Are you tired of you? I’ve been there. I’ve found myself in a rut and realized I needed to change. It wasn’t always easy to get unstuck, but it was easy to accept the rewards on the other side of becoming a new “me.” Here are three practical steps that I discovered to becoming a new you. I wanted to share them with you so that if you’re tired of where you are today, you can be encouraged and prepared to go where you want to be!
1. Recognize where you are. You know, a lot of times people don’t take a look and say, “This is where I am.” I had to look at myself and admit I had had the same hairstyle for the last ten years! Maybe you’ve been reading the same scripture for the past ten years. Maybe you’ve been doing the same broken routines for the past ten years. You have to recognize where you are. Maybe you want to lose weight, but to do that you have to stop eating Twinkies and doughnuts every day. I drink soda every day. I have to face the reality of where I am so I can get to where I want to be.
2. Recognize where you’re going. What is your goal? You can’t just say, for example, “I want to lose weight” or “I want to look better” or “I want to change my hair.” You’ve got to do something. A couple of years ago I decided to change my hairstyle. I had had it one way forever, and I spent probably five or six hours looking through books, trying to find a different hairstyle I wanted to give a chance. I had to do the same thing with my ministry. I mean, you can’t sit around and think you’re going to preach the gospel to the world. You can’t preach if you don’t have something to say, so I had to determine to spend more time in the Word, in prayer, in fasting. It doesn’t come easy, but it comes full of rewards if I do what I’m supposed to do.
3. Start the process. You can’t just say, “I know I need to lose weight.” You have to start the process. Join Zumba or something! The problem with most people is that they don’t start. You can’t finish what you don’t start, amen? Start somewhere. Don’t make goals so big you can’t obtain them. If you’re not reading the Word at all, start by reading one scripture a day. If you’re reading one scripture, read one chapter a day. Limit your time on social media so you can spend more time in the Word. If you want a better marriage, get some resources and watch some YouTube videos on how to build a better marriage. If you need help being successful financially, find somebody to help you create a budget and learn to manage your money.
Listen, I encourage you to tell me your goals. There’s something powerful that happens when we share our plans out loud with another believer. Where do you want to go? Just say, “Pastor Sharon, these are my goals. This is what I’m believing for. I’m writing them down so that I can be successful in pursuing them. Will you believe with me?” I’d love to stand with you in faith and prayer that you will have the wisdom and dedication to becoming a new (and improved) you!
