Faith Focused Prayers
Join me as we embark a journey of vulnerability, growth, and increase! In this space we allow God to change and transform us into who he created and called us to be, curated by Justice Mosley
Faith Focused Prayers
Reflecting on 2024, Planning for 2025
This episode encourages listeners to reflect on 2024 and proactively plan for 2025, advocating for early preparation rather than waiting until the New Year. Key themes include recognizing personal challenges and achievements, celebrating successes, and setting intentional goals that align with divine guidance for personal and spiritual growth.
• Reflecting on the hardest moments of 2024
• Celebrating the best moments and personal successes
• Importance of recognizing self-pride and accomplishments
• Planning for 2025: Start now, don’t wait for January
• The biblical principle of aligning intentions with God’s timing
• Crafting a personal vision for the year ahead
• Practical questions for self-reflection and growth
• Encouragement for actively pursuing goals with faith
Hello, beautiful people, and welcome back to Faith Focused Prayers. In today's episode, we are going to be talking about reflecting on 2024 and stepping into 2025. One of the biggest mistakes a lot of people make is they wait until January 2025 to plan what they think their year should be, what goals and aspirations they have. But that's the mistake that many people make. You need to be already planning out your 2025 now. You can't plan your year until you reflect on the one that you just had. That's what we're going to be doing today.
Speaker 1:I have a couple of questions that I'm going to ask throughout this episode for you to just reflect on your 2024 and see what was good, what was bad, what am I proud of? Where can I grow? And I also did this exercise with myself and it was pleasing to see the good, the bad, the ugly, all the above. First question I have for you is what was the hardest thing you went through in 2024? What's the thing that the moment you remember? What made your year hard, what made your year? Not saying that your year had to be that, but there's moments. We all have moments throughout the year, 365 days. Everything can't go right all the time, but what was the hardest battle you had to face. For me it was marriage issues. Me and my husband we were at odds a lot. We were having financial issues. Another hard thing I went through is I went through a season where I didn't have a desire to pray. I felt very disconnected from God. I knew he was there, but I didn't have a hunger or a thirst to pray, to read my word. I was just spiritually and emotionally exhausted and drained and the enemy was attacking me a lot in that season. Thankfully, I made it out that season and I'm back praying and my relationship with God is stronger and he's so loving and merciful and kind that he didn't hold it against me. He was just there waiting with open arms. You know he's that father that would leave the 99 to grab the one. He's that kind of God and so I'm so thankful. But that was a very hard moment for me. But going through that made me love God all the more. Going through that made me be patient with myself, be patient with others and even with my marriage.
Speaker 1:Eventually me and my husband got on the same page and our marriage was better now. It's been better now than it's ever been after that hard test After that, those weeks or months or however long it was, of us not seeing eye to eye. Now our marriage is in a better place than it's ever been. So that's the question what was the hardest thing you went through in 2024? Ever been? So that's the question what was the hardest thing you went through in 2024? The next one is what was the best moment of 2024? What is something where you look back and you just smile. You're like, wow, that was a good time, that was a good moment. I'm so glad that happened. I'm thankful for that.
Speaker 1:For me, the growth I seen in my marriage, that was the best moment of 2024 for me. Me and my husband both started going to therapy separately and I just seen the way that my husband grew into a better man, a better husband. We understand each other better, we're more patient with one another, we take initiative for each other a lot more. So I'm just so thankful for that and I wouldn't be so thankful had we not went through the hardships. But we did and we made it through.
Speaker 1:And obviously, marriage isn't easy. Obviously, life isn't a straight line. There's ups and there's downs, and who knows what the future brings. Another one was us starting therapy. Like I said, that was huge for my personal growth, for my marriage, for my relationship with God. Therapy helped in all aspects and starting keto Me and my husband, we started the keto journey together because after we got married we both gained 40 to 50 pounds and so now we're on a weight loss journey and we're about 15 pounds down. My husband's probably a little more. He's probably like 20 pounds down by now, but I'm very proud of that because being consistent for two months is an accomplishment for someone who lacks consistency and I've always had a struggle with food, you know, going on diets, stopping, starting stopping but this time feels different and it feels sustainable, it feels enjoyable. It doesn't feel like a punishment, it's starting to feel more like a lifestyle change and I'm really proud of that.
Speaker 1:My next question for you, so that one was what was the best moment of 2024? The next one is what are you proud of of 2024? What did you do that made yourself proud? That you know, know it would make God proud that you yourself can stand flat-footed and say I'm proud of myself for that. A lot of times we don't give ourselves our flowers, we don't celebrate, we don't celebrate our small wins, our small victories, but that's important. It's important to celebrate yourself. It's important to give yourself a pat on the back and to say I'm proud of me. I'm proud of me. I did that.
Speaker 1:So, for me, mine was starting my business. This is the same business that I've had since 2018, christ Made but I wanted to take it more serious this year. I wanted to be intentional with it. I wanted to have my website up, I wanted to have my business license reinstated All of those things and I did that. And I've been posting and consistent and sponsored a conference with my merch. I had a vendor's table at a conference. That was huge for me, because it's something I've been wanting to do and I just accomplished that. So I'm proud.
Speaker 1:I'm proud that I said in 2023 that I wanted 2024 to be the year that I took my business series. And this year I did Another thing I'm proud of, which I already said starting keto, losing 15 pounds. That's an accomplishment, that's a win, that's a celebration. Starting therapy. I'm starting a journey of betting on myself. I'm putting my all into me and allowing myself to be who I know God has created me to be. I feel like I'm stepping into a season where I'm no longer hindering who I am and hindering my growth and I'm so proud of that because it's been such a struggle, battling with judgment and the pressure and validation and all these things that go on in my head and these negative thoughts that I hear. But I'm finally getting to a point where I'm combating that and I'm saying I don't care. I don't care what people say, I don't care what people think, I don't care how they feel. I don't care if they think I'm weird. I'm always posting and shamelessly plugging myself. I don't care if they think my podcasts are stupid. I don't care if they think my YouTube videos are boring. I'm betting on me and I'm so proud of that. I'm so proud of myself for that.
Speaker 1:So I want you to reflect what are you proud of? What did you do? Whether it's small, big, it doesn't seem like anything to anybody else. You know how hard it was for you to accomplish that thing. You knew the inner. You know the inner struggles it was that you had to face and the voices that you had to combat. So, whatever it is that you accomplish, give yourself a moment to celebrate every win, the smallest wins to the biggest wins.
Speaker 1:Another question what do you want to accomplish for 2025? And I wrote that down For me. My husband and I were planning a trip and it's a huge trip and it's expensive. So we're really trying to budget and save so that we can enjoy this trip just the way we want. That's something I want to accomplish. I want to accomplish the saving and the trip that I feel like is going to be such a big win when I'm actually on the trip saying, oh my gosh, we did this. We didn't know how we were going to do it the income, the bills, the stresses, but to be able to save this money and God made a way, that's going to be a win.
Speaker 1:Another one more business, more business for Christ Made. More followers. I want at least 100,000 followers on my YouTube channel. Right now I have 105, so I need 90,000 more of you to subscribe to Justice's Journey. I want to do 100K in business, sales and revenue. That's a long way from what I did this year, a very long way, but with God, all things are possible. So that's I'm speaking it out into the atmosphere, I'm setting my mind to it, I know I can accomplish it, so that's my goal. The last one for me is I want to publish my first book in 2025. That's my goal to publish a book. To publish a book. So, with these being the things I want to accomplish in 2025, I know that I need to start in 2024.
Speaker 1:One of the biggest mistakes most people make and I think I already said this is they wait until January to start their goals. No, no, the bible says in matthew 6 and 10 when jesus is speaking, he says your kingdom come, your will be done on earth as it is in heaven. That means heaven is. Heaven is at a different time span than earth and we're trying to get the two to collide, but heaven is already in 2025. Heaven has already seen what 2025 is bringing. You're trying to align 2024, your 2024, to push into your 2025. You want your times and your seasons to align with heaven. I hope that's making sense the way I'm saying it, but basically it's making sense the way I'm saying it. But basically, don't wait until 2025. If you're waiting until 2025 to start your goals for 2025, you're already behind. You're already behind. Heaven is already in 2025.
Speaker 1:So, what I like to do and what I learned from my success last year, when I knew I wanted 2024 to be about my business. I started my business, I got my business license December 2023. So I'm going into 2024 with the tools already set. If you know, in 2025, I want to lose weight. Okay, we'll start now. I know it's the holidays, but Christmas is on what, the 25th? You have until the first that last week of December, start your weight loss journey. You want to write your first book? For me, okay, that means that last week of December you need to start working on your book.
Speaker 1:Bring your goals into the new season. Bring your goals into the new year already in motion, so you can just keep flowing. You don't have to have the hindrance of stopping and saying, oh, what do I want to do? What do I want to accomplish? You don't want to reflect on 2024 when you're already in 2025. Now you're looking back at the past when we need to be looking ahead to the future. So, knowing 2025, what do I want to do? Figure that out now, start it now and then carry it out in 2025. That will help you get so much further.
Speaker 1:And here's some more questions. I'm not going to answer these questions, I'm just going to say them to you and you can write them down and then do it on your own time, but I think these would really help you. So I kind of already touched on this, but what are the top three things I achieved this year? Ask yourself what personal or professional growth am I most proud of? What personal or professional growth am I most proud of? Number three how did I step out of my comfort zone this year? That's a good one.
Speaker 1:What did you do to grow? What did you do that was uncomfortable for you? What did you do that challenged you? Number four what were the biggest challenges I faced and how did I handle them? That's a good way to reflect and see. What behaviors and patterns do I have? How's my response to things? How's my emotional intelligence and regulation? Number five what lessons did I learn from my failures or setbacks? That's good. Did you learn anything from the losses? Did you learn anything from what you went through? Number six were there reoccurring patterns or habits that hindered my progress? What cycles, what toxic cycles are you allowing to remain in your life? What toxic cycles did you see to remain in your life? What toxic cycles did you see showing up in your life? Lack of consistency, abuse, drugs, alcohol, what is it? Lack of sleep, health issues? Number seven how did my relationship with God grow or change this year? How did my relationship with God grow or change this year? Number eight what specific prayers were answered and what blessings stood out? That's good. So many times we forget about the answered prayers, we forget about the things that we prayed for and the ways that God made all throughout the year, because God is always doing something and so many times we're praying day to day God do this, god do that, god please God and he answers and then we overlook it.
Speaker 1:Number 10, did I consistently prioritize my faith in my daily life? Did I make God a priority every day, daily? Did I pray daily? Did I read my word daily? Was I pursuing after him in relationship and intimacy? How was my physical and mental health improved or challenged? That's a good one as well. That's focusing on your health and your well-being. Number 11, did I maintain balance between work, rest and self-care? Were you neglecting your self-care this year? How did you do with work? Were you lazy? Did you not really work that much or did you rest? Are you tired? Are you drained? Were you lazy? Did you not really work that much or did you rest? Are you tired? Are you drained? Are you exhausted? Did you not prioritize your rest? That's a good one.
Speaker 1:Number 12, what habits positively or negatively impacted my well-being? What habits positively or negatively impacted my well-being? What are my habits like? What are my good habits? What are my bad habits? Number 13, who were the most significant people in my life this year and how did I nurture those relationships? Who were the most important people in your life and how did you nurture those relationships? Did you make time for them? Did I set healthy boundaries with others? For me, no, well, kind of not really, but that's for another day. Number 15, what connections brought me the most joy and fulfillment? 16, we're almost finished. What unfinished goals or dreams am I carrying into 2025? What unfinished goals or dreams Listen to that word unfinished, not non-existent they're already started. You haven't finished it, but you started it. Your dreams and your goals. You need to start them. Start them now. Number 17, what would I do differently if I could revisit this year year? Don't make the same mistakes you made in 2024. Reflect, learn, grow, examine, analyze and move accordingly.
Speaker 1:Last one what is one word or phrase that captures the essence of 2024 for me? If you had to describe your 2024 in one word. What would that word be? That's good. What would that word be? I want you to really marinate and think on that. If I had to describe 2024 in one word, what would that word be? What would that word be? Is that a good word? Is it a bad word? What emotions does that word bring for you? And then, after you have that word, I want you to pray to God and ask him what is the word for my 2025? You should have a word for what your 2025 is going to be, what it means in God's eyes, what he has plans. He already seen your whole 2025. He knows the ups, the downs, everything you're going to face. He's already graced you for that. So ask him God what is the word for my 2025? And that's where you need to put your focus.
Speaker 1:The Bible says in Habakkuk 2 and 2, it says then the Lord answered me and said write the vision and make it plain on tablets that he may run who reads it, meaning when someone else reads your vision, they should be able to run with it. It should be so plain as in, so detailed. Every little thing, every minute thing, big thing in, in detail. Write it out, write the vision. What do you want to see? What do you want to accomplish? How do you want that to look? What are your prayers? Get specific with your prayers for 2025. But you need to do it now. You need to start now. Let this year be the year of progress. Let this be the year of productivity, of growth and of change.
Speaker 1:We serve a God who operates outside of time. He created time so he can accelerate you further in your 2025 than 10 years of your life could have accelerated you. What would have taken you five years, he could accomplish in five months, in five months. Don't limit God, but give him the faith. Give him the faith of writing down your vision. Give him your faith. Show him.
Speaker 1:God, I know you're able to do all things. You created everything. God, you own everything. The earth is the Lord and the fullness thereof. So, god, the Lord and the fullness thereof. So, god, this is my prayer and this is how I wanted to look. God, but ultimately, let your will be done. Let your will be done. God, this is what I think you want from me. God. This is what I want to give you. God, this is the time I want to set for you. This is how I want our relationship to look, I want to pursue after you, god. I want to hunger and thirst after your word. Set goals and visions. Don't be stuck and stubborn with them, because you never know, god may want to take you another way, but show him that you're intentional, show him that you're serious, show him that you trust him. Show him that you trust his word and show him that you trust him. Show him that you trust his word and show him that you have faith, that you have faith for him to be a promise keeper, that you have faith for him to be a father in heaven who answers prayers, who hears you and sees you and has good things planned for your life. Because he does so. I hope this helped you. I hope this encouraged you, because he does so. I hope this helped you. I hope this encouraged you.
Speaker 1:I really, really feel the strong urge for you to plan your 2025 now. Go to pray, pray with God and say God, let your will be done for my 2025. What do you want to see from me? What do you want me to accomplish? God, what are your promises for my 2025? And write them down.
Speaker 1:God, what is going to take place in 2025? What do I need to do? Where do you want me, where do you want my focus? And allow the Holy Spirit to speak and give you the answers. Write it down, get it started. Don't wait. Please don't wait until January.
Speaker 1:If you're listening to this in January, get a move on it. Answer these questions and get going. Get moving, start pursuing, chasing after your dreams, because God is unlimited, his power is unlimited, his wisdom and knowledge. He is wisdom and knowledge and he's a God of detail. God didn't miss a single beat with his creation of the world, with animals, with our body, with our brains, the way that we work. God thought of every little thing, and we want to have that same spirit of excellence and detail when it comes to our life.
Speaker 1:So sit down, take the time with God. I promise you you won't regret it. It will make your life so much easier. It will make it so much easier to accomplish your tasks and your goals if you have them clearly set out before you. So may the Lord bless you. God, we just thank you. We thank you for the year of 2024. We thank you for everything that it brought, god. We thank you for the highs and we thank you for the lows, god, but most importantly, we thank you. We thank you, god, for allowing us to see another year. We thank you, god, that we're going into the new year with a stronger relationship with you, god, we thank you, lord, that you are so mindful of us and that you wouldn't be telling us to do these things if you didn't have great plans coming up ahead.
Speaker 1:God, god, we trust you, we trust your word, we trust you, holy Spirit, and we just pray and we ask that you would give us the wisdom and the knowledge concerning what you want our 2025 to look like. God, I pray that every person listening to this episode that you would give them a word for their 2025. God, I pray that you would give me a word for my 2025 and that the word I hear is you, not myself, not my flesh, not the enemy. God, don't allow me to be deceived, don't allow us to be deceived, but, god, that we would hear the word from heaven and, lord, we ask that your will would be done in our life. Let our will align with your will, god. Let our hearts align with your hearts, god. Let us have the mind of Christ to see what's taking place in heaven concerning our life.
Speaker 1:God, we love you, we bless you, we praise you. We praise you for what you have done, all the things you have allowed us to go through, all the ways you made, god, that we're still standing in the midst of trial and tribulation and hurt and pain, grief and betrayal, god, so many people have endured so many things, god, things that have pained them, god, heartbreak, heartache, god, but you have sustained us. You have sustained us, god, and you will continue to sustain us because you are Jehovah, jireh, you are our provider. You are our provider, you are our keeper, you are our protector, you are our redeemer, god, our strong tower. Lord, I pray that you would send the destiny helpers for the person listening to this God, that you would send them their helpers, father, to accelerate them, accelerate them in their life. God, that you would bless them.
Speaker 1:Father, let this be the year of overflow, god, that we're pouring from our saucer, that we're pouring God, that you said you are the living water, god, and whoever drinks from you shall not hunger or thirst anymore, god, water, god, and whoever drinks from you shall not hunger or thirst anymore, god. And so we just thank you and we ask you, lord, to continue to pour your spirit out upon us, god, to continue to pour your love and your grace and your mercy over us, that our cup will not go empty, god, but that we would be like trees planted by living water. God, we love you and we thank you In Jesus' mighty name, amen. I pray that this episode blessed you and helped you in some way.
Speaker 1:I can't wait to hear your testimonies for 2024 and 2025, because the year's not over yet and God can do whatever he wants to do. He has no limits, he has no bounds. He's so just and merciful and he can do anything. So there's still time for miracles, signs and wonders. There's still time for blessings to rain down from heaven. So just have an expectant heart towards God. Expect him to do good things. Expect him to show his hand strong and mighty, expect him to bless you. I love you, god loves you. Bye for now.