Declaring Renewal

A new week has arrived and here at Becoming Today I am declaring December to be a month of Renewal. Yes I said declaring it, and boldly so, because it is something that not only am I feeling strongly led to for myself, but as I look around we have such a need for it.

I am renewing my commitment to not going back to anything. Forget all the chatter and nonsense about getting back to the way things were pre-pandemic. What passed for normalcy was anything but. It is time to renew our vision, refresh our focus and restore our true paths.

In my thoughts that makes this a landmark, a milestone, a point of demarcation. Now that we understand that things are no longer how they once were, we can more easily accept that how we need to prepare, what we can expect, and even how we anticipate the next changes beyond the next corner are becoming to us from a new point, perspective and even view of life.

Starting this step along our shared journey with the wisdom of hindsight, we are able to clearly see what did and didn’t work for us in the past. What we need to fully release. What we truly cherish, and desire to recreate in beauty.

What a gift! Therefore today we’ll look at how to make the most of this time for renewal.

I believe this was destined to be a week of change. Right on schedule, changes will take hold and are prompting many of us to shift our focus forward and upward.

Looking at some of the traditional concepts associated with Renewal, it has generally been accepted as the start of something new, a time of new beginnings, a period of progress, the blossoming of new things, birth, growth and creating new life. All very “Becoming” aspects.

Other interpretations of Renewal include it being a time of :

These are all types of new beginnings like the ones we may envision for ourselves.

As we accept the challenges of being renewed, we are preparing ourselves for a time of awakening, blossoming and reemerging. When last we spoke, I mentioned that the coming season of Spring does have some spiritual implications. It represents waking from a period of hibernation, a time when we are suddenly made aware of the possibilities of new life, new ways and yes a new us.

In the Scriptures, the passage often referred to as “A Time For Everything”, outlines the many changing seasons we all experience in life. It outlines the constant cycle of “Becoming”. In fact 28 specific times or seasons are mentioned in this one passage.

Now on “Becoming Today”, as part of our examination of ourselves and our shared paths we’ll take note that not included in those examples is a very important aspect; none of the 28 mention a time to quit.

Ecclesiastes 3:1-8, is perhaps so revered and often quoted because of its poetic approach towards life. It balances 14 distinct elements we all experience at one time or another, and some more than once. It reinforces our constant state of Always Being “Becoming”.

It teaches and reminds us that life is a mix of joy and sorrow, pleasure and pain, harmony and struggle, and life and death. Each season has its appropriate time.

Some are difficult, and still we know that we must never give up and continue on in Faith, trusting in God, believing his plans for us are always based upon good purposes and joyful outcomes.

As the passage begins “There is a time for everything,…..”

Included among the lessons learned in studying these verses is that we are to accept each day as a gift from the hand of God because He has a reason and a time for all things.

There is much wisdom to be gained in understanding this concept.

“There is a time for everything, / and a season for every activity under the heavens.”

When we live our lives in faith we are “Becoming” our destinies as we comprehend and embrace the power in always trusting God. Our lives truly reveal their meaning and purpose when we rely on His wisdom, timing and goodness.

Much of “Becoming” involves embracing the need for change, it is the only way in which we can truly grow, develop and realize our potentials. Life is a process. A repetitive one/ We learn, grow, become then question, learn, grow and continue “Becoming”.

Let’s get to work. Today’s post will require participation on your part. After all, it’s designed to help you clarify your vision, accept your purpose and determine the next step to take along your individual path towards “Becoming”.

Begin by asking yourself some questions. There are no wrong or right answers, since there are questions you are asking yourself about your Self.

Undertake a self examination of your past, present, and future making sure to base

your questions focusing on your hopes and dreams. These are intended to build a foundation for undertaking some life changes.

I know, someone over there says “that’s not easy” and I hear her on the other side saying “change is tough”; Yes, nonetheless it is required to continue growing, developing and living.

Asking yourself hard questions plus answering them thoroughly and honestly can help you determine how ready you are to achieve your goals, makes dreams come true and truly live a life of “Becoming”.

Quite simply you are preparing to clarify your life’s purpose. For some this may be their first exploration, for others it may be time to revisit earlier lessons learned and for others yet, we realize this is an ever-developing aspect in life. Therefore as seasons change so may our focus, needs and wants.

An example of this from Scripture is the Apostle Paul. He knew, understood and accepted the mission to which he was called.

He lived a very “Becoming” acknowledging God had called him to preach the gospel (Ephesians 3:8-9). He devoted his energy, talents, experiences and opportunities to accomplish this purpose.

Focus on your responses for a while, then ask yourself

What is my life’s purpose? My mission? Where do I direct my focus? And why? Write down ( or type) your answers. Keep them where you can refer to them as a road map or guidebook for orienting your path.

Here are some sample questions you may consider during this exercise:

What do you value?

What is truly important to yo?;

How do you motivate yourself?

What do you really want out of life? ( Not what others want of you, not what some say you should, but truly what do you want).

What are your greatest talents or skills?

Which of your talents gives you the greatest sense of satisfaction?

What are your biggest weaknesses?

What do you do to overcome ( grow beyond) them?

What are the values dearest to your heart?

How is the “public you” different from the “private you”?

What are you most proud of in your life to date? Why?

What do you hope to achieve in life?

What three things would you like to change most about yourself?

Now that you have gained insight into who you really are and what is most important to you, you can put those answers into action. Develop and fine tune your goals, aspiration and desires.

How do you begin that? By asking and answering some more questions.

Before we begin, keep in mind right now the “how” does not matter. You need to define who you are? Where you are going? And why do you want it? The how things will happen, just like the times when, will work themselves out or be revealed at the right moment. Remember God is in the details.

Eight Questions to Prepare For Your Renewal

Is the focus of my “Becoming” something I truly desire?

It needs to be about you, for you and from within. To qualify your answers also take note of these inquiries. Am I pushing myself to be something I’m actually not? Am I being something I’m not just because others expect it of me?

Who will I have to become in order to make my goal a reality?

You already know unlike the song you can not remain the same. So now is the time to focus on affecting positive impactful and effective methods of change. This could involve thought processes such as what must I do differently? Write out your revised goals and review them daily. Take small steps. Set achievable tasks for each day along the way. Change is inevitable and necessary. You realize you can not keep doing things the same way over and over and expect different results. Sound familiar? So even though Einstein never actually said it, focus on sanity anyway.

What have I done in the past to try and achieve this goal?

Did you have success? If so, how do you make it happen again? If not, determine what you need to do differently. Develop new strategies that are more in line with who you are “Becoming”. Release the past, let go of old ways and focus on building momentum forward and upward.

What are your “whys”?

Continue asking yourself “why” you want what you want. Why is it good? Why will it improve your life? Why is it of benefit to the greater good? Why aren’t you making progress? Why are you feeling better about yourself and circumstances?

What will you have to give up in order to make your “Becoming” a reality?

In order to receive you have to make room for it. To quote an odd insurance commercial, “if there is no place to sit there are too many”. We all need to release parts of our past. This can include identities, relationships and for some physical belongings. All can contribute to limiting us and contribute to keeping us from our goals.

What’s stopping you?

In answering this question you’ll discover what’s preventing you from taking action. Often a habitual response. Somewhere along the way you trained yourself to accept less, or make do. Take the limits off. Open yourself to opportunity and possibilities. It’s time to shift your attitude into high gear and believe in yourself and who you are truly “Becoming”.

What does your success look like?

Having a clear picture of what life will look like for the future you is essential to assisting you in achieving your goals. It is a great motivator to be able to clearly see who or what your “Becoming”. Some may try vision boards, for others just keeping the image top of mind, in their hearts or reinforcing the picture by writing or speaking about it is a great motivator. Visualize your success creating clarity to sharpen your focus.

Will this choice move me forward or keep me stuck?

We all have choices we must make every day. More than likely every hour. Keep this in mind and come to understand the ramifications of these actions. Will skipping a step aid your progress? Or cause you to trip? Is this better than that? Yes it may be harder, that way, but I never said any of this would be easy. So refresh yourself and get ready to take renewing actions.

Consider these questions carefully. If you want clarification, care to add to the discussion or contribute comments, post below. If you prefer to send a private communication, click over to the Contact Page for an easy to use submission form.