It’s a New Year! And with a New Year often come good intentions at changing aspects of our life for the better. We strive to eat better and exercise more…to watch less television and read more books…to spend less time at work and more time with our family…to spend less money and save more…to say “no” to more commitments and “yes” to less…the list goes on. Do you have New Year resolutions that are sure to change your life? I will say, there is certainly a unique feeling about the beginning of something, especially a new year. It’s a time to theoretically start over, start fresh…wash away all of our mistakes, failures, and struggles and try again to succeed in this life. As Christians we know we don’t need a date of a new year to start over. We get that opportunity any moment of the year, through the gift of forgiveness and grace of God through Jesus Christ. However, with the start of a New Year, what better time than now to take action in living the life you’ve always dreamed of?

A study by the University of Scranton suggests that just eight percent of people achieve their New Year resolutions. Yikes…that’s a bit depressing and discouraging, isn’t it? However, don’t give up hope yet. Even though we have so many competing priorities in our lives, it is possible to not only attain our goals and aspirations, but to far exceed them beyond our wildest imagination.

It’s imperative, however, when setting goals to know where you want to go…to know what is important to you in this life. What are your dreams? What are your passions? What are your talents and gifts? What are your heart’s desires? What makes you happy? Align the answers to those very questions, and you will discover your purpose. What did God create you to do in this world? Is it easy to figure out? Not always, otherwise more people would be excelling in their goals and reaching their dreams. Is it possible? Absolutely! The challenge is we not only get caught up in the demands of life—having little or no time to breathe and reflect on this very question—but we don’t spend time intentionally seeking God’s guidance for our life. This busyness leads to making choices and decisions that don’t align with our God-given purpose and don’t reflect the values and people we hold most dear.

When we discover and define our purpose in this life and have a clear direction on the path God has paved for us, the goals we set to live that purpose out have so much more meaning and power. Do we see every turn or detour along the path? No. But through continued conversation with God, we receive inspiration and wisdom to keep going. We are the agents of change in our lives. My cousin, Jim Akers, a speaker and author of the brilliant book, Tape Breakers, and mentor in my life, once said the following statement that changed my life. He said, “God places our dreams on our hearts for a reason. It’s up to us to take action.”

It reminds me of the story of Esther in the Bible. I happened to study her at a time when I was deep into seeking my purpose…coincidence? I don’t believe so. What God revealed to me through the character and integrity of Esther was breathtaking, unexpected, life-changing, and profound.

Esther was a Jew, unbeknownst to the King, and yet was chosen as Queen of Persia by King Xerxes. Long story short, one of the King’s right hand men, Haman, wanted Mordecai (Esther’s cousin who raised her and whom she still received advice from) and all of his people, the Jews, to be executed and destroyed. Mordecai told Esther about this and Esther decided to go to the King to tell him about this plot. Back then, it was written in the law that if any man or woman approaches the king in the inner court without being summoned, the king has but one law: that he/she be put to death. The only exception to this is for the king to extend the gold scepter to him/her and spare his/her life.

As Esther was deciding whether or not to go to the King, Mordecai said to her, “And who knows but that you have come to royal position for such a time as this?” Esther decided that she would go to the king, even though it was against the law. “And if I perish, I perish” she said. They both recognized that God had placed them in their positions for a purpose, so they seized the moment and acted. I was reminded that we must ask God for direction and then ACT when we feel that desire and call in our heart! God has placed us where we are “for such a time as this.” He’s placed on our hearts dreams that need action. He can’t do it for us.

To find and fulfill our purpose, which is what will bring us joy and happiness, we need to seek to know what God wants us to do, and then do it, confident that He will do His part. Do we know ahead of time how He will accomplish His will? No, but that’s why we place our full trust in God and the calling on our hearts. We then must prepare to be amazed by the ways He demonstrates His purpose in our lives.

I finally took the leap to take action and trust in the calling God placed on my heart when I realized that I was not using fully the gifts God had given me. Therefore by not taking action, I was saying “no” to the “me” God created me to be. Since I began to take action…to embrace my dream…to trust in God’s purpose for my life, I have never felt more whole, more right, more peace, more joy, more solid, more confident. Do I still struggle at times with fears and doubts and insecurities? Of course. But my foundation of faith and trust in the direction God has laid out for me is so solid and immovable, that I am quickly able to redirect and refocus to stay on course.

In Esther’s life, God was certainly in control, yet Mordecai and Esther had to act. It’s hard to understand how both can be true at the same time, but I believe they are. God chooses to work through those willing to act for Him. Are you ready to act on your God-given dreams and make them reality? Trust me…God is waiting for you to take action. What’s holding you back? Have you come to “such a time as this?” If you know where God is calling you, join me in being a part of that unique group of people, that small percentage of people, who say “yes” to such a time as this…who want to give value to this world…who want to impact the ones they love…who want to live fully the life God has planned for them. There’s no better time to act than now.

God’s Speed, my friends!

Natalie