” “When was the last time you wore this?” and the questions got harder. If I said YES, we kept the item. If I said NO, then she would cheerfully say: “You know, there is another woman just waiting to wear that outfit. Let’s give her a chance to shine in it!”
Refresh – If it is possible and you have a hallway or a long table you can use, take everything out of the room you use as an office. Start with a blank slate, so to speak, and clean everything. If it’s cold where you are, shut the door, put on your coat, and open a window to air out the place. It only takes a few minutes. Then clean everything, sort of like spring cleaning only in winter. If something needs repair – do that now. If you want to repaint, do that. Add a new decorative item or picture or, better yet, something inspirational to the walls.
Renew – Now, think about where you work best and in what light. Thoughtfully place your furniture first, then your books, binders, or whatever is essential for your optimal work environment. Make sure everything works and is conveniently placed for your best production activities. I especially am particular to “spaghetti” [all those tech wires running amuck!]. There are thousands of solutions. Choose one and cinch those lines up.
Now, you can begin to put your mind to work in a “Growth mindset.” This doesn’t just magically happen. You must have your office, your home, and your life in an order where you have the bandwidth to think, make decisions, clear thinking, and presence to move forward.
Are you a person who seeks out and prays for a “WORD for the YEAR?” Perhaps you can do this activity. The word doesn’t magically show up. You must be very focused and have a quiet, calm atmosphere where you can pray and think and listen to God’s voice. I highly recommend you do not follow the “likes” on Facebook around items that try to help you with this activity. Why? What works for one person [just like a lifestyle food program] will not work for everyone. Trust your inner feelings [AKA Holy Spirit] to guide you in this process. If this isn’t for you…. stop beating yourself up and move on to your reading through the Bible in a year, or daily devotional, or your next small group study. Look up in your Bible and read Jeremiah 29: 11-13 again.
“For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope. Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me, and I will hear you. You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart.”
God corrects our behavior. Did you know this? How did God correct your behavior, your decisions, or the outcomes you were praying for, and you did not get the outcome you prayed for? Interesting question, right? What about all the blessings He bestowed upon you in 2023? Can you name them? Did you thank Him for all those blessings? Many times, I have discussed on this blog what stops the answers we ask for when we pray. In fact, I took my own small group through an entire year of “Prayer.” I found it informative and very enlightening. With your permission, I want to tell you about those exact reasons so that you may benefit and test your own prayer life here and the answers you receive.
These items come directly from a study entitled Walking in Fellowship with God, Disciples’ Prayer Life, by T. W. Hunt & Catherine Walker. Published by LifeWay.
Dealing with Hindrances and Delays: Did you ever wonder about the reason behind these four answers given by God to your prayer request? No, Yes, Wait, & Refuse to hear His answer. These are pretty straightforward if you are a mature Believer, but sometimes even a mature Believer ignores or is blinded by the reasons.
Let’s take a look at these.
SIN – is the biggest reason. If we continue to sin, the answer will be just outside of our reach. Until we learn the lesson God has for us by stopping a sin or multiple sins, we will continue to hear NO from God.
WRONG MOTIVES – often, the reason [motive] we want something is not in alignment with God’s way of wanting us to live, work, and serve His kingdom.
UNBELIEF – this one is perhaps the biggest stumbling block to many. We may fear God doesn’t want to give us the answer, or we fear what we are asking for is too difficult or big for God. We do know that is a falsehood from the pit of Hell, and still, we entertain the thought.
SIN ROADBLOCKS – We may pray and pray, and nothing happens, but there are certain roadblocks to our prayers. There are six of these roadblocks we must examine when we pray.
- Anger – see what 1 Timothy 2:8 says about Anger.
- Idolatry – Look up Ezekial 14:3 and see what the Old Testament says about Idolatry.
- Indifference – In today’s culture, many fall prey to Indifference; see Provers 21:13.
- 4. Hypocrisy – Looking for attention, 15 seconds of fame in media, and so on will cause a delay in His answer; check out Matthew 6:5.
- Unforgiving Spirit – Sometimes, it is hard to forgive another person for a sin committed against you, and yet, we are told this is a roadblock to answers to our prayers. Mark 11:25 talks about the Unforgiving Spirit.
- Broken Relationships – yes, there are times when a relationship with another person becomes broken. God tells us to mend those relationships. Look up Matthew 5: 23-24.
This month is a month of new beginnings. Take off the old and put on a new being in Jesus Christ. If you are looking for a friend to walk beside you on your journey to Christ-Centered Living in 2024, may I offer my hand to hold yours and walk with you? All you have to do is email mail me at the address below. Let’s start our conversation and journey together in 2024.
janice@janicebastanicoaching.com
8914 Collina Ct.
Granite Bay, CA 95746
908-229-3797
www.janicebastanicoaching.com
www.johnmaxwellgroup.com/janicebastani
