We’ve all acquired patterns of behavior that form the basis of our daily routines. But what happens when our daily routines are suddenly changed? After spending a year embracing uncertainty, how do we start to move forward?

The beginning of 2021 is the perfect time to reset our minds, look closely at our habits, and prepare our hearts for what God is going to do next.

Here are 5 ways to do that:

Set aside time with God every day.

You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart.

JEREMIAH 29:13

Start rebuilding healthy habits by making time with God your top priority. When you prioritize time with Him, you allow Him to renew your mind and change the way you think.

One tool you can use to create a daily quiet time routine is Verse of the Day Stories. Start your day with a Story and get into the habit of letting God’s Word speak to you.

Ask yourself: At what times of day do I find it easiest and hardest to connect with God?

Fix your eyes on Jesus

Let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith.

HEBREWS 12:1-2

Keeping Jesus at the center of your life will help you lay aside anything that might easily entangle you, and eventually, this practice will change the way you live.

So today, take a moment to think about what might be keeping you from focusing entirely on Jesus. Try creating a Prayer in your Bible App and list the distractions you want to surrender. Then, set up a Prayer reminder to help you give those distractions over to Jesus every day.

Ask yourself: What desires are keeping me from centering my life completely around Jesus?

Remember Whose you are

You are not your own, for you were bought with a price. So glorify God in your body.

1 CORINTHIANS 6:19-20

Everything you’ve sacrificed this past year will never compare to the ultimate sacrifice God made for you. So when you begin to grow discouraged, remember that God is eternally invested in your life. Your future is in the hands of Someone who loves you, and He wants you to become the person He created you to be.

Ask yourself: What habits will help me glorify God more?

Start small

One who is faithful in a very little is also faithful in much, and one who is dishonest in a very little is also dishonest in much.

LUKE 16:10

Growth takes time, so just pick something small you’d like to change, and start there. Consistently doing one thing well will make it easier to master other habits later. And if you miss a day (or five), give yourself grace. Starting small makes it easier to pick yourself back up and keep moving forward.

Ask yourself: What is one thing I can start to master?

Invite others to join you

As iron sharpens iron, so one person sharpens another.

PROVERBS 27:17

We weren’t meant to go through life alone. You’ll find it easier to stay on track if you invite some friends to join you on your journey. Try finding a Bible Plan you’d like to read, and then commit to processing each Plan day together.

Ask yourself: What trusted friends can I invite to join me?

As you keep developing healthy habits, over time you will find yourself becoming more like the person God created you to be.

It only takes a moment to get going, and these 5 steps are a great place to start. Pick the number you want to focus on first, and then stay committed to moving forward by applying this bonus step…

Set Reminders to help you pursue what matters most.

Reminders are perfect for the times when you need some extra encouragement to continue to build good habits. And by setting up Bible App reminders, you’ll always have a way to stay connected to God’s Word and His will for you. Reminders are currently available for Bible Plans, Verse of the Day, and YouVersion Prayer.

Cued from youbible

Don’t allow negative people into your life. They do not wear a batch, carry a breastplate or a crested forehead with the word DANGER!
Some people come into your life and you mistake their presence for true love. But over time, you realize all they have accomplished was to drain you; mentally, emotionally, spiritually, and financially. You look back a few years later and realize you had lost yourself while being with them.
Suddenly, it looks like you have made no progress at all. These drainage pipes in human form don’t motivate, support, appreciate or inspire you to be a better version of yourself. They are possessive and don’t want you around other people except themselves. Their words and actions may not be direct, but their influence in your life rubs off negatively. From their deeds and speech, it becomes clear that they have an idea of the person they want you to be – forgetting God has a master plan for your life. They bruise your ego, diminish your self-worth and esteem.
It doesn’t happen overnight, but gradually, you become a shadow of yourself without even realizing. This negative transformation is subtle and most times goes unnoticed; the more love you open them to, the more they pierce your heart. Guard your heart with all diligence, the people you allow into your life will either have a positive or negative influence on you. There is no way around this fact. Choose your friends wisely, choose your partner with the same wisdom. No one wants to live a life of regret, forever is too long a time to perpetually mutter the words “had I known.”
Now that you do know, watch it. Be ever watchful.
It matters little how many times they call you up, tell you they love you, buy you expensive gifts or take you on shopping sprees.
The questions that should be plastered on the front of your mind are: Does this person inspire me to be better? Does he/she motivate and support me? Are we on the same spiritual frequency? Or has it become your unofficial duty to remind them of the basic necessities regarding religion and spiritual life in general? What about belief and doctrinal systems, are they aligned? Can they protect you? Are they a constant reminder of things you’re trying to forget? Do they compare you to others in your peer group? Are they making you feel imperfect because you don’t measure up to their notions of what perfection looks like?
Of course, no one is perfect and there isn’t a one-size-fit-all when it comes to human relations. But the above listed are some of the things you should be on the lookout for if you want to live happy and fulfil destiny. Think about how far you have come with some of the people present in your life. It is quite easy to tell if you are making progress or not. If you are the type that keeps a journal or diary, go through them and check your progress level. Go ahead, do that.
Life is too short to live unfulfilled and unhappy.
Remember, love is kind, love is patient, love keeps no record of wrong, love is forgiving, it has no room for negative energies. It’s pretty hard to let go, goodbyes are sad but it’s better to be single and living in a bubble of happiness that pleases God rather than be with someone or a group of people that make you compromise your faith. Truth is, even if you try to please these people by cutting corners and compromising your standards, they will never see any good in you. Say no to bad associations and toxic relationships.
Love you ZinoP