Gwendolyn Carole Tipton - Journal It!: Take Hold of Your Life by Journaling

Take Hold of Your Life by Journaling

Gwendolyn Carole Tipton

F or something to change in life, one of two things must happen: either life changes or you must make a change. Its up to you. At some point, your life mandates that you take hold of your life and transform it... to be made new in the attitude of your minds; and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness (Eph : 24) .

This book is meant to support you as you engage in changes. Through journaling, you can step back for a moment, evaluate your life, and determine what you want your ideal life to become. Then, journal your way to the destination, keeping in mind that you must: Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a worker who has no need to be ashamed, rightly handling the word of truth ( Tim : 15) .

To start, write your life story from beginning to end with extravagant descriptions and massive details just as you want it. This is the first step in taking hold of your life by journaling. You cannot change the past, but you have the tools to plant and create the future. Writing about you is your chance to review and revise your life, then make changes based on your guidance from God. Listen for his messages and look for his signals for new ventures that offer undertakings beyond your dreams.

You are going to write your story as you want to live it. Write out the pluses and minuses of the limitless life changes you want to make. Create plans to overcome the difficulties and expand upon the opportunities that will help you get to the final chapter. Outline your life story. Begin to write with a spirit of hope. For whatever was written in former days was written for our instruction, that through endurance and through the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope (Rom : 4) .

This is what happened today... Its all about you in your space at your place. Your opinions are the only ones that matter. Choose a place to write what is worth describing carefully in your journal. Every day there is a happening that must be included in your journal. The more exciting the event, the more space it takes in your journal.

Taking hold of your life and having hold of your life are very crucial principles.

As an adult, you are solely responsible for your choices. Many people blame others or circumstances for the things that are not right in their lives. When we analyze the past, we recognize exactly what brought on the situation and how it was or was not resolved. We often forget that it is from our mistakes that we learn the most. If we deny our mistakes or fail to take responsibility, we fail to improve. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness ( John : 9) .

Most people make mistakes and try again. Every mistake and every catastrophe are life-changing experiences. They are part of your life story in which the forgiveness of God represents a blessing.

We must journal our stories day by day. Reread, review, and then we can rewrite the story by getting hold of our lives, by getting out there, by not being terrified of making mistakes, by learning from past chapters of our lives as we embrace each moment as an opportunity to learn and do better. Commit to the Lord whatever you do, and he will establish your plans. The Lord works out everything to its proper end (Prov : 4) .

We must also recognize we are responsible for the way we respond to people, actions, and events in our lives. In fact, in my view, one of the key determinants of how we perform in life is not defined by what actually happens to us, but rather how we respond to the events God puts in our way. Chronicling those daily experiences will allow us to assess our progress, or lack thereof, toward the goal.

As you get your honest thoughts down on paper, you can clarify what you like about yourself and what you want to change. You are responsible for your today! Tomorrow is in the hands of God. Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God (Phil : 6) .

Journal it and take hold to change your life going forward. You only need a writing instrument and paper on which to write a journal, and the commitment to yourself that you will journal. If you are dedicated, you will experiment until you establish a pace and place that feels good and demands that you write something, at an appointed time.

And pray. Dear Lord, take and receive my whole life, all that I am and all I want to be. You made me. Now take me back and use me according to your will. Give me the tenacity and discipline to follow through so that ultimately, you will create in me a pure heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me (Ps : 10) .

The Scriptures used in this book are taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version (NIV).