Little Reminders

Anyone else ever go through something difficult, work through it, come out better...

and then find themselves in another mess again?!

[insert my hand raised here]

Yep... too many times for me. For granted, they haven't been all the same circumstances repeated. But the pattern still exists. I find myself in some sort of self-made crises. I cry about it. I do what I can to fix it. I come out stronger. I feel better. And months later, I'm in another mess!

Why can't I learn my lesson?!

It's because when we don't stay disciplined and remind ourselves of the struggle we endured, we forget. And this leads us back into the mess.

But friends, if we stay disciplined - and that means not repeating patterns that got us into the mess - and keep reminders around, we're less likely to find ourselves in another self-made crises! Now that's not to say bad things won't happen - they certainly will because that's life! BUT - we can lessen the self-made instances that get us into a bad place!

So what works for me? Well you guys already know that I do a daily devotional bible study every single day. I also go to church every Sunday. It doesn't just serve as a reminder but is part of the continuous commitment I need to make for the rest of my life to be a better person. Because if God doesn't convict or challenge me, I will grow independent from him and begin to rely on my own strength - which will never be enough to get me through life's challenges. Relying on my own strength has only caused me to grow weary, which caused me to grow angry, which caused me to treat others poorly. Only the strength I have from Christ will get me through the toughest times.

And visual reminders, like this wooden cross from my Uncle Gary, help keep me in check! Keeping things like this around to look at helps remind me how much I need God's love in my life. I keep this one at my office!

Other ways I like to remind myself...

1) I have a sign in my room (also from my uncle) that says "God is always awesome"

2) I wear a cross necklace

3) I have a tattoo of a cross (please don't take this as an endorsement to permanently put something on your body - take serious consideration before you do anything permanent)

4) Read the Bible and do my daily devotional every day

If you want to snag yourself one, contact him via IG @gccreativeworks !!

always,