Maybe you started the year with a brand new lease on life, and it has quickly faded. Don't give up. The best time for new beginnings is now! 

Do you want your life to look different? Maybe you started the year with a brand new lease on life, and it has quickly faded. Don’t give up. It is not too late, and the best time for new beginnings is now! 

The present moment is always an excellent place to start a brand-new beginning. And guess what—God has gifted us with a new moment one right after the other. #startnow #newbeginnings Click To Tweet

You Can Be Who God Intended You to Be

It is never too late to be who God intended us to be. It doesn’t matter what we have done or not accomplished. We have to start, and there is nothing like the present. 

When You Think You Have Failed

When you think you have failed, let God be the judge and take input from others. We are much too critical of ourselves. Do you know what I mean?

At first glance, I felt like I had failed my spiritual goal from 2019. I wanted to be ready to step out of the boat with a deeper faith and keep my eyes fixed on Jesus. However, I hadn’t completed my goal in its entirety. You can read about Jesus and Peter walking on water here.

When you don't do something all the way or as you expected, do you call it a failure?  #failure #goals #newbeginnings #nevergiveup Click To Tweet

Although in working through the spiritual worksheets, talking with God, and listening to my wise husband, I realized I hadn’t failed at all. I did get out of the boat with my eyes fixed on Jesus on one significant endeavor of mine. Now, I might not have accomplished this goal of mine, yet steps in the right direction do indicate progress! 

Do you discount your steps when you can’t check it off your list as done?

Stepping Out of My Comfort Zone

Over the summer, I had a fantastic opportunity to do something that scared me spitless. I took the plunge and signed up at a writer’s conference to meet with publishers and agents to pitch a book idea. 

As I approached my first publisher, my knees were knocking, my hands were sweating, and my well-rehearsed pitch was nowhere to be found in the recess of my mind. Have you ever been at a complete loss for words? 

 As she started asking me questions, all my doubts came rushing to the forefront of my mind. The fear of rejection got the best of me. My voice cracked, and I couldn’t even recall what the name of my book was. It was a dreadful experience. At the first hint of a suggestion, I took it as criticism and was ready to give up.

That running monologue of you can’t do this, began taking over my thoughts. I stamped myself with failure and ended the meeting early. 

Taking all my thoughts of defeat, I headed straight to the privacy of my hotel room to weigh my options before my next appointment. I could quit. 

However, I live by the motto “Never Give Up.” Plus, I had promised God to get out of the boat this year. How could I break my vow to the Lord?  

I went straight to God in prayer. After a bit of whining, I sat and listened for His voice. In a whisper, I heard God loud and clear – “Maree, I have been with you every step of the way. Together, we have embraced the unexpected. This task is not beyond my strength. We have traveled through storms that threatened to drive you under the water. You can do this with me. However, you must take your eyes off of you and focus them on Me.”  

Immediately, I knew this was the best time for new beginnings, a fresh start. 

Maybe you started the year with a brand new lease on life, and it has quickly faded. Don't give up. The best time for new beginnings is now! 
Photo by Jamie Street on Unsplash

So I pulled it together and headed back for my afternoon appointments. What a difference! We chatted about my book, the excitement rose, and new ideas emerged. It was a fabulous afternoon meeting with wise publishers and agents. 

So why at first did I think I had failed. Well, I have put all the work of my book on a shelf and haven’t touched it since July. I struggled with letting go of obligations to make room for the time to write. Maybe fear has a little space there too. God and I are still working on that one.

Sometimes we don’t get as far as we want, but it certainly isn’t a failure.  

When You Can’t Hear God

This year I struggled and wrestled a bit with determining a spiritual goal for the new year. It seemed practical to keep the same one. I diligently worked through the packet, and then I waited and waited for direction from God. He was silent. 

Be patient when God seems impossible to hear. He usually works on a different timetable than us. #God #silence #newbeginnings Click To Tweet

Every day, I tried to force the words which kept coming to my mind. “Balance, Letting Go, Surrender, and more.”

Finally, one morning I awoke, with a word on my heart that I knew was from God. Of course, it seemed too simple, so I pulled out the thesaurus to find a more sophisticated one with a flash of pizzaz. Don’t worry; I quickly returned to my senses. After all, who questions God when you clearly hear His wisdom. The spiritual goal He chose for me is perfect, beautiful, and exactly where I need to concentrate on in 2020. 

Download your free worksheets today to set a spiritual goal. The best time for new beginnings is now. #spiritualgoal #mareedee Click To Tweet

My word this year will help me understand that the best time for new beginnings is now.  

 

My Spiritual Goal for 2020

Seek God in Everything

My Verse for 2020

“Seek His will in all you do, and

He will show you which path to take.”

 Proverbs 3:6  

Maree’s Word Phrase for 2020

Seek 

With a spiritual goal in place, we will be ready to set other ambitions. However, one big lesson I learned is as we try to take on new things, we must clear out the obstacles to make room for new beginnings.  

Let’s Clear the Obstacles Together

Are there things you want to accomplish, yet somehow obstacles keep getting in the way? They may have to do with time commitments, or maybe you are in the way. It is easy to let our insecurities, fear of failure, and circumstances take the lead.

Perhaps life has hit you with the unexpected, and you have tucked away your wants and desires. Join us in February as we are starting a new series on Letting Go to make room for new beginnings. 

What is holding you back from creating new beginnings right now?


Will you join me in setting a spiritual goal with God this year? 

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18 Comments

  1. My motto is as long as we are alive, we can begin again. Thank God for Jesus that he is with us all the time and he doesn’t hold our mistakes against us. May we not lean on our own understanding as we begin again this year and may we step out boldly in faith to be all he’s called us to be this year. Joshua 1:9 reminds us to be bold, banish all fear and doubt because the Lord our God is with us everywhere we go.

  2. Maree, it is so easy to feel like we have failed. And it sometimes seems less painful to just give up. I try to remember that God has simply called us to be faithful. It’s up to Him to do with that as He pleases in His timing. Sometimes that’s easier than at other times. Thanks for a beautiful reminder.

  3. Your one word and mine are very similar this year, Maree Dee. Mine is “insight” but you have to “seek it” or you won’t find any new insights! Lol! I’m trying to look at a lot of areas of my life this year and challenging my readers to go on the journey with me. It’s already been so powerful to combine that effort (personal) with a corporate one. I love offering and receiving support in whatever goal I’m chasing after. Thanks for these great resources and the reminder that we need to turn to the Lord to find our strength in weakness!

    1. Beth,

      Yes, they are very similar. Insight is a great word. I look forward to following you on your journey. Maree

  4. This was a very encouraging post! It fits well with some things I’ve been working through. In fact this phrase “When you think you have failed, let God be the judge and take input from others.” is exactly what I had to do a couple weeks ago and it led me to the Lord pushing the unpause button on my blog in writing my upcoming post! The Lord just continues to reaffirm things and it is beautiful!

    1. April – I love it when the Lord reaffirms things for us. I am glad God has pushed the unpause button. Thank you for sharing. Maree

  5. This post is God-breathed. The timing and reminders are perfect as I strive to begin again after a difficult January. I paused after reading your question about discounting my steps when I don’t complete something in its entirety. My answer is “yes” but just as soon as I said it I realized that God is a God of second chances and can’t wait for us to jump back on board. Thank you for honoring God and writing this post.

    1. Mary,

      Thank you for the beautiful encouragement. I am praying for your fresh start right now. Happy February. Blessings, Maree

  6. Such good advice – we must take our eyes off of ourselves and put them on God. Seeking God in everything you do is such a wonderful goal for 2020. Blessings and good wishes to you for the coming year!

    1. Laurie,

      Thank you! The goal is helping. I go to God for all the BIG stuff but want to make sure He is in everything. I hope you have a wonderful weekend. Maree

  7. I’ve done the exact same thing and let my fear dictate what I do or don’t do. I love your word for 2020. Mine is knowledge. I’m always afraid that I’ll say something out of context to what the scripture is saying and that someone will correct me in public. Even if that happens, so what, right? It’s all a learning process anyway. I don’t have a Bible verse. Not one, that I’ve actually said was my verse for 2020. I’ll have to work on that. I also like your spiritual goal. All great ideas that I’ll borrow if you don’t mind.

    Great word!

    1. Annette,

      I love your word and your attitude to go along with it. I, too, get so concerned I won’t have the context of scripture just right, and sometimes it keeps me from sharing. I have no doubt God is bigger than that. I would love to hear your verse when you find it. I am honored you want to borrow the idea. All the ideas are in the spiritual worksheets that I offered as a gift. I hope you got it.
      Blessings,

      Maree

  8. I love the part about stepping outside your comfort zone!!! Good things happen there. God is waiting for you there! 🙂

    Pinned, tweeted and will share to the IE Facebook.

    Thanks for linking up at InstaEncouragements!

    1. Thank you for all of your shares and for hosting a fantastic link-up. I love what you said, “God is waiting for you there.” Maree

  9. Oh Maree. Been there scared and looking more at myself than God. So easy to do. We. Need to count our progress as steps towards our goal. Love this post. And love your new phrase for the year. Yes, let us see God in everything we do.

    1. Theresa, Thank you! Glad to know I am not alone. I am so happy I read your comment this morning. I will start my day seeing God in everything. Maree