Promises

A couple of weeks ago I came across this quote:

“I will not break promises I made to myself.”

What was your first thought when you read that? I loved it!
Do you continually say you’re going to do something and end up not following through with it?
Or maybe…
You repeat something because it’s become such a part of you and you wish it wasn’t you’re default?
And maybe…
Those habits, mindsets, promises are no longer working for you.

I think we can find ourselves feeling stuck in routines and responses that we have a hard time breaking free from.

A few years ago I made a list of non-negotiables that I wanted to be a part of my daily rhythm. Why? I wanted to show up for myself in ways I really hadn’t been consistent with to become the best version of who I could be.
There were habits that had become a part of my life that were no longer serving me well - they had to go and be replaced with new, healthier ones.
There was mindset shifts that needed to happen along the way - so I could stay consistent while allowing room for growth and change with a healthy dose of grace for myself. Progress over Perfection. Am I moving in the right direction - even if it’s one small step at a time?!

The biggest shift for me was that I had a hard time believing I was worth it.

That’s where one of my non-negotiables - spending time with God - came into play. I got to know Him in a fuller and deeper way and in true God fashion, He went for those areas in my life that were unhealthy and keeping me stuck. As we walked through all that crappy stuff He brought me healing, freedom and a feeling of being safe with Him.

I needed that - feeling safe. That changed everything for me.

Have you ever read a promise in the Bible and decided to really believe that it was true and that God will keep it? I did that. I found that each and every time I stepped out and believed, God was true to His Word. He never left me. He healed my wounds. He loved and protected me like a Shepherd. He rescued me as my Savior. He was my Friend. He gave me wisdom and understanding when I asked for it. He taught me about confession to Him and being completely honest with Him. And so much more.

Fully understanding how much I am loved and cherished by God, no matter what, changed everything.

Believing God is great but change doesn’t come by sitting there, shaking your head yes, saying “Amen, God! I believe that You will _____________.” And then closing your Bible, getting up and doing, saying, reacting, thinking like you always did.

That’s where audience participation comes in. You are not supposed to be a bystander watching your life play out. You are created to live your life and that means you need to make changes and choices that will break the chains that are keeping you stuck.

We have routines or rituals that we do every day - every week - every month - every year.
Some of them may have started when we were younger and no longer serve us well, but they are such a part of our lives we don’t even realize we are still doing them.
Some of them may have evolved and grown along with us.
Some of them have been completely annihilated by the Blood, Love and Grace of Jesus and we are never going back to them.
Some are new ones. We are still trying to make them a habit in our lives.

No matter where you are in your life, what you are struggling with or flourishing in, don’t you love that God is faithful and you can count on Him?! Doesn’t it make you smile knowing that He loves you?!!!

I was reminded of this Scripture:

“…This is what the LORD says to you:
‘Do not be afraid or discouraged because of this vast army,
for the battle is the not yours, but God’s’”
1 Chronicles 20:15b

When I asked God what He wanted me to know about this, the thought that crossed my mind was:
Each of us has a vast army facing us. We can be dealing with a seemingly, never-ending to-do list; stepping out and being vulnerable; working on overcoming shame, guilt, feeling unworthy; trying to create new healthy habits; kids; parents; jobs; family; friends; used-to-be friends; money; illness…we are all facing insurmountable obstacles.

How is that God’s battle?
Because He loves you! Because He takes it personally when you are attacked or maligned or shrink back from who you are in Him after all He has done to Rescue, Redeem and Redefine you. You, my sweet friend, are a treasured child of God and He fights for you!

Then there’s this one:

“Those who know your name will trust you, for you, LORD, will never forsake those who seek you.”
Psalm 9:10

There is a peace that comes when we KNOW God and with that peace comes trust. In order to have that peace we need to seek Him - to spend time with Him. As we do that, we can find out what brings Him joy, what makes Him sad, what He thinks of us and that changes us. It changes how we act, how we love, how we choose to speak - it changes us.

And that changes how we keep promises to ourselves.
Because I am loved and worthy of keeping promises to myself and promises to God.
Here’s the real secret, are you ready? Lean in… It’s all through Him that we find the strength to choose different or show up for ourselves and keep that promise or do the hard work of changing that mindset or unhealthy habit. As we stay close to Him and allow Him to speak His truth over us and pour His love and grace out to us - we are stronger. We are not alone in the battle.

And that is a promise that I can 100% tell you is true! He has never broken a promise!
He is faithful.
He will never leave you.
He loves you!!!!!!!

So, Loved of God, believe that promise about God. Keep that promise to yourself. Instead of saying “one day” - say today is “day one” and show up!

All My Love ~
xo Jodi

Don’t miss out on getting the blog. Subscribe below. xo