Cha-Cha-Cha-Changes

Cha-Cha-Cha-Changes

“For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord,
“Plans to prosper you and not to harm you,
plans to give you hope and a future.”
-Jeremiah 29:11

Most of us like things that are predictable.  I love keeping a tight schedule and having order in my life.  I am comfortable knowing what I’m doing and where I’m going.  Don’t get me wrong.  I like a new adventure, but only if I plan for it.

No one likes the kind of change that hits you out of left field – changes such as the loss of a job, an injury, or a friendship calling apart.  In life, however, changes are inevitable, and how we react to them will determine whether we succeed or fail in our journey.  In the past several years I have been through some severe changes.  I have experienced a business failure, dealt with the autism diagnosis of our son, moved to a home that needed to be completely renovated, changed careers twice, and lost a hundred pounds.

I did not plan these changes.  I had a completely different plan for my life.  I always thought I would live in New York City and write for a magazine or become Mother of the Year, taking my kids to the park every day and caring for my family like June Cleaver.  Neither of these things happened because God had another plan for my future.  Did I want all those changes?  Absolutely not!  Have I learned through them?  Most definitely.

Maybe you are faced with a change that you did not want.  Maybe you lost a partner or have been laid off from your job.  Maybe you can’t communicate with a friend and the relationship is in jeopardy.  Maybe you’ve had an accident and can’t do some of the things you used to do.  What are you going to do now?

I hope you will pick yourself up, learn from the experience, and adapt to your different life.  Your outlook is the key, creating a mindset that’s not afraid of change, but acknowledges it and adapts to it.  If you look only at the negative of your current situation, you may never see the possibilities that the change may bring.  When we lost our business, I was devastated.  I look back now and understand that if it hadn’t happened, we would have continued on a path that was not God’s plan for us.

If we trust God and allow Him to lead us through our circumstances (no matter what they are or how difficult), we will ultimately fulfill our destined purpose.  No matter what your journey may be, it’s important to keep going.

Mini-Challenge of the Day

Set aside a few minutes today to surrender your plans and your life to God.  Tell Him that you will trust Him, and ask Him to help you daily renew your mind and your thinking to encompass any changes that you are going through or that will come in the future.

Tip of the Day

I’ve said before that your legs are the largest muscle group in your body.  When you do squats and lunges, you build those muscles, and muscles burn fat and calories.  Squats and lunges don’t require any gym equipment and are easy to do at home or even at the office.

Amy Parham

Until tomorrow, be blessed!

Remember to DREAM!

Taken from “The 90-Fitness Challenge” by Phil and Amy Parham, former contestants on television’s “The Biggest Loser.”