Thirst Quencher

12 ways to keep your cup full in the new year 

As a mother and a wife, there are times that I do find myself frustrated, irritated quicker, exhausted, and more excited about others dream than my own.... simply because I’m pouring from an empty cup. As women we often neglect what we need for the sake of our homes, but as we enter into a new season, it’s never too late to redefine the norm, and build barriers against those things that keep our souls empty, so that we can walk in the fullness of Gods desires for our life as well! This week I share different ways, that you can avoid physical, mental, and spiritual exhaustion, and keep your cup full in the new year.  Devotion  Sustain a routine of sacred, quiet  time where you can press deeper and receive the spiritual nourishment that your life needs. Start with 15 minutes a day and gradually work your way up in quiet devotion time. There are apps, and countless books that can guide you through this process. Below, are a few books that I’ve known to be a blessing to women in their spiritual stability and growth. 

Priscilla shirer- Awaken

Fervent  Td Jakes- Woman thou art whole and healed  Iyanla vanzant- Until Today  Stormie Omartian- The power of a praying wife The power of a praying mother  The power of a praying woman  Dream I was sitting down with one of my sisters recently and i made the comment that “Alvin is the dreamer in our relationship, I am not” and she challenged me on it. She reminded me that our relationship should be a pendulum and if I’m constantly pouring into his dream, it won’t sustain the gifts and greatness lying within me.  Plan that beach vacation you’ve always been dreaming about and if you need a baby step before leaping into that, shoot plan a staycation- find a cute air bnb, a local hotel, plan a spa day, find a beautiful tourist excursion a few hours away, unplug from the world around you and treat ya self, It will change your life in ways you didn’t even recognize you needed! 

Check the lens of your dream. Stop being fed and limited by other people’s dream on social media! A lot of people are only happy on social media, Many people are going into debt just to look good on the gram! Ask God to remove distractions, put death to comparison, and enlarge your vision to expand your dreams beyond what your physical eye can see! “If you can accomplish your dream on your own, your dream is too small” Bishop TD Jakes- Make it a point this year to create kingdom connections with people who will sow into your dream!  Check your tribe- Many women have their crew, their go to girls that they can call for a brunch date, a good laugh, a vent session; and hopefully even in times of crisis. BUT you may need to do an inventory on your circle  ; if you have been feeling stagnant in an area of your life, check your roots. Maybe you’re allowing people to speak death in areas where God has planted life. That business venture, that goal, that baby you’re praying for, that you know God gave you vision about, and only you would understand, why lean on the understanding of people who are operating with spiritual and mental blindfolds, who are stuck in their own misery, can’t keep a job, a man, ain’t saved a penny in their life, and have never taken a leap of faith, let alone a baby step. Your life is too precious, and your purpose is too powerful to leave in the hands and surroundings of seasonal friendships and relationships. Three words for you! LET IT GO!  A message said you are a reflection of the top 5% of people you’re around even if it’s not people you’re physically around it could be the top 5% of people you’re influenced by on social media. Be aware of the influence you lay susceptible too. It could be planting barren wombs and spoiled fruit! & Peep game towards who is celebrating you even when its not their own winning season. Now once you’ve checked your tribe, ask yourself two questions.... Is my life centered around women who hold me accountable? Am I being the kind of friend that I desire for others to be to me? 

Accountability - one of my greatest blessing this year was growing stronger in sisterhood with women who did not sugar coat anything with me, they called me out when I was dead wrong, did not let me slip and fall when I was straight failing, they walked with me, prayed with me, and spoke Life in me. I know who these women are off the top of my head without thinking twice. My sisters are my accountability partners, they don’t let a week go by without ensuring that I’m living a purpose filled life.  Sometimes we also may have unrealistic expectations for others that we are connected to, where we aren’t willing to pour out what we expect to receive. So we’re left hurt and exhausted from cysts in our relationships that we’ve created. This year measure your expectation of reciprocity on the basis of what you pour out.  Bad company corrupts good character. - 1 Corinthians 15:33 Plan- month to month of tangible goals that you can use the fruit from each season to re plant towards the harvest of your next season.  Plan a date night  Plan a family night  Use a Discover page or apps that inform you of local events in your area, try one new thing a month.  Create tangible and realistic to do lists for the week, and let nothing limit you from accomplishing them!  “If you fail to plan, you plan to fail”

Budget- chiiiiiiile let me tell you, this is me preaching to the chior because I need this word for myself! In transparency, I’ve spent many months this year living paycheck to paycheck. Making sure my tithes are paid, my daughters school is paid, car payment, health and car insurance is paid, living expenses, savings, and shoot gas in Texas is fairly equivalent to a rent payment these days, lol I can go on and on but after my husband and I take care of alllllll of that, I’m left with.... you guessed it, nothing! It’s one of the worst feelings in the world to work day after day relentlessly and not be able to enjoy the fruits of your labor. If you’re anything like me, This year I challenge you to make it a priority to live within your means, rely on financial wisdom, and carve out a little of your hard earned work, to treat yourself! You’re worth it!  * My sister is doing a phenomenal job sharing practical wisdom on ways to get your budget in line! Check out her instagram page!  @talkbudget2me  Learn your triggers & cope with, and communicate them effectively- Whether For yourself or in relation with others, we all have offenses, irritation, and areas in our life that trigger frustration, anger, anxiety, worry, doubt, and fear. Of course God hasn't placed this in any of us, but the feelings and experiences are real! There’s always a root, and if we aren’t careful and aware, we can end up creating toxic habits based on our own insecurities, open wounds, and brokenness! It could be as simple as noticing that clutter and space stresses you out; and a clean home provides a sense of peace for you. Learn to communicate with those you live with about what you need.  The other day I was getting irritated by my husband being on his phone, in his eyes he’s just minding his business, Scrolling through social media, but in my eyes that may stem from feelings of rejection from years ago, where now I just deeply desire his undivided attention, and what seemed so simple took a turn for the deep end that quick internally for me! 

I’ve even heard in other cases that this same example could trigger people because they are so used to being cheated on that, they don’t trust what their spouse or partner is doing!

When you find yourself in these positions, seek God, wisdom, counseling and support from those closest to you, to help you identify the root of your trigger so you can begin healing from it, and sustaining healthy relationships! Then maybe you’ll see the reason you couldn’t keep friends, family members, or a man before, had nothing to do with them and everything to do with you!  Discover what you love, and do more of it! - it could be your gifts, it could be your talents, volunteering, discovering a new hobby, or it could be watching endless seasons of the latest Netflix series... whatever IT is, give yourself permission to unplug and reset from the constant day to day chaos that life brings!  Learn to say no, without the exhausted unnecessary explanation. The people who are really your people will understand! Enough said!  The ultimate source vs. seasonal sources  Check the sources you’re pouring into  Is it a well that recycles and replenishes life back into you? Of course for those who have tremendous hearts, all that we do for others is never self seeking, but listen when I say this, if you’re constantly pouring into others who wouldn’t even think twice about checking on you from week to week, who wouldn’t bother going out of their way to visit you, bless you or whatever it may be, then you may be pouring into the wrong source and it is okay to cut that off!  Rely on the ultimate source who can fulfill and refill every need you’ll ever have 

Write the vision and make it plain! Vision boards are always a great way to plant seeds towards your future, but beyond that when God gives you vision about where you’re going, and who you will be, WRITE IT DOWN AND PRAY OVER IT! If you haven’t received that vision, check your position, maybe God can’t reveal anything to you until you show yourself approved and worthy of being trusted with more... Where do you want to see yourself in the next year? Next 5 years? Write it down and pray over it until you see it harvest! 

Above all else PRAY! 

- And pray in the spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests- Ephesians 6:18

- This is the confidence we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything according to HIS will, He hears us. - 1 John 5:14

- be anxious for nothing, but in everything with prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God- Philippians 4:6 

I remember an old hymn that recited “fill my cup Lord, and let it overflow”

Maybe that needs to be your prayer in 2019!

Happy New Year!!! God Bless You, I love you. And I pray for abundance of inspiration in your life in 2019!