As we have begun another new year, we are reminded of renewal and planning for the future. Whether you make a list of New Year's Resolutions or purposely choose not to for fear of failure, we all have areas we want to improve upon. Maybe it's spending more time with God, losing weight, exercising regularly, visiting family more often, saving money, finding a job you love, or even starting a new hobby. Whatever areas of your life need improving, it is up to you to make it happen.

So many times I feel we sit and wait for better circumstances, more time, more money, or more support. Unfortunately, good things don't usually fall into our laps without some hard work, effort, determination, prayer, and persistence. It is up to us to make our dreams come true. Let this next year be the year you take responsibility for your life. Ask God to give you the wisdom to pursue your dreams according to His will. Then make a plan and get going!

All too often, I make excuses. How can I eat healthy when everyone around me is eating junk food? How can I workout when my back hurts this bad? How can I save money when we can barely scrape by? But our excuses are just that - excuses. Yes, there are valid reasons why we may not be able to pursue a second job, do an intense workout, or eat only organic foods. But many of our excuses can be remedied with the following three pillars. Let's discuss them in a bit more detail.

1. Pray

As much as I try to control my life and its implications, I need to remember who is truly in control - God. He wants what is best for you, and He wants you to enjoy life while living in a way that is pleasing to Him. So, before you go out and make huge changes, simply pray. Ask God what he wants your life to look like. You can also look to the Bible for advice and encouragement about the right way to live and the best decisions to make.

Even when you feel you have an answer, don't stop praying. Continue to pray that you would keep living your life according to God's will. You can also ask Him to give you wisdom and favor in pursuing change in your life.

2. Plan

I have always been a planner. I love planning ahead and knowing what is happening. While we can't plan for everything that may happen in the future, we can create a plan for what we would like to happen. I like this quote by Benjamin Franklin - “By Failing to prepare, you are preparing to fail.” This can be seen in many areas of my life. When I don't plan a menu, we eat out too much. When I don't plan my workout, I get too busy or tired to do it. To help you create a plan, you can download my FREE Goal Planning sheet by clicking here. The sheet includes 5 characteristics of smart goals. Goals should be specific, measurable, achievable, realistic, and time-bound. To read more about setting goals, you can read this post.

3. Persist

You can pray every day and plan extensively but still fail if you don't persist in working toward changing your life. You must persist in your endeavors in order to see them fulfilled. If you plan to start a business but don't take any of the steps to do it, you won't have a business. If you draft the ultimate workout plan but don't actually do the workouts, you won't be successful. You must persist in working toward your goals. So many plans are made that never come to fruition. It takes hard work, but it will be so worth it!

I hope you will pray, plan, and persist in order to change your life for the better. I'd love to hear one change you're working toward this year. Thanks so much for reading!

<3 Sierra