When the LORD speaks–obey! When the LORD says go, go. For the last eight months how would you describe life. People have been scared, uncertain, traumatized, under intense pressure, and very difficult. For how ever we have imagined our year to unfold, maybe it is nothing like what we imagined. But in Christ, it is never over.

When we feel down and discouraged, we can try this strategy to encourage ourselves.

1. What are the challenges?
2. What went wrong?
3. Reflect on what did not go wrong?
4. Reflect on what you would have done differently?
5. Reflect on what you have learned?
6. How will you handle life when things don’t go as planned?
7. What you are looking forward to. (What do you need to remind yourself of?)
8. Develop a plan on how to do what you need to do differently.

Don’t allow your present circumstances to dictate the future God promised you.

• Isaiah 40:29-31 New King James Version – He gives power to the weak, And to those who have no might He increases strength. ³⁰ Even the youths shall faint and be weary, And the young men shall utterly fall, ³¹ But those who wait on the Lord Shall renew their strength; They shall mount up with wings like eagles, They shall run and not be weary, They shall walk and not faint.

We must do what the LORD has told us to do and not allow doubt, fear, time or age discourage us. Here are FIVE practical tips to help us finish strong.

1. Identify your goal and call. What is the one thing God has prompted you to do, to start or to finish? If we don’t know what that is, we should seek God. When we receive the answer–write it down. Get an image of your goals and pray over it. Be grateful for where you are. Thank God daily for what He is doing now.
2. Break down the large goal into small obtainable steps. God honors small steps. Carve out 15 to 20 minutes per day and focus on that goal or business. Get an example of a business plan and tailor it to your business. Write down the things you need to say to that person you need to confront (based on how the Lord’s leading you). THEN, present that to the Lord for approval.
3. Find a safe, accountability person. A safe person has our best interests at heart. Our accountability partner may not be the same in every season. On days when we don’t have the drive and motivation to move forward, ask for help or prayer. Then we must allow that person to show up for us. An accountability partner will check us when we are making excuses. Have a set time meet or talk about the progress made. We were created for relationship. We don’t have to do everything alone.
4. JUST START–take the first step. Jesus walked on water, one step at a time. The apostle Peter followed the LORD and walked on water too–one step at a time! Obey immediately and accurately. Delayed obedience or selective obedience, is disobedience. Obedience is about timing and being diligent. Somebody is waiting for us to take that small step. Someone is waiting for us to do what God has called us to do it. Noah was called to build the ark, so that people and animals could be saved from the flood.
5. Be alert of distractions and excuses. Satan is tricky, but not original or creative. The enemy uses the same strategies to make us stumble over and over again. The enemy attacks us in our…
   • Passions/desires
   • Focus (Focus on what you can control and not what you can’t control)
   • Distractions (Sends them to get us off track)
   • Identity (Know who you are in Christ so people can’t get you off track)
   • Family (Gets you focused too much on their needs)
   • Confidence (If you don’t have confidence, you won’t move forward. Lack of confidence immobilizes us)
   • Calling (Makes you doubt what God has called us to do)
   • Rest (Makes us too complacent and too comfortable OR too busy serving others to do what God has called us to do). But, be content in what God has already done.
   • Relationships
   • Heart (Not being truthful with yourself, with God or positioning yourself to make the necessary changes)
6. The wealthiest places in the world are not diamond mines, gold mines, banks, or oil fields. They are cemeteries. In cemeteries are buried talents and treasures that never came out. Don’t go to the grave with your treasure still in you.

God is trusting us with the calling He has placed on our lives. Focus on the time left to obey God and not on the time already wasted.