Posted on October 20, 2017
Seek First Project: Details, Details (Day 120)
O Lord, You are my God; I will exalt You,
I will give thanks to Your name;
For You have worked wonders,
Plans formed long ago, with perfect faithfulness. – Isaiah 25:1
Are you ready to add details to your goals? This is the part I never usually get to, to be honest. That’s why I wanted to be very intentional about goal-making and not just do it the way I always have. Because that’s never really worked.
You can make a whole new list in your journal if that’s what helps you the most. For myself, I am just adding to the abstract list I already made, so that I can see the overall goal I’m going for when I strive for the details.
What we’re doing today is basically thinking about these 5 goals we’ve made, in a deeper way. Getting real, so to speak.
For instance, I want to not feel so tired all the time. That’s an abstract goal. Now, how will I go about this? What ONE specific change can I make that will move me toward success in this area? Well, I can hold to a specific bed time and wake time. I’m bad about this. Really bad. It’s going to take a lot of determination, but this change is what I need to get me moving in the right direction!
Take this concept, and apply it to each of the five items on your goals list.
Here’s my list, as an example:
#1 Getting back to sending prayers to people -> make it doable by sending prayers to 5 people a day
#2 Not feeling so tired all the time -> stick to a determined bedtime and wake time
#3 Making more of an effort in my marriage ->do one special SMALL thing a day to let him know I’m thinking of him
#4 Surrender my fears of illness and trauma -> literally writing out the fear EVERY time I have it, and sealing it in a jar as I pray for God to take it
#5 I don’t want to be so distracted -> do only ONE thing at a time
Now remember, this is ALL you’re doing today! Don’t get all overwhelmed thinking you have to implement all of this right now! Just pray about the details you’ve added. Ask God for His strength to make this happen in your life. And especially, ask Him for patience. This is not an overnight venture.
Tomorrow, Getting Ready to Implement the Plan.
Most High, be with us, we pray. In Jesus’ Name, Amen…
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May God Bless You,
Shelly
Posted on October 19, 2017
Seek First Project: Abstract Goals (Day 119)
For I know the plans that I have for you,’ declares the Lord, ‘plans for welfare and not for calamity to give you a future and a hope. – Jeremiah 29:11
The first step in our goal-setting is done. We’ve prayed and committed any plans to the Lord. We’ve prepared our minds for the second step.
Now we are going to set some abstract goals. Don’t worry about being detailed. We will look at this in further detail tomorrow. For today, just make 5 goals that you want to accomplish in the next 3 months. We’re not in a race here. We’re taking our time and doing this right.
Goal #1 should be something that you wish to accomplish spiritually.
Goal #2 should be something you want to achieve physically.
Goal #3 is something to work on having to do with relationships.
Goal #4 is something you wish to surrender completely.
Goal #5 will be something you will work on NOT doing.
Here’s my list, as an example:
#1 Getting back to sending prayers to people
#2 Not feeling so tired all the time
#3 Making more of an effort in my marriage
#4 Surrender my fears of illness and trauma
#5 I don’t want to be so distracted
Remember to keep these abstract. More detail will come tomorrow. For now, it’s enough to have a general idea where you want to be headed.
Write this list in your journal. Talk to God about it. What will be the most challenging? The most relieving? Ask Him to help you with each item.
And He will. Oh, He will.
Lord God, this project is important to us and we can see how You are working in us through each step we take towards You! Thank You for being by our side. We can do all things through Christ, who strengthens us. Amen…
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May God Bless You,
Shelly
Posted on October 18, 2017
Seek First Project: Goal Setting (Day 118)
Commit your works to the Lord
And your plans will be established. – Proverbs 16:3
We’ve been doing this project for over 100 days now. Can you believe it? Time is just flying by! We’ve been getting real, facing some fears head on, and practicing handing things over to God.
Now it’s time for some goal setting. We’re going to talk about many aspects of goal setting, so choose a clean page in your journal for this. Today all we are going to do is get the idea of goal-setting in our minds. We’re going to pray about it today, We’re going to find some verses like the one above, that help us to keep our focus on God through this new process. And we’re going to let all that settle.
Tomorrow, we’ll tackle the next part.
God, we want to really commit our works to You. We want to have our plans established in You. In Jesus’ Name, Amen…
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Shelly
Posted on October 17, 2017
Seek First Project: Declares the Lord (Day 117)
“O Jacob My servant, do not fear,” declares the Lord,
“For I am with you.” – Jeremiah 46:28
Today I made a craft that would help me remember the things that the Lord declares. He declares right into my fears, that He is with me, He is for me, He loves me, and I need not worry.
I made a beautiful kind of white board. It’s just a frame from the dollar store with a beautiful cloth I received as a gift. You could use patterned paper, a favorite photo, an artwork, the sky’s the limit! I then wrote my favorite verse that’s helping me this week. Be sure to use a dry-erase marker so you can change the verse out as often as you like. Just wipe off the current verse with a cloth or napkin, and write the new one on!
What things will the Lord declare to you today?
Mighty God, thank You for Your precious Word. Help us to hide it in our hearts, that we might not sin against You. In Jesus’ Name, Amen…
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Shelly
Posted on October 16, 2017
Seek First Project: That List (Day 116)
Photo by Kevin Marks 
And Jesus answered saying to them, “Have faith in God. – Mark 11:22
A couple of months ago, we made and then expounded upon, a list of the biggies we were asking God to address in our lives.
Today, revisit that list. What answers can be added to your “answer jar”? Which ones are still on the list, seemingly unanswered? What new biggies have cropped up in that time, that you need to add to your list?
Sometimes life gets away from us and we forget to look for God’s answers and progress made. Update this list in your journal today, with details of how God has moved.
Dear God, thank You for moving, sometimes so slowly that we can’t even see it until time has passed. We know that Your timing is as perfect as Your answers. In Jesus’ Name, Amen…
Photo by Kevin Marks
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May God Bless You,
Shelly
Posted on October 15, 2017
Seek First Project: No Greater Joy (Day 115)
I have no greater joy than this,
to hear of my children walking in the truth.
– 3 John 1:4
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May God Bless You,
Shelly
Posted on October 14, 2017
Seek First Project: Fear and Decisions (Day 114)
And He will delight in the fear of the Lord,
And He will not judge by what His eyes see,
Nor make a decision by what His ears hear; – Isaiah 11:3
The prophet is speaking of Jesus in this verse. Jesus, the one we’re supposed to model our lives after.
I’ve found that fear and worry poor decisions.
Fear can cause me to decide to end a relationship, or not take that step out in faith that God is encouraging me to do.
Worry makes me a procrastinator and can sometimes keep me from making any decision at all!
Anxiety has me wanting to gossip, in the pretense that I need more information before making a decision.
Our decisions (or indecisions) have choices that are long-lasting and far-reaching. The devil knows this, which is why he sends worry or fear or anxiety into our minds. He wants us to fail.
You are from God, little children, and have overcome them; because greater is He who is in you than he who is in the world. – 1 John 4:4
Today I am making a list in my journal. Kind of a litmus test for decision making. I hope you will, too.
- What does the Word of God have to say about this?
- Have I prayed about this and given myself time to hear God’s answer?
- What does Jesus’ example show us about these type of decisions?
for you were formerly darkness, but now you are Light in the Lord; walk as children of Light (for the fruit of the Light consists in all goodness and righteousness and truth), trying to learn what is pleasing to the Lord. – Ephesians 5:8-10
God in Heaven, stay close as we face decisions. Clear away the cobwebs caused by fear and worry and anxiety. In Jesus’ Name, Amen…
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Shelly
Updated on October 14, 2017
Seek First Project: Strength and Song (Day 113)
“Behold, God is my salvation,
I will trust and not be afraid;
For the Lord God is my strength and song,
And He has become my salvation.” – Isaiah 12:2
Anyone who knows the least bit about me, knows that I just love music. Songs are so powerful.
This verse captured my attention because it tells me to trust and not be afraid. Not only that, but it tells me WHY.
For the Lord God is my strength and song,
And He has become my salvation.
The Lord God is our song. He is our strength. He has indeed become our salvation.
What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who is against us? – Romans 8:31
Today, do something with a song. Write a song about how God is your salvation and strength. Make a special project with the lyrics to a song about God that is special to your heart. Paint to a song, and give visual beauty to the sound you hear! Offer a dance to God for His strength in your life.
Focus today on the God who is your strength and song. He has become our salvation.
Heavenly King, we praise Your holy and wondrous name! Thank You for being a song in our lives. Thank You for the beauty of music and singing and worship. We offer this to You today. In Jesus’ Name, Amen…
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Shelly
Posted on October 11, 2017
Seek First Project: Priorities, Priorities (Day 112)
For a child will be born to us, a son will be given to us; And the government will rest on His shoulders; And His name will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Eternal Father, Prince of Peace. – Isaiah 9:6
On Day 110, we made a list of what we’d been putting first, due to our anxiety.
Today, I want us to revisit that list and reprioritize. Get it on paper. Set it in stone.
In your journal, write the list in the proper order. I was feeling all creative, so I wrote my first 3 in large print and then made the list smaller and smaller as it went down. Fun! Feel free to add your own spark to this idea!
Dear God, Help us to keep forefront in our minds that we are waging a battle each and every day. Show us Your priorities. In Jesus’ Name, Amen…
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Shelly
Updated on October 10, 2017
Seek First Project: You Are Very Precious to God! (Day 111)
Photo by Anadirlamel
“Don’t be afraid,” he said, “for you are very precious to God. Peace! Be encouraged! Be strong!”
As he spoke these words to me, I suddenly felt stronger and said to him, “Please speak to me, my lord, for you have strengthened me.” – Daniel 10:19
Please speak to me, for you have strengthened me.
We have the precious, strengthening Words God has spoken to us. They’re all right there in the Bible, every single awesome one.
What the sum of them says is this:
“Don’t be afraid, for you are very precious to God. Peace! Be encouraged! Be strong!”
Have you read what the Lord has spoken? Have you written it on your heart?
He is able to suddenly strengthen you.
I’m spending some real time in the Word today. I’m listening. I hope you will, too.
Holy God, how amazing it is that You still speak to us today, through Your timeless Word! Thank You for strengthening us when we worry. Thank You for words that chase away fear, and comfort the anxious heart. In Jesus’ Name, Amen…
Photo by Anadirlamel
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Shelly
