As the year 2021 draws near to a close, there’s a rush of so many things happening. Mentally, so many of us are “caught up”, overwhelmed, and possibly even ladened with mixed feelings brought on by the whispers of the cultural expectations carried by the Christmas breeze.
From end of year hybrid party planning to family gatherings; from making holiday plans to deciding who will be covering the office this year; from making your list and checking it twice to a host of other things … the month of December has always seemed to have a sense of “busyness” about it. (Funny how that word closely resembles another - business).
Nonetheless, I strongly believe that over the past two years we have been given an opportunity in the form of the pandemic to slow down, breathe, and take it all in. Yes, as a prominent member of team “glass half full” I do my best to see the silver lining as often as possible as I engage in the roller coaster of life.
Now don’t get me wrong, just like many at the beginning of the pandemic, I did have a sense of confusion that led to anxiety and on a few occasions even fear. There were times that as my situation and the circumstances around me changed, I was not a willing participant. However, I learned to pivot.
Learning to pivot
Turning in one place without moving is not easy. It takes patience, observation, persistence, and connection to your inner great I AM.
Pivoting in real life is hard and not to be taken lightly. It’s the ability to accept what is before you without taking it unto oneself. It’s the ability to choose to be a destiny writer and not just a history recorder. It’s about embracing change no matter how scary and uncertain it is and stepping into what’s next.
Think about it, what are you going to really achieve in your comfort zone?
Pivot points
If the pivot is directed action, what are you aiming towards? Do you really know what you want? Have you given time and thought to how God is calling you to maneuver?
Let’s get practical about it:
#1 – There’s no attachment without detachment
We need to be close enough to what God is doing to hear his voice. This means that we must separate ourselves from energy leaks that consume our minds with negativity like gossip, stinking thinking, worry, and anxiety. Renew our minds, focus on what we can control, and stay in His Word. (Philippians chapter 4 verse 8)
#2 – Be forward focused, not passed obsessed
Be willing to acknowledge that the past has happened. Then be willing to give yourself grace and forgive yourself where necessary. Where previous plans fell through, go back to the drawing board and be intent on following God’s plans, not your own. Get comfortable with being uncomfortable and chart your way forward. Having a new direction is not a sign of failure, but rather that God is not finished with you yet. (Philippians chapter 3 verses 12 to 14)
#3 – Right choices matter
Back in February of this year, Pastor Michael Todd taught on being Anchored in Obedience and the phrase “If You say so” as part of the teaching stuck with me. The significance of this phrase is not just any old response, but the immediacy of getting in alignment with what one is being called to. (James chapter 1 verse 22)
One way or another, we are answering someone's call. Whose call are you prepared to answer without pondering and waiting? Are you prepared to make the right choice and abandon your current route if necessary to pivot towards what God is calling you to?
The pivot has the ability to transform the battlefield of life into a place of growth, a place where God’s presence is made known. It makes us vulnerable and opens us up to all that we already have to be thankful for. It centers us, because without skill and precision of a deeper self-awareness the pivot ceases to exist.
So, ending where we started, let’s wrap up this year by unraveling what’s on our list and taking the next step to our great I AM pivot.
Note to self …
The time for pondering, considering, and waiting is over. It’s time to take action. What’s on your list?
#trust #hustle #rest in the Lord …
Kimberly-Joe Osborne is an authentic, purpose driven, and adventurously expectant wife, mother, entrepreneur, and woman of God.
Better known as KJ, she is an outgoing introvert with a heart that beats for family, faith, travel, culture, creativity, and food. After becoming a mother, she realized adulting could sometimes be a “hot mess” and so laundry became her zen. On this road to recovery from trying to be the perfect mom and wife, she is currently writing her first book which speaks to aligning and growing in faith in the midst of routine.
Kimberly-Joe is also the co-founder of CoacHer Legacy, where she dedicates herself to coaching mothers with the objective of redesigning generational legacy God's way. Through CoacHer Legacy, she and her business partner Shelly-Ann Munroe, provide a social safe space for mothers seeking to live a richer life by stepping out into their God given purpose.