Don’t Live The Same Year 75 Times…

… and call it a life.

We can live the same year 75 times and call it a life if we never change or try new things. It is easy to wake up one day and find ourselves living on auto-pilot and stuck in a well-worn rut.

This is a guest post by Beth Harris. She is a wife, mother, Bible study leader and volunteer editor for markalanwilliams.net.

I usually do not enjoy change or surprises, but my husband and I have always talked about visiting Washington D.C. and New York City. However, we kept visiting the same familiar places. We were kind of stuck in a comfortable rut.

So, a few years ago we took the opportunity to visit these cities in the fall. The first week we saw historical sites and museums in Washington D.C. The second week we visited Times Square, Central Park and the 9/11 Memorial in New York City. We rode the subway, met new people and experienced new places. As a result, we created wonderful memories that we will never forget.

But, we had to step outside of our comfort zone, make plans and reservations for the two weeks. We had some pre-flight jitters and fear that comes with staying in unfamiliar cities. Yet we had the most wonderful time.

Living life on repeat means that we could live the same year over and over, thus forfeiting opportunities for change and growth. We may even be missing out on the real meaning of life.

Would you like to make sure that you don’t live the same year over again?

Here are 4 steps to break out of a rut so you don’t live the same year over and over:

1. Accept God’s Purpose for Life

Isaiah 43:19 says, “See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it? I am making a way in the wilderness and streams in the wasteland.” (NIV)

God does new things and so should we! After all, He did a new thing by making a way for us to be redeemed and reconciled to Him through Jesus Christ.

2 Corinthians 5:17 says, Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here! (NIV)

What good news that we don’t have to wait for New Year’s Day to do new things and become new people. 

We can begin to change today. In Christ, we are not the same. We become new creations and we begin to live by faith.

With Jesus in control life can be filled with adventure.

2. Seek God for Dreams, Visions and Goals

If we feel like we’re stuck, doing the same thing the same way, we can seek God in prayer and through His Word for fresh dreams, visions and goals.

The idea is that we should be prayerful and thoughtful in considering change and trying new things.

3. Invite God to Interrupt Plans

Proverbs 3:5-6 says, “Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight. (NIV)

As Christians, it is wise to plan but then submit our schedules to God. We can invite Him to interrupt our agenda and trust Him to guide us. He may shake things up and lead us to take a different route, speak to a different person or try something entirely new.

We will be blessed if we make ourselves available to be used by Him.

4. Embrace Change

Once we accept that change is necessary and inevitable, it may be less traumatic when it happens.

We can begin to embrace change and trust that God is in control.

Romans 8:28 says, “And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.” (NIV)

Even when change is hard, God has a purpose for it and He promises to work for our good in all things

This topic reminds me of another quote:

Insanity is doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results.”

Most would agree that we don’t want to live the same year 75 times and call it a life. Trying new things and embracing change can lead to different results.

What change would you like to make?

Your thoughts are welcome! You can leave a comment below.

Help Spread the Word! If you found this article helpful, we’d love for you to share it with others on social media or otherwise. This will help get the Word in front of more people who need biblical guidance. Thanks for your help!

“Don’t live the same year 75 times and call it a life.”—Robin Sharma | CLICK TO TWEET

Additional resources about related subjects on this site:

• Setting Goals and Solving Problems

• How a Life Vision Helps You Reduce Stress and Accomplish More

• Quotecard You will never change your life…

• What is the Meaning of Life?

• How to Tackle a Mountain-Sized Goal in Faith

• quotecard We Make Our Decisions…

NOTE: Facebook is random. Email is reliable. Subscribe via email and you won’t miss any of my articles, podcasts or videos. You’ll also get my eBook: 10 Prayers to Unlock Heaven on Earth

Sometimes The Thoughts In My Head Get So Bored…

…they go out for a stroll through my mouth. This is rarely a good thing.

This quote that the thoughts in my head get so bored that they take a stroll through my mouth is meant to give a chuckle. However, a lack of control over our thoughts and speech isn’t funny when it causes us to think and say things that are harmful to ourselves and others.

This is a guest post by Beth Harris. She is a wife, mother, Bible study leader and volunteer editor for markalanwilliams.net.

Prior to becoming a Christian, I had little control over the thoughts in my head and my speech. My thoughts controlled me and consequently, I said and did many hurtful things that I’ve since asked God and others to forgive.

But, since becoming a Christian, God has taught me that I don’t have to entertain every thought or speak every idle word. I can ask the Holy Spirit to help me to think right thoughts and choose right words to speak.

In all honesty, it’s still a struggle and I am definitely a work in progress.

I have discovered that it’s usually when thoughts in my head get bored and wander that I can get into trouble. In fact, I’m often surprised when I take the time to think about my thoughts.

But, both you and I can change with God’s help. The Holy Spirit can govern our thoughts and the result is life and peace.

Romans 8:6 says,

The mind governed by the flesh is death, but the mind governed by the Spirit is life and peace.” (NIV)

Christians are in a battle for our minds and in addition to the Holy Spirit, God has given us specific tools to help us with our thoughts.

Ephesians 6:17-18 says, “Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests.” (NIV)

When we focus our thoughts on the good news of our salvation in Christ we can protect our minds and think right thoughts.

Fighting temptation using the sword of the Spirit or the Word of God helps to defeat the enemy. We have the example of Jesus in Matthew 4:1-11 (NIV) when He said, “It is written” and then He used an appropriate Bible verse to combat temptation.

It is also vitally important to pray for protection against the temptation of the flesh, the world and the devil.

Also, we need to cooperate with God in the process of renewing our minds to think right thoughts, as Romans 12:2 says, “And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.”(NKJV)

God helps us to renew our minds as we spend time reading, meditating and memorizing Scripture. 

Further, 2 Corinthians 10:5 says, “We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ.”(NIV)

I can be proactive by taking control of intrusive and unwanted thoughts and making the thoughts in my head obedient to Christ.

The Bible lists the right thoughts for us to think about in Philippians 4:8:

“Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things.” (NIV)

In addition to thinking right thoughts, it is equally important to choose the right words to speak.

Proverbs 18:21 says, “The tongue has the power of life and death, and those who love it will eat its fruit.” (NIV)

Our words are powerful and we can speak life to others.

Ephesians 4:29 says, “Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen.”(NIV)

Our words can build others up and benefit them as well.

Do you struggle with your thoughts?

Do you sometimes say things that you regret?

Your comments are welcome! You can leave a comment below.

Help Spread the Word! If you found this article helpful, we’d love for you to share it with others on social media or otherwise. This will help get the Word in front of more people who need biblical guidance. Thanks for your help!

Sometimes the thoughts in my head get so bored they go out for a stroll through my mouth. | CLICK TO TWEET

Additional resources about related subjects on this site:

• 3 Steps to Get the Help You Need Today

• Video vlog: The Wilderness Gardens Mill, the Scriptures and the Spirit

• How to Rely More on the Spirit for Life and Ministry

• How to Renew Your Mind and Think More Positively

• 5 Keys that Help Unlock the Mystery of the Trinity

• 4 Ways to Find Contentment Now

• Five Ways to Conquer Complaining and Find Happiness Now

• How to Practice Christian Meditation

NOTE: Facebook is random. Email is reliable. Subscribe via email and you won’t miss any of my articles, podcasts or videos. You’ll also get my eBook: 10 Prayers to Unlock Heaven on Earth

You Are Never Too Old To Set Another Goal

…or to dream a new dream.

This quote by C. S. Lewis is so encouraging for those of us, myself included, who have more birthdays behind us than before us. Indeed, we are never too old to set another goal or to dream a new dream as long as we are alive.

This is a guest post by Beth Harris. She is a wife, mother, Bible study leader and volunteer editor for markalanwilliams.net.

As I write this article, I can’t think of a better example of never too old to set new goals or dream new dreams than my mother. She committed her life to Christ 5 years ago, shortly after the passing of her husband. Since then, God has changed her life and she is a woman making up for lost time.

She has traveled to the Holy Land, helped plant a new church, served in multiple ministries, participated in Bible studies, made hundreds of new friends, attended prayer meetings and volunteered wherever she is needed. This week as she turns 80 years old, she shows no signs of slowing down as she prepares to leave in a few weeks to go on her first missionary trip to Panama!

We are never too old to set another goal and to dream a new dream.

As Psalm 92:14 says,

They will still bear fruit in old age, they will stay fresh and green,” (NIV)

The Bible says that believers can still bear fruit in old age. 

By God’s grace, we have made great progress in the fields of science and medicine. We also have access to more information, products and procedures to help us hopefully live longer and enjoy better health as well.  

In addition, we are never too old to set new goals and dream new dreams because God is not limited by age.

Exodus 7:7 says, “Moses was eighty years old and Aaron eighty-three when they spoke to Pharaoh.” (NIV)

Luke 2:36-37 says, “There was also a prophet, Anna, the daughter of Penuel, of the tribe of Asher. She was very old; she had lived with her husband seven years after her marriage, and then was a widow until she was eighty-four. She never left the temple but worshiped night and day, fasting and praying.” (NIV)

We are never too old to seek God’s purpose for our lives and to use our resources for His glory.

We can serve God and others by:

• Volunteering

• Serving at church

• Mentoring young people

• Investing in the lives of our grandchildren

• Praying for others

We can pass on to others the valuable life skills that we have acquired.

Job 12:12 says, “Is not wisdom found among the aged? Does not long life bring understanding?” (NIV)

Younger people may have time on their side, but older people have the benefits of greater:

• Understanding

• Insight

• Discernment

• Wisdom

• Knowledge

• Experience

Do you agree that you are never too old to set new goals and dream new dreams?

Your thoughts are welcome! You can leave a comment below.

Help Spread the Word! If you found this article helpful, we’d love for you to share it with others on social media or otherwise. This will help get the Word in front of more people who need biblical guidance. Thanks for your help!

You are never too old to set another goal or to dream a new dream. | CLICK TO TWEET

Additional resources about related subjects on this site:

• 5 Reasons Getting Older is Awesome!

• Podcast: How can I age gracefully and productively to the glory of God?

• Hungry for Heaven

• How Moving is Like Going to Heaven

• How to Prepare for Eternity Now and Face Death with Confidence Later

NOTE: Facebook is random. Email is reliable. Subscribe via email and you won’t miss any of my articles, podcasts or videos. You’ll also get my eBook: 10 Prayers to Unlock Heaven on Earth