Tagged: discipline
HELLO OBEDIENCE
Naturally I looked it up.
When I clicked on submission it had a synonym of acceptance.
Recently I felt God leading me to make a decision that I didn’t necessarily want to make. In fact, in similar past circumstances I would ignore the nudges on my heart and I would continue doing what I was doing without a second thought, only to end up heart broken and feeling more damaged than before.
This time for some reason I felt an overwhelming-ness.
(It’s not a word, I know; I made it up!)
It was as if I could not disregard this discomfort or stirring in my spirit telling me that I was navigating dangerous waters. In the moment I would be good. I felt comfortable and content. Afterwards, I felt uneasy, doubtful and apprehensive. This went on for a couple of weeks before I decided to ask God for a specific sign. (Probably should have prayed on it on Day 1!)
Now you may or may not believe that God can answer our prayers with specific signs but I do. And because my flesh wanted one thing and my spirit was saying another I prayed for more clarity and a direct answer.
By now I’m sure you’re wondering if I got that answer.
As it so happens, I did. Was it the answer that I wanted? NO! BIG FAT RESOUNDING NO
I started to ignore it. Just like every other time. I said to myself, hmmm maybe things can work out either way. I’ll just keep doing what I’m doing and I’ll be just fine.
I’m glad to say that this time I listened to my gut feeling. I didn’t let myself get carried away by the desires of my flesh. Galatians 5:19 says, “When you follow the desires of your sinful nature, the results are very clear: sexual immorality, impurity, lustful pleasures.”
I am NOT willing to compromise my purity.
I am NOT willing to take a path that can lead to sexual impurity.
Which is why Galatians 5:16 is so important! 16 “So I say, let the Holy Spirit guide your lives. Then you won’t be doing what your sinful nature craves.”
This brings us back full circle.
It has become more important to me to be obedient to my Heavenly Father than to satisfy my own personal cravings. I’ve gotten to the place in my faith journey where submission to God’s law is a priority. I don’t want to feed the flesh and reap the repercussions. I long to strengthen my spirit and reap the blessings. I choose to accept God’s will for my life above what I think desire.
I am confident that as I delight myself in HIM, my King, that He will bless me with my heart’s deepest desires. (Psalm 37:4)
Comment below with what you are not willing to compromise. What have you had to be obedient about recently?
HELLO FINANCES
Today I want to share with you another of my New Years Resolutions….
BUDGETING!!!
Monthly Bi-Weekly Budget
At the end of 2014 I decided that I would extend my building better habits into my finances as well as my daily habits (read more here).
As a teacher in Florida I don’t make much to begin with and being signed up for summer pay makes my bi-weekly paychecks even thinner. Needless to say, the past few months on summer pay have been a struggle. In an effort to minimize the overdrafts and get it together financially I said,
“ENOUGH IS ENOUGH!”
I went online and searched for budget worksheets.
I found the checklist above. What a great resource!!! I’m always trying to remember if I paid that bill or the other and now I can check it off and know for sure that it’s paid.
I also created this document:
I couldn’t find a worksheet that had everything I wanted and most had things I didn’t need. So I made my own.It has already been extremely helpful. I love knowing how much has to go where and how much I’m going to have left over or if I need to move things around in order to cover the basics.
Feel free to download and edit it for your needs!!!
I hope that moving forward into 2015 my finances and yours will see an abundant increase!!!
Let’s be good stewards of that which the Lord has blessed us with. That in our obedience and good stewardship the Lord may bless us with more than we could ever hope for or imagine!!!
Happy Budgeting!!!
HELLO HABITS
It’s almost a month into 2015 and some people are going strong with their New Year Resolutions/Goals and others have probably already fallen off. I had a few “resolutions” myself. One of them was to build better habits into my daily life aka become more disciplined.
I am a firm believer in starting small and taking it one step at a time. I am also very much into using any resource that will help accomplish the goal. So in an attempt to help myself be successful I turned to the plethora of resources and ideas that is Pinterest! In my search I found this really helpful 30-Day-Challenge Habit Builder/Breaker Chart.
Okay, so here’s my confession.
And remember… JUDGEMENT FREE ZONE!!!
I’m messy. Like really messy. Unkempt bed, clothes in piles, shoes everywhere, stacks upon stacks of papers and stuff. But, and this is a big BUT… that is NOT how I was raised…. my mom went through extensive pains to get me to be more organized and tidy. She’s a bit of a neat freak herself and I’m the total opposite. So my goal was to become more disciplined. To start with making my bed every morning as soon as I step out of it. And guess what!?!? Using this 30-Day-Challenge Chart I’ve been able to start developing this habit. Every day for the past month by bed has been made and cleared off of all piles. It gives the room such a great look!
DUH!!!
Anyhow, I share all of this because I know that I am not the only girl out there who struggles with tidiness. I know that I am not the only one who struggles with being disciplined in the little things. And if you can’t in the little how will you be able to in the bigger things? I strongly encourage you to visit the DIY Home Sweet Home and download this bad boy! Take charge of your habits and start building or breaking the habits that are weighing you down! Trust me, if I can do it you definitely can too!!!
Comment below with your methods for building/breaking habits or if you’ve tried a chart similar to this one.
SUPERSTARNAT 