7 -Day Reset | Day 1: The New Beginning

Update: 7 -Day Reset | Day 1: The New Beginning

This post was originally published on October 20, 2020. Back then, our world looked much different than it does today. We were in the throes of a pandemic that seemed to have no end in sight. Many of us questioned our future outlook. Fortunately, as I re-read this message through today’s lenses, I noted that the commentaries were declarations of hope. In retrospect, the content illustrated how God’s grace was truly sufficient to carry us through our darkest days. They also predicted that better days were yet to come. I hope that as you continue to read 7 -Day Reset | Day 1: The New Beginning, you will be blessed and encouraged to know that God will always hold true to His word.

Original Post: 7 -Day Reset | Day 1: The New Beginning

The year 2020 has been tumultuous. The clutches of the COVID-19 pandemic, racial inequality, social and political unrest, food insecurity, and economic distress have extended deep beyond the perimeters of all man-made divides. For some, the fog of sorrow has risen from the ashes and has eclipsed all hope’s promises, and as the reality of a new normal settles, many find themselves co-existing on Earth and in a parallel universe where time is simultaneously frozen and proceeding. While there are those whose lives were uprooted by the events of 2020, there are also those whose travesties started long before the year began. There is also a segment of the population for whom 2020 has been a great year. Regardless of where you find yourself today, this message of hope is applicable to everyone.

REMEMBER THIS PROMISE:

“Weeping may last through the night, but joy comes with the morning,” (New Living Translation, 1996/2015, Psalms 30:5).

A few days ago, I read through my January 1, 2020 journal entry. Like so many, my January was aspirational. I had envisioned a year filled with promise and hope. I had even chosen a theme for the upcoming year, a practice in which I had participated years before. This year’s theme was “Double for Your Trouble,” and it was anchored on several Scriptures. I will share two of them below:

2020 Anchor Verses

“Instead of shame and dishonor, you will enjoy a double share of honor. You will possess a double portion of prosperity in your land, and everlasting joy will be yours,” (New Living Translation, 1996/2015, Isaiah 61: 7).

“Come back to the place of safety, all you prisoners who still have hope! I promise this very day that I will repay two blessings for each of your troubles,” (New Living Translation, 1996/2015, Zechariah 9:12).

Before 2020, I had experienced more than my fair share of heartbreak and sorrow, and I was looking forward to a year that would give me beauty for my ashes, which is the promise of Isaiah 61. In January, I made a conscious decision that I would actively pursue the things that would lead me in the direction that I wanted to go. That decision included doing the things that were beneficial and brought me joy. That also meant terminating things (and relationships) that were no longer conducive to my mental, spiritual, and physical stasis.

Oprah’s 2020 Vision: Your Life In Focus Conference

On January 4, 2020, the first Saturday of the year, I had the opportunity to attend Oprah’s 2020 Vision Conference. The approximately 13,000 people from all over the United States and the Caribbean charged and energized the atmosphere. They were also hopeful about the upcoming year. Unfortunately, the event was a far cry from today’s reality. Mass gatherings, at the moment, seem to be a thing of the past, and the hope that was once so infectious and ubiquitous has dwindled. As I read through my notes from that Saturday in January, I stumbled across three poignant Oprah quotes from the conference:

“Sunrise Faith: The sun will always show up. It’s always there even when we can’t see it.”

“We all have the ability to heal, recover, and exceed any perceived limitations that are holding us back.”

“You don’t get what you want, you get what you believe.”

Those quotes remind us that despite the challenges we face and the obstacles we go through, we WILL come out on the other side. As cliché as it may sound, time DOES heal all wounds. With that said, it is important to remember the presentation of wound healing. Few wounds heal without evidence of a scar. Whenever we have a physical wound, the area of the recovered skin typically becomes thicker and stronger than the pre-injury skin. The same is true of our emotional wounds. There will always be remnants of the hurt and trauma, but when we allow ourselves to heal, we become stronger than we were before.

Starting Day 1:

By October, I needed a proverbial 2020 reset. Hence, I created this seven-day reset where, for the next seven days, we would discuss ways to recalibrate our minds. The reason why I chose seven days is because the number seven is Biblically significant. The number seven denotes perfection and completion. Although I am not naive enough to believe that all our problems will be solved in seven days, I do believe that we can make progress, regardless of how small, and we should never despise humble beginnings. Also, I believe that our seven-day journey will allow us the opportunity the perfection and completion of Christ to make us whole. I hope that you will join me on this seven-day journey, which begins today!

The Bible teaches us that God is not deaf to our prayers. In the book of Daniel, an angel told Daniel that, “Since the first day you began to pray for understanding and to humble yourself before your God, your request has been heard in heaven. I have come in answer to your prayer” (New Living Translation, 1996/2015, Daniel 10:12). On Day 1 of our seven-day reset, we humble ourselves before God and ask that He gives us a double portion of blessings for our troubles.

Meditation Verses:

“Instead of shame and dishonor, you will enjoy a double share of honor. You will possess a double portion of prosperity in your land, and everlasting joy will be yours,” (New Living Translation, 1996/2015, Isaiah 61: 7).

“Come back to the place of safety, all you prisoners who still have hope! I promise this very day that I will repay two blessings for each of your troubles,” (New Living Translation, 1996/2015, Zechariah 9:12).