One of the reasons I included a spirit/soul component in my 5-year challenge is that our spiritual and emotional states affect everything. If I’m feeling hopeful and positive and upbeat and energetic, I will work smarter and better and more consistently toward all of my aims. So much feels possible with a good mindset. So much is possible with a good mindset. 😀
Here are some of the things I’ve been doing that definitely help me have a good mindset.
SiriusXM Radio Channel 128
I may have mentioned this before, but instead of listening to sad/stressful/scary/negative news all day, I get a good dose of SiriusXM Radio Channel 128 while I’m driving and now even on my phone sometimes when I’m sitting in the house.
IMPORTANT NOTE: This channel shares Joel Osteen’s messages, and I know that that is a concern for some people. I understand that some people have questions about his specific theological beliefs, whether they are biblically sound enough, “strict” enough, and so forth. I get that. The key for me: I don’t try to accomplish church attendance via listening to Joel’s sermons. I simply listen to Osteen’s messages for spiritual encouragement, and nothing more, just as if I were listening to a worship song on the radio. I attend a scriptural, theologically sound, and biblical church that I adore. If/when I encounter a message of Joel’s or ANYONE’S that I don’t find theologically sound, I bypass it. Simple. That’s my take, anyway. 😉
That said, the DISCIPLINE of listening to a steady stream of spiritual encouragement makes a RIDICULOUSLY HUGE and PROFOUND difference in my life. It results in my thinking well and positively. It results in my making better decisions and maintaining a good, godly, loving, healthy attitude. It shores me up to feel God’s love and to feel that together He and I can address all that life holds.
If curious or interested, you can listen to the sermons for free either via the SiriusXM app on your phone or at https://www.joelosteen.com/Pages/WatchOnline.aspx (screenshot below). Of course, you can listen to it in your car if you have Sirius Channel 128.
There are literally DOZENS of sermons on Sirius Channel 128 that I’ve heard and thought, “I need to listen to this EVERY DAY, first thing in the morning.” Below are a few.
The “Remember Me” Bible Verse Memorization App
One NEW thing I’ve been doing is memorizing scripture. It’s going GREAT. I used to memorize scripture as a child and teen, and I still remember most of the scriptures I memorized back then. Being able to recite excellent scriptures from memory means that I can meditate on said scriptures with my eyes closed, my hands lifted . . . It’s really good. 🙂
The last scripture I memorized was one that I encountered on someone’s WordPress blog that really just SPOKE to me in terms of my career goals. It was Proverbs 31:31. Let’s see if I can type it from memory. 😉
Give her of the fruit of her hands. And let __ __ __ praise her at the gates. Proverbs 31:31
Uh oh. I had to look up the phase that went in the blank. It’s “her own works.” H.O.W. Her. Own. Works. (I’ll keep working on it. :p)
It’s VERY convenient and even fun to do get scripture into my memory with an app I recently found called Remember Me. It has all sorts of activities that allow for practice remembering and reciting the memory verse you input. If I turn my keyboard microphone on, one of the activities checks my ability to recite it (otherwise it will check my ability to type/tap it). So, as I say the correct next word, the app fills it in. If I say the wrong word, it waits for me to say the correct next word. Awesome!
Soon I plan to memorize the verses below. My preacher mentioned this in a sermon recently when he was discussing our identity in Christ. I love it. ❤ I will input it into the Remember Me app. 🙂
Colossians 3:12-14 (NCV)
12 God has chosen you and made you his holy people. He loves you. So you should always clothe yourselves with mercy, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience.
13 Bear with each other, and forgive each other. If someone does wrong to you, forgive that person because the Lord forgave you.
14 Even more than all this, clothe yourself in love. Love is what holds you all together in perfect unity.
So that’s the latest in terms of the spirit/soul challenge. How are you doing in these areas? Please feel free to share in the comments. I’d love to hear from you. 🙂
As always, many blessings!
Yvette
The Blossoming, Fit Natural 