WEBVTT 00:00:15.349 --> 00:00:18.070 Do you find it difficult to maintain your New 00:00:18.070 --> 00:00:20.949 Year's resolutions? Do you lose motivation by 00:00:20.949 --> 00:00:24.350 week two? Do you feel burnt out just by the thought 00:00:24.350 --> 00:00:27.379 of reinventing yourself? Whichever category you 00:00:27.379 --> 00:00:30.600 fall into, this episode is for you. Hey Forever 00:00:30.600 --> 00:00:32.840 God Girl, I'm your host Iz and welcome or welcome 00:00:32.840 --> 00:00:35.420 back to the Forever GodGirl podcast. Happy New 00:00:35.420 --> 00:00:37.899 Year! With the new year comes new expectations 00:00:37.899 --> 00:00:40.659 to be a new person, but if time and time again 00:00:40.659 --> 00:00:43.799 we fail, what are we doing wrong? Let's start 00:00:43.799 --> 00:00:48.280 there. One, we don't consult God first. In Isaiah 00:00:48.280 --> 00:00:55.679 11 verse two it says, the spirit of counsel and 00:00:55.679 --> 00:00:58.399 strength, the spirit of knowledge, and the reverential 00:00:58.399 --> 00:01:00.960 and obedient fear of the Lord. So if the Holy 00:01:00.960 --> 00:01:02.799 Spirit is all these things and we're not going 00:01:02.799 --> 00:01:05.420 to him first, no wonder why all our plans fail. 00:01:05.700 --> 00:01:07.239 Now because it's the new year, we're going to 00:01:07.239 --> 00:01:10.840 see a bunch of podcasts, videos, and books telling 00:01:10.840 --> 00:01:13.939 us how to reinvent ourselves for 2026. But I'm 00:01:13.939 --> 00:01:15.980 here to tell you that we cannot reinvent ourselves 00:01:15.980 --> 00:01:18.879 and have it last. We rely on the Holy Spirit 00:01:18.879 --> 00:01:21.780 as children of the Lord and as Forever GodGirls. 00:01:21.980 --> 00:01:23.920 Which brings me into the second thing that we 00:01:23.920 --> 00:01:26.879 tend to do wrong. We are trying to run off of 00:01:26.879 --> 00:01:29.079 motivation. Wait, I thought motivation was a 00:01:29.079 --> 00:01:31.920 great thing though. It is to start us off, but 00:01:31.920 --> 00:01:34.340 here's the problem with running off of it solely. 00:01:34.859 --> 00:01:37.140 Motivation is not the same thing as discipline, 00:01:37.540 --> 00:01:40.480 because discipline is spiritual. We can get motivated 00:01:40.480 --> 00:01:42.599 by literally almost anything in the world. Don't 00:01:42.599 --> 00:01:44.459 get me started on the Ted Cox and self -help 00:01:44.459 --> 00:01:47.019 book, but we cannot practice self - discipline 00:01:47.019 --> 00:01:49.340 without the Holy Spirit because it is a fruit 00:01:49.340 --> 00:01:52.540 of the Spirit. Galatians 5 22 says the fruit 00:01:52.540 --> 00:01:56.239 of the Spirit are love, joy, peace, patience, 00:01:56.939 --> 00:02:00.000 kindness, goodness, gentleness, faithfulness, 00:02:00.260 --> 00:02:03.819 and self -control or in other versions self -discipline. 00:02:04.000 --> 00:02:07.000 Okay, so motivation and discipline are two different 00:02:07.000 --> 00:02:10.099 things. Correct, because motivation is only step 00:02:10.099 --> 00:02:12.840 one. Have you ever been in a situation where 00:02:12.840 --> 00:02:15.280 you're scrolling online, you see a video that 00:02:15.280 --> 00:02:17.479 motivates you, so you get up and start cleaning 00:02:17.479 --> 00:02:19.219 your room, and then you get to the point where 00:02:19.219 --> 00:02:21.419 everything is on the floor, so now you have to 00:02:21.419 --> 00:02:23.240 clean your room, but you've lost motivation? 00:02:23.419 --> 00:02:25.979 Wait, wait up though. I'm already a pretty disciplined 00:02:25.979 --> 00:02:28.460 person without the Holy Spirit. Like, I'm an 00:02:28.460 --> 00:02:31.060 athlete and I do sports and I have to work out 00:02:31.060 --> 00:02:33.300 for that. So, doesn't that make me disciplined? 00:02:33.439 --> 00:02:36.560 Yeah, physically, but not spiritually. Because 00:02:36.560 --> 00:02:39.400 like I said, discipline is spiritual. You can 00:02:39.400 --> 00:02:42.039 control your body, but can we control our mind? 00:02:42.120 --> 00:02:44.439 Can we control our souls on our own? That's where 00:02:44.439 --> 00:02:46.639 the Holy Spirit comes into play. It's just like 00:02:46.639 --> 00:02:49.139 in 1 Corinthians chapter 9 verses 25 through 00:02:49.139 --> 00:02:55.719 27, which says, prize that will fade away but 00:02:55.719 --> 00:02:59.080 we do it for an eternal prize so I run with purpose 00:02:59.080 --> 00:03:02.900 in every step I am not just shadow boxing I discipline 00:03:02.900 --> 00:03:05.599 my body like an athlete training to do what I 00:03:05.599 --> 00:03:08.340 should he's saying that he's disciplined through 00:03:08.340 --> 00:03:10.879 the power of the Holy Spirit because he's motivated 00:03:10.879 --> 00:03:14.259 to reach the eternal prize this scripture actually 00:03:14.259 --> 00:03:16.840 brings me into point number three we don't know 00:03:16.840 --> 00:03:20.099 our reason why have a reason why, or we don't 00:03:20.099 --> 00:03:22.439 have a practical slash sufficient reason why. 00:03:22.819 --> 00:03:26.180 Why do I want to become a better person and create 00:03:26.180 --> 00:03:30.479 better habits? What am I working towards? Who 00:03:30.479 --> 00:03:33.419 am I doing it for? And what is my motivation? 00:03:34.000 --> 00:03:36.680 Obedience to Christ should be our reason why. 00:03:37.240 --> 00:03:39.780 Being more Christ -like should be what we are 00:03:39.780 --> 00:03:41.919 working towards as well as our eternal prize. 00:03:42.580 --> 00:03:45.340 Jesus, then ourselves, should be who we are doing 00:03:45.340 --> 00:03:48.460 it for. Stuff like dying to the flesh and gaining 00:03:48.460 --> 00:03:51.259 our eternal prize should be our main motivation. 00:03:51.539 --> 00:03:53.919 For example, walking or running a couple miles 00:03:53.919 --> 00:03:56.599 low -key becomes more doable when we realize 00:03:56.599 --> 00:03:59.520 that Jesus literally walked an average of 20 00:03:59.520 --> 00:04:01.900 miles a day. And I'll be honest, sometimes it 00:04:01.900 --> 00:04:04.199 is difficult to keep going even when we know 00:04:04.199 --> 00:04:07.740 our why just because we have flesh and the flesh 00:04:07.740 --> 00:04:11.340 wants to be lazy. But in Ezekiel 36 verses 26 00:04:11.340 --> 00:04:14.159 and 27 it says, and I will give you a new heart. 00:04:14.400 --> 00:04:17.060 I will put a new spirit in you and I will take 00:04:17.060 --> 00:04:19.540 out your stony stubborn heart and give you a 00:04:19.540 --> 00:04:22.060 tender responsive heart. I will put my spirit 00:04:22.060 --> 00:04:24.819 in you so that you will follow my decrees and 00:04:24.819 --> 00:04:28.509 be careful to obey my commands. Four. When we 00:04:28.509 --> 00:04:31.470 make our big resolutions slash goals, we don't 00:04:31.470 --> 00:04:34.649 take any steps to accomplish our goals. For example, 00:04:34.790 --> 00:04:37.509 if my goal is to drink more water, I can't just 00:04:37.509 --> 00:04:39.389 write it on the paper and expect it to happen 00:04:39.389 --> 00:04:42.389 by itself. I have to set myself up for success 00:04:42.389 --> 00:04:45.250 by making practical ways to drink more water. 00:04:45.629 --> 00:04:47.850 Those practical steps could be carrying my water 00:04:47.850 --> 00:04:50.089 bottle around with me or putting flavor in my 00:04:50.089 --> 00:04:52.110 water so that the taste is more appealing. But 00:04:52.110 --> 00:04:54.550 I hope you get what I'm trying to say. Sometimes 00:04:54.550 --> 00:04:57.069 we don't reach our goals because they seem so 00:04:57.069 --> 00:04:59.569 daunting, but if God puts something on your heart, 00:04:59.610 --> 00:05:02.389 He'll make a way and He'll give us the wisdom 00:05:02.389 --> 00:05:05.209 to see how we can reach that goal in smaller, 00:05:05.730 --> 00:05:08.589 practical, easier to manage steps. Number five. 00:05:08.810 --> 00:05:11.449 I'ma hold your hand when I tell you this. We 00:05:11.449 --> 00:05:14.269 justify being lazy because when we justify being 00:05:14.269 --> 00:05:17.370 lazy it's easier to give up. Oof. Got convicted 00:05:17.370 --> 00:05:19.970 on that one too. Yes, give yourself grace if 00:05:19.970 --> 00:05:22.910 you mess up, but no, don't justify being lazy 00:05:22.910 --> 00:05:25.930 and give up because laziness is a sin. Proverbs 00:05:25.930 --> 00:05:29.040 is very blunt when it comes to laziness. Proverbs 00:05:29.040 --> 00:05:31.699 13 -4 says lazy people want much but get little. 00:05:31.860 --> 00:05:34.720 Proverbs 25 verse 21 says, despite their desires, 00:05:34.839 --> 00:05:37.600 the lazy will come to ruin, for their hands refuse 00:05:37.600 --> 00:05:40.060 to work. Don't just talk about how you want to 00:05:40.060 --> 00:05:43.240 be productive, but do it through the power of 00:05:43.240 --> 00:05:45.500 the Holy Spirit. And we can activate the power 00:05:45.500 --> 00:05:47.779 of the Holy Spirit in our lives by simply praying, 00:05:48.279 --> 00:05:50.839 help me, Holy Spirit. Because remember this in 00:05:50.839 --> 00:05:54.139 the book of Proverbs chapter 14 verse 23, work 00:05:54.139 --> 00:05:57.199 brings profit, but mere talk leads to poverty. 00:05:58.660 --> 00:06:01.240 Okay, now that I know what we're doing wrong, 00:06:01.779 --> 00:06:05.379 how do I better myself in 2026? Well firstly, 00:06:05.500 --> 00:06:07.720 we gotta start by thinking differently. It's 00:06:07.720 --> 00:06:10.220 not us bettering ourselves, it's allowing the 00:06:10.220 --> 00:06:12.620 Holy Spirit to finish His good work in us. Psalm 00:06:12.620 --> 00:06:15.360 100 verse 3 says, it is God who made us and not 00:06:15.360 --> 00:06:18.439 we ourselves. And Philippians 1 -6 says, and 00:06:18.439 --> 00:06:21.519 I am certain that God who began the good work 00:06:21.519 --> 00:06:24.420 within you will continue His work until it is 00:06:24.420 --> 00:06:26.879 finally finished on the day when Jesus Christ 00:06:26.879 --> 00:06:30.189 returns. Two, we need to use the tools that the 00:06:30.189 --> 00:06:32.970 Holy Spirit has given us because if I want to 00:06:32.970 --> 00:06:34.829 build a shed and I have the hammer and all the 00:06:34.829 --> 00:06:37.689 tools in my hand but I refuse to use them... 00:06:37.470 --> 00:06:39.930 Well, that shed ain't gonna be built because 00:06:39.930 --> 00:06:42.670 the Bible literally says that God gives us tools 00:06:42.670 --> 00:06:45.470 and he gives us the ability to create wealth 00:06:45.470 --> 00:06:48.009 with those tools. So even if you don't have a 00:06:48.009 --> 00:06:51.009 phone, a computer, or a tablet, we do have a 00:06:51.009 --> 00:06:53.410 pen and paper. So write down your prayers and 00:06:53.410 --> 00:06:56.129 plan your days because if we fail to plan, we 00:06:56.129 --> 00:06:59.189 plan to fail. And three, serve others more because 00:06:59.189 --> 00:07:02.350 it is more blessed to give than to receive. With 00:07:02.350 --> 00:07:04.949 all the talk about bettering ourselves, let's 00:07:04.949 --> 00:07:07.930 help to better others. It's very easy to become 00:07:07.930 --> 00:07:10.610 self -centered, which is basically what the whole 00:07:10.610 --> 00:07:12.689 new year thing revolves around because it's like, 00:07:12.790 --> 00:07:15.689 how can I better myself? What tools do I need? 00:07:16.050 --> 00:07:18.589 Me, me, me, me, me. But when we are focused on 00:07:18.589 --> 00:07:21.370 letting the Holy Spirit do his work in us, we 00:07:21.370 --> 00:07:23.649 operate in the fruit of the Holy Spirit, which 00:07:23.649 --> 00:07:37.500 include kindness and goodness. Instead, use your 00:07:37.500 --> 00:07:40.079 freedom to serve one another in love, for the 00:07:40.079 --> 00:07:42.399 whole law can be summed up in this one command, 00:07:42.920 --> 00:07:45.660 love your neighbor as yourself. Now it's time 00:07:45.660 --> 00:07:47.839 for our special segment, You Know What Hot Takes, 00:07:47.980 --> 00:07:50.220 where I post some hot takes on Instagram, and 00:07:50.220 --> 00:07:52.220 y 'all vote for which ones you agree with. Firstly, 00:07:52.519 --> 00:07:55.220 I asked, do New Year's resolutions actually work? 00:07:55.779 --> 00:07:59.500 33 % said yes, goal setting is important. 0 % 00:07:59.500 --> 00:08:01.939 said nah, I'm too lazy to keep up with them. 00:08:02.259 --> 00:08:04.920 And 67 % said yeah, if you do them correctly. 00:08:05.779 --> 00:08:08.560 Secondly, this is kind of a controversial question. 00:08:09.079 --> 00:08:12.009 When does the Christmas tree come down? 50 % 00:08:12.009 --> 00:08:15.209 said the day after Christmas, 50 % said New Year's 00:08:15.209 --> 00:08:18.389 Eve, and 0 % said February or March. When does 00:08:18.389 --> 00:08:21.189 your Christmas tree come down? The last question, 00:08:21.449 --> 00:08:25.149 New Year's resolutions are overrated? 50 % said 00:08:25.149 --> 00:08:28.029 nope, they're helpful, and 50 % said totally, 00:08:28.209 --> 00:08:31.750 they never work. Now I wanna know, what is your 00:08:31.750 --> 00:08:34.389 opinion on all these hot takes? If you didn't 00:08:34.389 --> 00:08:36.340 get a chance to vote, Make sure you're following 00:08:36.340 --> 00:08:39.240 us on Instagram @forevergodgirlpodcast so 00:08:39.240 --> 00:08:41.419 you can be a part of the polls. And remember 00:08:41.419 --> 00:08:43.860 to ask your parent or legal guardian for permission 00:08:43.860 --> 00:08:46.240 first. That was such a great special segment. 00:08:46.600 --> 00:08:48.519 But now it's time to talk about something even 00:08:48.519 --> 00:08:51.639 more important and even more exciting, salvation. 00:08:52.360 --> 00:08:55.840 Here's a word from Zi. So, if you have a personal 00:08:55.840 --> 00:08:59.120 relationship with Jesus Christ, then this message 00:08:59.120 --> 00:09:02.240 will help you. But, if you don't have a personal 00:09:02.240 --> 00:09:05.559 relationship, with Jesus Christ, I invite you 00:09:05.559 --> 00:09:08.259 to give your heart to the Lord today. To receive 00:09:08.259 --> 00:09:11.779 him into your heart, go to Romans 10, 9 -10. 00:09:12.159 --> 00:09:14.940 It says, If you confess with your mouth the Lord 00:09:14.940 --> 00:09:18.539 Jesus, and believe in your heart that God has 00:09:18.539 --> 00:09:20.820 raised him from the dead, you will be saved. 00:09:21.080 --> 00:09:23.620 For with the heart one believes unto righteousness, 00:09:24.299 --> 00:09:27.620 and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation. 00:09:28.139 --> 00:09:31.879 If you said this prayer with sincerity, you are 00:09:31.879 --> 00:09:35.259 saved and now have eternal life with Jesus. You 00:09:35.259 --> 00:09:38.980 are saved from all your sins, past, present, 00:09:39.419 --> 00:09:42.279 and future sins you may commit. This truth is 00:09:42.279 --> 00:09:46.720 not a free pass to sin anytime. Instead, Jesus 00:09:46.720 --> 00:09:51.059 gives you power over all wrong choices and empowers 00:09:51.059 --> 00:09:54.820 you to spread the gospel to others. You are saved 00:09:54.820 --> 00:09:58.340 forever, and your name is written in the Book 00:09:58.340 --> 00:10:01.019 of Life. Did you just give your life to Jesus? 00:10:01.720 --> 00:10:04.460 Because if you did, give yourself a pat on the 00:10:04.460 --> 00:10:07.139 back. We are so godly proud of you. Thank you 00:10:07.139 --> 00:10:09.220 so much for listening to this podcast episode. 00:10:09.519 --> 00:10:11.240 I trust that it helped you and that you learned 00:10:11.240 --> 00:10:14.200 something. And remember, the Holy Spirit motivates 00:10:14.200 --> 00:10:16.899 us to start, but he also gives us the discipline 00:10:16.899 --> 00:10:19.519 to keep going. Hey, Forever GodGirl, did you 00:10:19.519 --> 00:10:22.970 like this episode? If so, please follow us, rate 00:10:22.970 --> 00:10:26.610 us five stars on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and 00:10:26.610 --> 00:10:30.210 anywhere you listen to podcasts. And visit us 00:10:30.210 --> 00:10:34.629 on our website at forevergodgirl.com. That's 00:10:34.629 --> 00:10:36.690 how you help us spread the good news.