New Year, New Beginnings, Standing firm on my truth, taking hold of my authority over my own life.‪.‬ Targeted Warriors

It may be a new year but that doesn't automatically mean it will be a new season. Unfortunately, we often make this assumption but only God can change the seasons in our lives. It is however a notable thought to have because it keeps our hope alive. I have experienced some horrendous things in my life that I'm trying to convert from the natural to the spiritual perspective. What am I to learn from this? The Lord also known as Rabbi is always teaching us something. I'm always asking how long? How long is this semester Lord? I often see myself taking the same test over. The test we all will take in life is to turn our will over to the Lord. This means even though trials and persecution. Believe me, I know it sounds so religious and cliche but we have to admit that we have been conditioned to be strong-willed. We have been trained for independency and having a determination to be successful in our lives. Wealth does not equal success but we see this potrayed everywhere. We sometimes forget that God is the Potter and we are the clay and we attempt to mold ourselves into an image we see for ourselves and then God (the Potter) says I'm going to break this mold that's forming. He could decide to completely destroy the mold but all of his mercy and grace reforms the mold by reshaping, refining and polishing. I am learning to see through a different lense. I have to be honest and say this is very intentional, a very conscious effort. The flesh simply sees everything in the natural from a carnal mindset which results on murmuring and complaining which is nothing we want to become habitual. Resilience and perseverance comes from trials and persecution just like the traits that are obtained from soldiers after much training and being on an actual battlefield. It's no different. I am reminded that I am on a battlefield and everyday will not be pleasant. The word of God tells us that we are overcomers and each test and trial should be met addressed with a victorious mindset. No matter what we're going through, we have to remember that the battle is in the mind. We can overcome negative thoughts, fear, procrastination, anxiety, depression and every other enemy of our success. These are weapons of destruction in our lives. No weapon "formed" shall prosper if we put our trust in the Lord. Our circumstances do not define who we are right now but they will. Everything we experience shapes us. I don't enjoy persecution, trials or hardships but I am being taught to perservere. I am unbecoming in order to become and it's a grueling process. Humility is standing tall and Pride....let's just say it's resting in peace. I'm intentional about hearing from the Lord to the point of getting upset when I don't. Isn't this where we all should be. This is how we treat earthly relationships. God wants us to yearn for him. I see my relationship differently now because I've been placed in a position where he is all I've had to call upon in my darkest hours. He is the keeper of my soul and he's been who I've cried out to. He has kept me and continues to keep me. I owe it to Him that my mind is still in tact. I don't take the goodness of God for granted. I'm not exactly where I want to be but I'm not where I used to be. God has a picture of me that is far better than the one I have of myself. To be broken in many pieces does not mean destroyed even when it feels like it and even when we feel defeated on every side. God has a purpose and plan for everyone and the fact that we're still breathing means that we still have work to do, and an assignment to fulfill. We have to seek him for revelation and confirmations. A New Year resolution without God is no resolution all. We need to acknowledge that we need a Savior. When we try to take care of everything on our own we run out of reserves. The righteous will fall 7 times but we will get up again with God's help and not by any power of our own. My prayer is for our hope and trust in Christ