If life throws you a few bad notes or vibrations, don't let them interrupt or alter your song.” ― Suzy Kassem
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Dear Friends,
I hope you are thriving in your most excellent and most insignificant moments.
We had a great time last week (READ HERE)! We discussed the two sides of consistency, particularly about the part of your persistence that we all see and celebrate. We easily hold on to your high moments - your shining purpose, place, and people - so that when your low moments come, we might as well point our fingers at you. But hold on now, this is where you should remember your 'why' (Galatians 6:9).
“Ever tried. Ever failed. No matter. Try Again. Fail again. Fail better.” – Samuel Beckett
This week, we look at how we get to consistency from the start and how to stay consistent.
I am no expert at this, nor have I attained any of this 100%. We are all in this together, and I believe that as we share our stories, we enlighten each other in Christ.
Staying consistent can be messy! Even after actualizing the goodies of consistency, we still have to sweat some more to maintain our purpose, place, and relationships.
We can easily go off-course and try to change things up on our own while God might be calling us to stay our grind! We could get lost in the so many distractions that try to steal our trophies while engrossed in the expectations of the shiny armor that people see. God help us (Philippians 1:6) because it's not all rosy on the other side of consistency.
Let's get right into it:
Passion
This is an unwavering obsession to stay focused. It is this burning motivation storming from your belly (Proverbs 4:25). While some have found their calling, others are almost there. It's ok! Don't give up! Even though we feel that we should only be most passionate at our happy place (doing that one thing that never feels like work), life is not that simple. Sometimes, we would be at that one job we do not like (but have to hold on to it because you've got to pay rent), or that hard weight loss program, or fitness routine. I could almost say that at some point in life, you might have to develop a passion for certain things you do in life. Build your excitement!
“Be fearless in the pursuit of what sets your soul on fire.” – Jennifer Lee.
Success is not defined by how well we do the easy things, but how well we do the difficult as well. You could be thinking, 'shouldn't passion be about the things I care about?' Well yes, but what happens when your boss throws a project you don't like at you, or when your body is changing, and now your diet and lifestyle have to change? These are not fun!
At this point, passion becomes building positive energy (James 1:2-3), choosing to thrive in discomfort (READ HERE), finding happiness in your most uncomfortable places (READ HERE).
True consistency would require facing both the sweet and sour with an intense passion that makes you come out of every battle a warrior, no matter how many times you fail. Remember, God has equipped you with all you need to succeed! You have a fire in your soul!
Patience/Sacrifice
By tolerating one thing (patience), you are letting go of something else that you really cherish (sacrifice). This is the bleeding part of your consistency, the hidden wounds behind your shiny armor! Being consistent takes so much away from you that it almost leaves you on the verge of giving up.
“An eagle earns its honor from the storms it endures.” ― Matshona Dhliwayo
Child, this is where you reignite that fire in you to pick what you need to move forward and free yourself of whatever is holding you back. You know how we spoke about what you had to release so you could get to your better place, people, and purpose?! Hebrew 12:1-2 tells us to strip off every unnecessary weight, run with persistence, and emulate Jesus, who endured shame and never lost sight of where He was headed.
There will be sleepless nights you have to endure, ties you would have to break, mindsets you would have to change so you could get to your crown (Hebrews 10:36).
There are things you would let go of that have stopped you, and that doesn't serve you anymore. John 16:22 reminds us of the joy that awaits us (John 16:22), and God that has promised never fails (Joshua 21:45).
Presence
Let's be real! What is life or purpose without God?! What is the essence of doing life without Him? This is the healing part of your consistency, the part I so long to be a master of! Our battles to consistency become worth it because we know there will healing and refreshing.
“Life with God's presence is richer and more secured.” ― Lailah Gifty Akita
Exodus 33:14 tells us that His presence will go with us, and give us rest. No matter the cross we have to bear, in our consistency, we know that there is the promise of rest for us.
Psalms 16:11 lets us know by being in His presence He shows us the path to life, gives us joy, and makes us enjoy pleasures at His right hand. The quality of a warrior's victories and defeats are proof of the amount of time spent in God's Presence! Stay connected!
It is my prayer that you and I receive the grace to begin, attain, and sustain every step of our consistency, that we would never be ashamed of the wounds from our battles.
That we gratefully celebrate the little triumphs of our consistency but never getting too distracted by our shiny armor that we lose sight of the devil's distractions.
That we will have an eternal hunger for God's presence and that He will honor our consistency with His infinite blessings and joy!
Love & Peace,
The Lady Nudge.
'For I consider [from the standpoint of faith] that the sufferings of the present life are not worthy to be compared with the glory that is about to be revealed to us and in us! '
Romans 8:18 AMP
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Author's Disclaimer: All content of this blog is for informational and inspirational purposes only, and represents the opinions, experiences, and research made by the author.
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