Clean up all that deters and distracts you.

"THEREFORE THEN, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses [who have borne testimony to the Truth], let us strip off and throw aside every encumbrance (unnecessary weight) and that sin which so readily (deftly and cleverly) clings to and entangles us, and let us run with patient endurance and steady and active persistence the appointed course of the race that is set before us" (Hebrews 12:1 AMP)

There is a New Year coming up, and so many people will be making New Year's resolutions. Let this be a year of taking care of your body, mind, and spirit. Make some realistic goals for 2018, and begin implementing small steps towards these goals.

One thing to start the New Year off with is taking care of your spirit. Make goals towards spending daily, intimate time with God. Let all that distracts you and deters you from this time be put aside. Allow at least 30 minutes per day of quiet time with the Lord. Start a Bible study to aid in your spiritual growth. Do whatever the Lord leads you to do, but do something that will feed your spirit and cause you to mature spirituality. If you need spiritual healing in this season, then take some time where you pull back from ministry positions and leadership roles, and allow God to "pour back into you," and restore your soul. If your "cup is empty" you cannot effectively help anyone. There is a season to be on front-line ministry and a season to allow God to pour back into your cup. You may need to be refilled in this season. Go before God and ask Him, "What season am I in?" This may not be the time that you are serving full-force, but a time that God is going to bring refreshment into your dry places. Take care of your spirit first, and everything else will come easier.

Next take care of your mental and emotional health. Start by saying, "No," more often. Do things just for fun and pure enjoyment. Listen to your favorite music, read, garden, or take on a new hobby. Try not to spend all your time indoors and spend at least 30 minutes outside in the sun. Set boundaries and limits with other people and on your time. Look on the bright side and limit your time with negative and draining people lest you take on their negativity. Set a guard on what causes you stress, and limit what stresses you as much as possible. Do not allow other people's problems to become your problems! Do not carry the burdens and responsibility of other people. Cut out all unnecessary things in your life, make priorities.

Finally, take care of your physical body. Get at least 8 hours of sleep. Eat balanced meals with daily fresh fruit and vegetables. Stay away from  fatty foods and sweets as much as possible. If you do not exercise, you need to start. Do that slowly by walking at least 3 times per week. Drink plenty of water. Take warm baths to relieve tired muscles and to relax you.

For this new year remember to implement goals to improve not just your physical health but your mental and spiritual health as well.

“Construct your determination with Sustained Effort, Controlled Attention, and Concentrated Energy.  Opportunities never come to those who wait… they are captured by those who dare to attack.” ~ Paul J. Meyer