Exodus 20:8 NIV — Remember the Sabbath day by keeping it holy.

This week I will share with you some thoughts about vacations. Merriam Webster defines vacation as a period spent away from home or business in travel or recreation. As I share about some of my experiences I encourage you to recall your vacation experiences and make connections. Allow God to guide your thoughts and may each of us draw closer to Him through our time together. As you worship today on this Sacred Sunday, I encourage you to lean into God and ask His Holy Spirit to guide your mind on a quiet get-away from the busy schedule of your life. Take this quiet time to rest in His presence and be renewed. Let this be a day of re-creation.

Let’s pray. Dear God, Thank You for a sacred sabbath. Guide my thoughts and re-create my spirit of joy in You. In Jesus’ name I pray, Amen.

2 Corinthians 5:7 NIV —- For we live by faith, not by sight.

Today I am reusing Ray’s photo from my Friday post. As I have looked back at 2023 I have realized how out of focus I can get when I am caught up in my busy schedule. Watch today’s “See You Saturday” video as I talk about looking at the future through eyes of faith.

Isaiah 43:18-19 NIV — Forget the former things; do not dwell on the past. See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it? I am making a way in the wilderness and streams in the wasteland.

At the beginning of the week I reminded you that each day, each hour, each moment is a gift from God.I pray you have been able to take time this week to reflect, resolve, reevaluate, and refocus so you can have God-driven results when you arrive at the end of 2023. God is making a way for you and I to become more Christ-like. Let’s not waste the opportunity to reset, but instead do all we can to make Him proud.

Let’s pray. Dear Father, Thank You for doing new things and making a way. As I embark on the remainder of 2023 with Your guidance and help, may I make You proud of the steps I take. In Jesus’ name I pray, Amen.

1 Corinthians 10:31 NIV — So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God.

Today, let’s spend some time thinking and setting goals so we will have God-driven, positive results at the end of 2023. Take a moment now to read this article Ten Steps to setting God-Ordained Goals which is an excerpt from The Circle Maker by Mark Batterson.

I encourage you to spend time today in prayer and planning. If you don’t have the time to commit to it today, then plan a time for goal setting soon. Take some time alone to sit with God and set goals for the remainder of the year. Keep in mind Proverbs 16:3 — Commit to the Lord whatever you do, and he will establish your plans.

Let’s pray. Dear God, I commit to You the remainder of 2023. Lay upon my heart Your goals for me and I will give You all the glory for the results we accomplish together. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Matthew 14:29-30 NIV — Then Peter got down out of the boat, walked on the water and came toward Jesus. But when he saw the wind, he was afraid and, beginning to sink, cried out, “Lord, save me!”

As you have reflected, resolved, and reevaluated the first half of 2023, have you discovered that perhaps you have lost your focus on Christ? Have you been focusing on the wind around you instead of the eyes of Christ?

Take some time to imagine being in the boat with Peter when Jesus called him out onto the water. Peter took a bold step out of the boat and onto the water. As long as he was focused on Christ, he was able to walk on water. However, he began to sink the moment he focused on the wind instead of Jesus. Today, let’s refocus our attention. We have spent enough time looking back at the first half of 2023. Now let’s move forward. Let’s step out of the boat with laser-like focus on Christ. Focused on Him we can move forward in the remainder of 2023 with renewed strength and courage.

Let’s pray. Dear God, Thank You for Your presence in my life. Help me to refocus my attention and move out of my boat toward Your path for me the rest of 2023. In Jesus’ name I pray, Amen.

Psalms 32:8 NIV — I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will counsel you with my loving eye on you.

As I reminded you Sunday, my word of the year is “relish” and my mantra is, “Forever is composed of nows.” I shared with you yesterday that I write down my word and mantra every day. I do that to keep them on the forefront of my mind, but I also realize writing it everyday can become routine and not a mindful act if I am not careful. As I reevaluate this practice today, I realize I have got to mindfully write them out or it is for naught. Today as I write them out I will be present in the moment so I can carry the words through all the moments of my day and be impacted by the words. 

For the last two days I have asked you to reflect and reset your resolve you had set at the beginning of 2023. Today, reevaluate your priorities. Were your resolutions, word of the year and/or mantra realistic? Did God guide you as you chose them? Have you allowed God to guide you since you chose them? Since we are halfway through the year, do you need to change your choices? This is our opportunity at a re-do or take-two towards our goals for 2023. Let’s make the most of the next 25 weeks.

Let’s pray. Dear God, help me reevaluate my choices from 2023. Show me my downfalls and guide me in my approach for the next 25 weeks. In Jesus’ name I pray, Amen

Philippians 4:13 The Message — I can make it through anything in the One who makes me who I am.

We are more than halfway through 2023. Were you able to spend some time yesterday recalling your thoughts from the beginning of this year? Did you have New Year’s resolutions? Did you choose a word of the year and/or mantra? Have you stuck to those resolutions? Has your word of the year been in the forefront of your mind?

Most of us lose our resolve from the first weeks of the year as time passes. Let’s not get stuck being down on ourselves if we are not where we wanted to be at this time of year. Instead, let’s reset our mindset and renew our resolve. What steps can you take to make the most of the rest of 2023? What habits can you instate to ensure your resolution/word/mantra stays in the forefront of your mind? One practice I have is to write my word and mantra every morning as I finish listing my 5 gratitudes for the day. Do you have another practice? We would love to hear from you. If you are reading on Facebook or Instagram, please comment below. If you receive the blog via email, you may email us at: waterwalkers29@gmail.com

Let’s pray. Dear God, Renew a right spirit within me. Reset my mindset and strengthen my resolve. In Jesus’ name I pray, Amen.