90 Days Is All It Takes

Wow... I can't believe how long it's been since I blogged here. It's not for lack of examining my life... that's for sure. But I guess you could say I've been trying to "DO the impossible" just like the title of my most recent post before this one (February 17, 2010).

The "impossible" that I've attempted to do (not very successfully, I might add) is to do too many things simultaneously. As you can imagine, this is NOT a winning strategy.

But it's a familiar strategy for me, unfortunately. If you look back to the post prior to that one (February 1, 2010), titled "Are You Stuck In A Rut?", I was saying exactly what I'm saying now. It's obvious that I've still been stuck in a rut myself, even though I can TALK about learning from the errors of my ways and doing better.

Getting bored yet??? Sorry...

Well, I know I'm tired of this merry-go-round I've been on, and I know YOU don't want to read about me being stuck in the same rut forever! How depressing that would be!

So what am I doing about it? And what can YOU do if you're in a similar situation?

First off... I was amazed to re-read that February 17th post, "How Can You Do the Impossible?" That's some great advice I had discovered, and it's perfect for getting us UNstuck. But it's about time I DO what it says instead of just quoting it.

Second, I watched a great video by Vic Johnson. (I'll give you the link to it in a minute.) He says it's not too late for a turnaround, even when you're 3/4 of the way through the year. Using the analogy of a football game's 4th Quarter, he shows how 90 days - 1/4 of a year - is plenty of time for a comeback.


Forget about the first three quarters where you didn't score any touchdowns.

Focus on what's left, get to work, and refuse to believe you will lose!

Don't even entertain that negative thought. Just concentrate on what you need to DO to make it happen.

"You've still got time to have the greatest comeback in history. The 4th quarter is plenty of time for you to reach your goal."
~ Vic Johnson

He goes on to explain "90 days is a long time. You can grow a crop in 90 days."

- Corn takes about 90 days from seed planting to harvesting.
- A small business can go from idea to launch inside of 90 days.
- We go from the dead of winter to the flowers of spring in 90 days.
- The US Marines train recruits into top "fighting machines" in 90 days.

Well, I'm taking the challenge. I'm determined to make some changes. I've been "examining myself" and not liking everything about where I'm at... so it's time to do something differently!

You can see Vic Johnson's video here.

How Can You Do The Impossible?

Are you facing a challenge you don't quite know how to deal with? Do your problems appear to have no solution?

Or maybe you know about a possible solution, but you're scared to try it. You feel inadequate. Overwhelmed. It's unfamiliar territory. "What if I fail?"

I can totally relate, as I'm experiencing several new challenges myself... walking paths I've never walked before... making decisions that might not always be the best ones. It's easy to feel scared and alone when facing what seems to be an impossible task.

You'll like this, though...

Someone shared a few xeroxed pages with me a while back. I don't even recall who it was, but these pages turned up yesterday at exactly the time I needed a huge reminder that I can do the impossible. It's apparently from a small book with short devotionals called "Thought Conditioners".

I don't know what book the copies were made from, unfortunately, so I can't give credit to the author. But I really want to share this "formula" with you anyway.

It starts with a scripture from Luke 18:27... "The things which are impossible with men are possible with God."

Five basic steps are then laid out:

1. Size up your problem
2. Pray about it
3. Do all you can about it
4. Dont' give up; Don't worry; Stay calm
5. Affirm: "The things which are impossible with men are possible with God."

A few more great tips are given, too. They're simple, but powerful if you can lay hold of them:

• Never think, "this can't be done."
• Declare, "it can be done, it is being done, because God is doing it through me."

Isn't that great? How empowering to realize that you and God are a team effort in solving the problem.

And a big part of you doing your part on this team is to "declare" and "affirm" the positive outcome. "Affirm that the process is in operation."

See how that works? You declare it's not only possible, but is already happening. Remember... say "it can be done, it is being done..." This helps your faith to rise up to believe things are already getting better. It helps you have peace and confidence instead of feeling helpless and worried.

Speaking the right words and thinking the right thoughts are SO important! (You'll hear me say that many times as you get to know me.)

Quoting the rest of it now...

"The final outcome may not be entirely what you now desire. But, handled in this manner, the solution will be what God wants it to be."

I hope this blesses you! Take care, my friend, and never give up hope.