Cheers to the freakin' new year

One week down, 51 more to go! WE GOT THIS!

Personally, I do not believe that there is much that is more exciting than the feeling of a new year. New years are filled with new opportunities, new hopes, new goals and new possibilities. I pray that this year, I will feel that excited about my life each day, and I pray that all of you will too. 
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I have been thinking for a week now, about what I wanted my first post of the year to be. As a blogger, we are encouraged to always think about good content. We are pressured to be inspiring, authentic and truthful in our writing while also capturing the hearts and minds of readers near and far. It is not always an easy task to accomplish, but I decided that this year I would be more consistent in writing about what my heart needs to say and what my readers need to hear. 

God's Plan

Today, I went to a church service at the historic Ebenezer Baptist Church in Atlanta, Georgia. I learned several things during my attendance that I thought were powerful enough to share with all of you. As today was the first Sunday of the new year, it was imperative that the pastor filled our souls with wisdom and a message that would last in our minds and encourage us for what is to come.

Here is what he said: To start the year off right, you must Humble Yourself (create the right disposition), Pray (create the right action), Seek God's Face (create the right orientation) and Turn From Your Wicked Ways (create the right direction). 

It is better to be humble than to be humbled. Prayer is not passive, it is active and it will spur you to other actions. We must pray for courage to do and pray for wisdom to know what to do. Praying is about receiving gifts, while seeking is about strengthening our relationship with the Lord. Seeking God yields discovering one's purpose. If you sit with God and meditate for God, you will hear from God. Our prayers become God's purpose. Despite all that I have done and all that I have been through, I can turn around. God will hear me, forgive me and heal me.

Over the past couple of months, I have listened to very influential and respected women tell me that they have seen God's plan for me and it is grand. I am on a very special journey and I have important tasks to accomplish. I am not my own and I belong to Him. Therefore, I am excited, ready and willing for the year to come.

MY Plan

"Faith without work, is dead." Therefore, I know that although God has a plan and purpose for my life, I must work to get to where I need to be. 

This week, I have taken the time to write out my goals and affirmations to live by. I have selected scriptures to help me to live my best life. I have selected a number of books and poetry journals to encourage me. I have collected new candles and incense to create a peaceful and meditative environment. I have opened my heart and mind to new things. I have surrounded myself by creative and meaningful people with beautiful spirits. I have accepted my past and let it mold me for the better. As Terrace Sherman states in her new book, Own The Throne, "When we don't nurture growing pains, they fester and become infected, so instead of growing us and pushing us on to the next level, we become mentally and emotionally stagnant." 

I am ready to be positive, peaceful and loving and to let things flow. I am claiming strong mental, spiritual, emotional, financial and physical health. I am claiming fluidity and conscious thoughts as well as positive energy. I am claiming balance and focus. I am claiming appreciation and support. I am claiming understanding. I am claiming wisdom. I am claiming prosperity. I am claiming confidence. I am claiming flourishing hair and clear skin. I am claiming love and forgiveness... not just for myself, but for those around me; for those in my heart and for those who are unaware and unable to claim these things for themselves.

This Reality

2018 is going to be my year; your year; OUR YEAR! This year is THE YEAR to make things shake in life. It is time to claim all of the things that we were too afraid to go after. It is now the time to eliminate those toxic relationships. It is the time to take that trip, secure that bag, take that job, date that guy... or break up with that guy and most importantly,  follow our hearts! Life is too short to be anything but carefree and happy. Count your blessings and not your losses. 2018 is the year for self reflection, self love, self discovery and self growth.

If you can't get with me on my journey, then please kindly step out of my way. I have a beautiful, purpose-filled life to live and I have a beautiful, deserving me to love.

Godspeed and blessings on our journey,
Alyssa Renee
​January 7, 2018
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