Fresh Vision

January always does something to me … do you feel the same way? 

It’s in January – although it is the dead of winter that something within me actually re-ignites.

While everything else is hibernating … I’m re-energized.

While everything else lays dormant … I’m growing like that infamous weed.

Your winter might look different than my winter … but the fire is there just the same.

While the air is frigid and the days are short – there is an eternal summer in my soul.

I am ready for new assignments … for fresh vision … and for untapped opportunities. 

Do you feel it, too? 

I think perhaps that I have re-programmed myself for this uncommon feeling that is mine – all mine - in January.  

Honestly, I spent so many of my January’s in the deep, dark of depression that I have retrained my mind and my heart to breeze through January rather than slog through it.

I have decided to sprint through January rather than plow through it. 

I have come to expect sunshine rather than gloom and joy rather than discouragement.

I decided to change “me” and to then see what would happen to my January. I decided to think differently … and to anticipate differently … and to process differently.

I have re-set my mind and my heart to take on whatever blizzard January might offer. 

I guess that I decided to take every thought captive to the obedience of Christ.

“We are destroying speculations and every lofty thing raised up against the knowledge of God, and we are taking every thought captive to the obedience of Christ.” – II Corinthians 10:5

I guess that I decided to guard my heart above all else.

“Guard your heart above all else, for it determines the course of your life.” – Proverbs 4:23 

And the change has been enormous. … the change in me has been nothing short of miraculous. 

So … would you allow me to be your January coach?  Could I help you through some of the icy, frozen days of your soul? 

First of all … think differently.  Don’t expect the worse … expect the best! 

For every negative thought that comes into your mind – replace it with a powerful Scripture verse.

Rather than thinking … I’ll never change … my life will always be like this … think this power thought: 

“I can do all things through Christ who gives me strength.” – Philippians 4:13 

Rather than dreading every day and supposing that only bad is ahead for you … think this power thought:

“God has not given me a spirit of fear but of power and love and a sound mind.” – II Timothy 1:7

Rather than embracing January as the most depressed month of the year … think this power thought: 

“In His presence is fullness of joy!” – Psalm 16:11 

This is not the power of positive thinking … this is the power of powerful thinking!

Don’t allow the icebergs of discouragement or despondency to grow in the cold caverns of your mind … melt them with the warmth of God’s Word!

My second coaching tip for you is to re-evaluate the feelings that are growing in like icicles in your heart. 

I have learned that it is much easier and more efficient to bring a gloomy feeling in from the cold when it is small rather than when it has grown to an unmanageable size.

When I began to feel the seeds of depression germinate in my January heart, I rapidly pulled them out and replace them with a healthier emotion.

You might wonder … how do you do that?  

Well … I proactively encourage someone else.  I send a sweet e-mail … or buy some flowers for my neighbor … or call an old friend on the phone to let them know that I appreciate them. 

Rather than focusing on my sadness … I try to set my gaze on the extraordinary opportunity to bring joy and gladness to someone else’s life. 

It works every time.

When I lay my head on the pillow at night … I can look back at my day and be thankful that God used me as a source of joy in someone else’s life.

Rather than having a dread come upon me as I wake up in the morning … I am filled with anticipation about how the Lord will use me that day. 

It’s January! What a great month to take every thought captive … to guard your heart … to think power thoughts … and to scatter joy everywhere you go!

I’m in … are you?

Thanks for listening to my heart this week.  As you know by now, my heart is truly not a perfect heart but it is a heart that is filled to overflowing with gratitude for the life I have been given and for the people who walk with me.  And, it continues to be a heart that is relentlessly chasing after God and all that He is!