Marilyn Chappell
It’s the first day of the New Year…. fresh start, new vision, new resolutions; a chance for a New You. Without a New Mindset, it will be hard to maintain a new you in this new year. What area of your life are you willing to invest (time, energy, money, etc.) and develop a new mindset in order to achieve new results in this new year?
According to History and Column Five’s Research on New Year’s by the Number, statistics show that the top five new years resolution are:
Lose Weight
Get Organized
Spend Less/ Save Money
Stay Fit & Healthy
Quit Smoking
Statistics prove that people are more likely to keep their new years resolution through the first month, but then slowly becomes less important and less interesting as the months go by. Below are the percentages of how long people keep there new years resolution:
75% the 1st week
71% the 2nd week
64% by the 4th week
46% by the 7th month
Based off of the statistics shown, it’s obvious in the new year we all have great vision, ideas, and intentions. I believe we have to become more intentional when we set new years resolutions by investing our time, energy, and money into developing our mindsets in order to not only achieve new results, but also maintain them when we get there.
On New Year’s Eve, my family and I enjoyed an outing at IFLY, and indoor skydiving center, which was a great investment for the experience that left us all with a message going into 2018. As we arrived to the location, we each became excited about the opportunity to try something new. We walked into the facility fairly early, signed in, and was directed to have a seat until our groups time was called to begin our adventure. We found a great seat giving us a great view of all the people before us that were excited to fly just as we were. As we watched people float in the air and soar up, it was just amazing to see. At the end of each groups session, the instructor would put on a show, basically showing off his skills and tricks and entertaining us with hopes we would probably come back for more to learn how to do all that they were able to do. It wasn’t until they called our group, and we had the opportunity to position ourselves to fly that we really began to appreciate the experience, the process, the details, and the view of preparing, and developing our minds to do what the instructors taught us in training, and remembering the techniques they showed us in order for us to fly. The amazing thing about this whole experience is that God was in the details. The message behind each step, I believe is the way we can approach our New Years Resolutions with a New Mindset in order to achieve and maintain New Results in this New Year.
Step 1
As we entered the door we had to get in position ready to fly. When we set new years resolutions, we must get in position. We must prepare our minds for what is about to happen. We must prepare for the experience by getting in position with our actions. I remember the instructor calling my name to approach him to begin the experience and he instructed me to put my hands up, feet apart, and lean forward. What are the things that you need to do today (quickly) in order to prepare for take off?
Hebrews 10-22-25 (22)Let us draw near to God with a sincere heart and with the full assurance that faith brings, having our hearts sprinkled to cleanse us from a guilty conscience and having our bodies washed with pure water. (23)Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who promised is faithful. (24)And let us consider how we may spur one another toward love and good deeds, (25)not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another and all the more as you see the Day approaching.
Step 2
As I leaned forward, I began to trust the air to catch me. When we set new years resolutions, we must have faith and trust God. The fear of “what if’s”, and “how” may torment you, but you must speak Gods Word over your life and keep moving forward. I like to write down my “Go-To” scriptures, and get them down in my spirit by learning to recite them word for word. Therefore as trials, tribulations, and temptations rise, I can encourage myself with Gods Word, and overcome the enemies trick to get me to quit, and not complete what I started. The vision that you have to start a business, the vacation that you dreamed of always taking, the cigarettes that you will stop smoking, the workout plan that you have to help you lose weight and live a healthier life, the money you have always wanted to save, and I can go on and on. Will you lean forward today, and have faith that God will provide for you, protect you, and lead you the way?
Hebrews 11:1-3, (1)Now faith is the confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see. (2)This is what the ancients were commended for. (3)By faith we understand that the universe was formed at God’s command, so that what is seen was not made out of what was visible.
Step 3
With the position and techniques that I learned in training, the air caught me, and I was floating in the air. When we set new years resolutions, we must take the time to keep feeding ourselves with knowledge, wisdom, and new techniques to keep the momentum going, the excitement flowing, and the mind growing. What trainings & conferences will you attend to keep you focused, knowledgeable, and relevant? What exercises will you continue to learn on your journey to losing weight in order to overcome the plateau stage? What systems will you put in place in order to save you time, energy, and money. What would you do today, if money was not an option, or if you knew you could not fail?
Proverbs 3:5-6, (5)Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; (6)in all your ways submit to Him, and He will make your paths straight.
Phillipians 1:6, Being confident of this, that He who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.
Step 4
As I began to fly around in the air, I realized that the instructor was beside me instructing my hands, legs, and head to keep me from descending. When we set new years resolutions, must believe that we can achieve whatever we put our minds to. When we invite God into our plans, He will meet us where we are (weak or strong), and His plan will prevail over your plan. As you seek God, and keep his Word rooted in your heart, you begin to understand where your blessings come from. You begin to know that God is with you everywhere that you go. You begin to understand that the people that were place in your path, and many times people you don’t even know were sent to help you to achieve your goals; to help you to elevate because that is their assignment ordered by God. Therefore you embrace the journey, and you do not take it for granted.
Psalm 121:2-8, (2)My help comes from the Lord, who made heaven and earth! (3)He will not let you stumble; the one who watches over you will not slumber. (4)Indeed, he who watches over Israel never slumbers or sleeps. (5)The Lord himself watches over you! The Lord stands beside you as your protective shade. (6)The sun will not harm you by day, nor the moon at night. (7)The Lord keep you from all harm and watches over your life. (8)The Lord keeps watch over you as you come and go, both now and forever.
Amen! I pray that this message that my family and I received from our experience at IFLY, an indoor skydiving center, blesses you as it blessed us. In order to Soar above normal Altitudes to achieve and maintain what God has for you, you must Have Faith, Trust God, Trust the Process, and Pay Attention to the Details. God is ready to take you where you could never go on your own; New Altitudes.
Happy New Year!
***NEW YEAR, NEW MINDSET, NEW RESULTS***
~~~BELIEVE~~
Be Encouraged Live Informed Expecting Victory Everyday!