“Faithful Persistence: My Journey Through 2024”
Faithful. Diligent. Persistent. Consistent.
These are the words I would use to describe my year—2024! Can you believe it? Here we are, already beyond the fall equinox, heading into the last quarter of the year. Before we know it, Thanksgiving, Christmas, and the New Year will be upon us, and we’ll find ourselves reflecting on their memories.
I don’t know about you, but I’ve been very careful and diligent not to squander my time this year. Yet, even with intentionality, it feels as though the year sped by.
How about you? As you think back on the last eight months, do you feel accomplished? Were you diligent? Perhaps not perfect, but were you persistent? I’m not just talking about all the tasks and expectations the world places on you—or the pressures you place on yourself. I’m asking if, at the end of 2024, you can hear the Lord saying, “Well done, my good and faithful servant!”
This year, I finally embraced several tools that I’ve known for most of my life were essential for living a more balanced, joyful, God-glorifying life. One tool, in particular, helped me overcome roadblocks that had been hindering my journey: mentorship. Having someone hold me accountable made a significant difference in staying focused and on task. It’s such a simple concept, yet so powerful—accountability. Proverbs 27:17 says, “Iron sharpens iron, and one man sharpens another.” Similarly, 1 Thessalonians 5:11 encourages us to “encourage one another and build one another up, just as you are doing.”
Whether you call it mentoring, discipleship, or coaching, the name doesn’t matter. What matters is having someone in your life who regularly listens to you and, more importantly, helps you get to the heart of what God is working out in your life. My mentor this year came into my life unexpectedly. In the past, my mentors had been family members, church acquaintances, or ministry partners—people who came alongside me on life’s journey in their free time. But this time, God led me to a professional life coach. She was called and gifted, but coaching was her work—her business. This meant that, for the first time, I paid for mentoring. And I loved it.
I didn’t feel like I was imposing on her time or taking away from her family or other responsibilities. She was there specifically for me—to listen, encourage, and challenge me. It has been an incredible experience to brainstorm ideas, discuss plans, and explore options with someone who offers godly wisdom without pressuring me to follow her way. This relationship has been life-changing.
One of the tools my coach introduced me to for staying consistently balanced is the Ziglar Wheel of Life. In his book Choose to Win, Tom Ziglar describes the wheel as “a simple yet profound way to get a snapshot of how well you are doing in life.” I use the wheel as a daily “check-up from the neck up” to maintain balance in all areas of my life. It’s also a tool I encourage my clients to use regularly.
Mental wellness is an essential part of this balance. Our mental and emotional health is often the first to suffer when life gets overwhelming, yet it is foundational to everything else. By using the Wheel of Life and staying intentional with our goals, we create space for self-reflection and spiritual grounding, which in turn supports our mental wellness. When we align our priorities with God’s plan and make time for regular self-care, we reduce stress and gain a sense of peace that guards our hearts and minds (Philippians 4:7). This holistic approach helps us not only endure challenges but also thrive through them.
Take a look at the blog we posted earlier this summer on the Wheel of Life below.
This tool can be invaluable in preparing for balanced success as you begin praying and planning for the New Year. Resolutions don’t have to end as quickly as they usually do. You can have a New Year with purpose and direction—one that you orchestrate as you follow the Lord’s leading.
This simple tool can relieve some of the pressure on your mind and reduce stress by bringing order to your life. Need help applying it to your life? Do you know someone who would be blessed by knowing about this tool? I offer FREE Strategy Sessions!
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