6 Simple Ways To Empower Your "Why"

Has this ever happened to you? Everything appeared to be going so well, personally or professionally. Then, without warning, you lack motivation, everything seems stale, and you have no idea why you were even trying so hard. In short, you lost your "Why," and now you are wafting and trying to figure out where you went wrong.

Cheer up! The truth is, whatever happened, you can still resolve the issues. Your confidence was not there when you started doubting yourself. You are likely also questioning the things you believe. After all, how can you get something so important as a "Why" right when you go wrong in other subjects you have a go at? You can do it because God made you to do good work!

^"For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them." - Ephesians 2:10 KJV

6 Simple Ways To Empower Your "Why"

1.  Prayer

Before setting goals, see what the Word of God says about them. Prayer is the way to communicate with Him. Through prayer, women can repent, seek His help, ask for comfort, praise and worship God, ask for healing, or have any other conversation with Him. To be in alignment with God's will, prayer must be the most important part of discovering your "Why."

Prayer is a time to communicate with Jesus and present your worries, struggles, or fears. He is there to listen to you, redirect your eyes off these things, and direct your eyes to His strength, joy, comfort, guidance, and promises. This is how you know your Why. When you align with Jesus, you find your purpose.

"Commit thy works unto the Lord, and thy thoughts shall be established." - Proverbs 16:3 KJV

"For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts." – Isaiah 55:9 KJV

"But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you." - Matthew 6:33 JKV

Prayer also gives you strength in difficult or troubling times. Invite God in. Ask for His help on every part. We must have mustard seed faith and know our prayers move mountains! (Matthew 17:14-20).

2.  Biblical Affirmations

The problem is that self-talk is critical to success. The whole thing falls apart when you let those little negative voices take over your thoughts. Fortunately, this is easy to correct going forward. Develop a Truth Mindset. You start by paying attention to what you are thinking or saying about yourself and consciously turn negative comments into positive ones.

When women train their minds to consider what God believes, it makes their mindset positive. It is VERY significant for women to speak to themselves the way God says about them. Give up your concerns and worries to God through prayer. God will bring about transformation in your life.

Pray that He opens doors for new opportunities or closes doors for things not of His will. His word is POWERFUL enough to DEFEAT every double-minded thought, doubt, or lie in your mind. God promises to offer us strength when we call on Him. Feel closer to Him and more together with your life by using Biblical affirmations. Do it enough, and it will become a habit.

Begin each sentence with I am…

• I am who God says I am
• I am loved by God.
• I am blessed.
• I am wonderfully made.
• I am a worthy daughter of the King.
• I am accepted by God.
• I am faithful.
• I am humbled.

Ultimately, God wants you to be ready to take on challenges and push past daily obstacles to accomplish His will.

"I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me." - Philippians 4:13 KJV

3.  Mission Statement

A Christian personal mission statement is a clear, concise statement of how you desire to align with Jesus to fulfill your God-given purpose. No matter your circumstances or what you may be going through, God promises this hope through the Holy Spirit. He does not want you to be concerned or fearful of the future but intends for you to hold hope, trusting in Him for what is to come.

Sample Mission Statement: My mission is to love God by growing in my understanding, living, and communicating the gospel in all areas of my life and love my neighbor by sharing my time, talent, and treasure with others.

The Why is muddled when you need more clarity about what you are fighting for. It is easy for you to lose your way. Take a minute to consider your "Why" critically. Was it open to interpretation or vague in some way? Moving forward, take time to craft a mission statement, and you will know you are solid from the start. There is nothing wrong with big goals and some ambitious ideas regarding your "Why," but they can quickly overcome you if you are not careful.

4.  SMART Goals

Through prayer, God guides and directs you according to His will. When praying, seek God's guidance and wisdom in making the right decisions. Trust that He opens doors for you that need to be opened and closes doors that must be closed, all according to His will for your life.

Consider dialing it back a notch, taking the big goals, and breaking them into smaller, more manageable ones. If your "Why" is too broad, you might consider homing in on the core for now. You can continually expand things later. So, "dream a little dream" and make your prospects more manageable.

When you are setting goals for your family, work, or personal development, accomplishing the right thing, the right way, at the right time, is essential to achieving your goals. The most successful way to undertake a plan is to set goals that are Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, and Time-bound (SMART).

• Specific (sensible, significant)

Be simple, clear, and specific in what you want to achieve.

• What specifically do you want to accomplish?
• When do you want to achieve this?
• Where does this need to come about (if relevant)?
• Which resources are required?
• Who must be involved
• Who will it benefit?
• Why does this need to happen?

• Measurable (meaningful, motivating)

If it is not measured,it is not important. Set short and long-term goals. These goals help to identify tangible progress and allow you the room to adapt along the way. This will also give you a sense of how close you are to making the timeline.

• Achievable (allowed, attainable)

Do you currently possess the skills and tools essential to achieve this goal? Or will you need to get them before beginning? The goal should be challenging, but not be impossible. You must feel motivated and inspired, not depleted and discouraged by the goal. So be realistic and plan accordingly.

• Relevant (reasonable, realistic, resourced, results-based)

Goals must be relevant to you and those affected. And they should move things forward in positive ways. Answer these questions about the plan: Am I the right person? Does this align with the Word of God? Is it pertinent? Is it worthwhile? Is now the right time?

• Time-bound

Timelines help you to remain on task. Deadlines create a sense of urgency. But be realistic when setting the goal. Make sure the plan is achievable in the timeframe established. Consider all of the other elements of SMART. Using the SMART tool is an efficient way to plan and is applicable to many different types of goals. Remember to be SMART about it when it comes to accomplishing and succeeding in your goals.

"A goal is a dream with a deadline" ~Napoleon Hill

5.  Self-Care

Self-care as a Christian implies we think of our health as a gift. We should consider the health of our bodies, spirits, and souls as a means to be a good steward of the blessings that God has given us.

Rest: Sleep tends to be the first thing we cut out of our busy schedules, yet it's one of the most powerful ways to restore your energy and focus.

"It is vain for you to rise up early, to sit up late, to eat the bread of sorrows: for so he giveth his beloved sleep." - Psalm 127:2KJV

"And he said unto them, Come ye yourselves apart into a desert place, and rest a while: for there were many coming and going, and they had no leisure so much as to eat." – Mark 6:31 KJV

Body: Our body houses the Holy Spirit. Nourish and care for your body to make you more effective for God's kingdom.

"Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you?" - 1 Corinthians 3:16 KJV

Spirit: Make time with God a priority.

"For he shall be as a tree planted by the waters, and that spreadeth out her roots by the river, and shall not see when heat cometh, but her leaf shall be green; and shall not be careful in the year of drought, neither shall cease from yielding fruit." - Jeremiah 17:8 KJV

Soul: What you think about matters and will heavily affect your well-being.

"Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things." - Philippians 4:8 KJV

While it is not practical to set aside hours in a day to focus on only yourself (nor should you), there are many small steps you can start taking as you have the time. Keep in mind, you cannot keep pouring out all your energy and resources without taking the time to refill them!

When you do not take care of yourself, there is no way even the best "Why" can carry you if you are not getting enough sleep or neglecting your health. Make a point to eat right, exercise, and set a sleep schedule to ensure you get your rest. When you feel better, you will have more energy and enthusiasm for your "Why."

6.  Patience

Quitting because something was taking too long is a common mistake. Your "Why" might involve some goals which take a while. Faith provides confidence in things we hope for and assurance in things we do not see (Hebrews 11:1). To keep your motivation up, try revisiting the big picture to remind yourself what you are fighting for. Add a reasonable timeline to expect success and settle in for the long haul.

^" Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding.  In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths." - Proverbs 3:5-6 KJV

As you see, with some work, you can get back your "Why." The key is to learn from what has happened and to move on. As believers, we must include God in our plans. What we see from these scriptures is that God cares about our success. But before we map out the blueprint and check off the list, women need to invite Him into what we are doing. Otherwise, our hard work will solely be from the labor of our own hands. We want our goals to align with what God has planned for us. Start by humbly seeking the Lord in prayer, invite the wisdom of the Holy Spirit into your goal setting, and submit your goals to the Lord.

You've got this!