Introduction
Have you ever felt stuck in the rut of everyday life, constantly questioning whether there's more you could be doing to accomplish your goals and dreams?
Sometimes, we need to be challenged to redefine the boundaries of our comfort zone. Through the following chapters, you'll learn about the boundless promises from God that belong to you, the strength you possess to accomplish remarkable things and the importance of breaking free from religious misconceptions that may be holding you back. Your past doesn't define your future—and your God-given potential knows no limits!
We pray this eBook helps you set a new normal for your life that acts as a stepping stone toward a future that is not only better, but brighter. Rewrite your story, set higher expectations and embrace what God says is normal.
What’s Your Normal?
What do you consider normal? Is it normal for you to feel sick and tired all the time? Is fighting and conflict normal in your relationships? What about financially? Is it normal to be out of money at the end of the month?
Your normal is all you can ever imagine for yourself, and it may be limiting you. You see, you will live in your “normal” for the rest of your life. You might have a month of surging ahead in some area, only to slide back down to what’s normal—unless you renew your mind to a new normal for you.
“Do not fear, little flock, for it is your Father’s good pleasure to give you the kingdom.”
Luke 12:32 (NKJV)
Maybe you’d like to do devotions or read your Bible more regularly, but you find it so hard to get into the habit. That’s because it’s not your normal! Imagine yourself there first. Imagine yourself enjoying some quiet time with God every morning before the day gets hectic.
Maybe you’d like your kids to go to university to achieve their dreams but no one in your family has ever gone to university so you just can’t picture it. It’s time to get a new normal! Think about it until you can see it.
You can change your normal. Radically determine in your mind that you refuse to accept the normal you’re currently experiencing. Tell yourself, “This is not normal! I will not live like this!” Even if where you currently are is pretty good, remember that good is the enemy of best.
If you want God’s best, you have to stop being satisfied with good enough. Keep going for better. You can live in God’s best!
It All Belongs To You!
Did God create laughter just for certain people? No, He wants us all to enjoy life. Did God create healing only for some? No, God wants us all to be healthy and whole. Did God create life as something to be endured? No way! God not only made everything good for us, but it all belongs to us!
First Corinthians 3:21–22 (NKJV) says, “For all things are yours: whether Paul or Apollos or Cephas, or the world or life or death, or things present or things to come—all are yours.” In other words, everything belongs to you, you belong to Christ, and Christ belongs to God.
Every promise of God belongs to you: a great family, a healed body, laughter and joy in your home, a life that’s exciting, the ability to solve problems and the power to fulfill your purpose and true desires of your heart.
You can experience all that is yours, but it takes more than hope. It takes faith. And faith kicks in when you become so convinced of something that it starts seeming normal to you. That’s when you know you’re in faith.
Keep studying and learning until the idea of being completely healthy seems normal to you. Keep building hope until you can imagine your future filled with prosperity. When God’s promises seem normal to you, you believe the best. You believe your health and finances will always keep growing and getting better—and if there’s a problem, you’re confident it will be solved.
You don’t have to worry about the future. God prepared a great future for you, and it belongs to you.
You Can Do All Things!
Most of us realize that God is able to do anything. The issue is… do you really believe you can do all things through Christ?
It’s easy to believe that God can do great things. It’s a whole different story to be able to confidently say, “I can do anything!” The end of that verse is “through Christ who strengthens me,” but that doesn’t change the fact that it’s you doing it.
Do you see the difference? God works through mankind on this planet. He strengthens you so you can do all things!
Nothing is holding you back. Don’t buy into any of the excuses that pop into your mind. Decide, “I will not stay in my current situation!” Stir up a fighting spirit and refuse to settle!
I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.
Philippians 4:13 (NKJV)
You aren’t expected to do it through your own strength, but you can do it! You can build a great career. You can solve that relationship problem. You can change the way you think. You can get healthy and can make the funds you need to finance your kids’ dreams. You can raise up the next generation and be part of a thriving church that is reaching people. You can create a wonderful, romantic marriage with your best friend. You can love, laugh and enjoy life!
You need to believe it deep down. You see, it’s not about what you say you believe. It’s also not about believing that God can do it. The issue is… do you believe that God will do it for you?
As you begin to believe that God’s promises are yours, they will become your new idea of normal… and you’ll be well on your way to experiencing God’s best.
Don’t Let Religion Limit You
Faith requires a fight. We need to fight to get ourselves to believe for increase.
What really bothers me is when someone who is fighting to believe is held back by religious, man-made beliefs. Many of these beliefs imply that we should just be happy with nothing—that poverty is Godly. It’s too bad because this poverty mentality limits us from doing what each of us is called to do on this planet.
In a Christian poverty mentality, people are taught that if someone succeeds they must be compromising. Christians end up feeling guilty when they do well. One man told me that he actually stopped going to church because he kept getting judgemental looks as he drove in with his nice car.
If this is a belief you grew up with, you need to recognize that it’s not found in the Bible. God wants us to be generous and we need to make sure that we don’t allow money to control us. We are called to make a difference on this planet.
How joyful are those who fear the Lord—all who follow his ways! You will enjoy the fruit of your labor. How joyful and prosperous you will be!
Psalm 128:1-2 (NLT)
The reality is that money is a necessary tool when it comes to getting the word out about Jesus. Not only that, but God has no problem with us enjoying the fruits of our labour. He has given us all things to enjoy.
God wants you to increase and have great health. He wants you to enjoy your life as you reach out to be a blessing to others. Give. Serve. Volunteer. Make sure you care about other people, but keep believing that you’ll experience more of God’s blessings in every area of life.
Your Potential for Greatness
Your past does not determine your future. You may have suffered setbacks, tragedies and failures in life, but our God is not a God of the past. He’s the God of your potential—the God of your future. Your belief in what He says about you is what determines your future.
God knows the potential He placed within you, and He says you have been created for great things.
Even if you have suffered failure, God has higher plans for you. Don’t simply accept the state your marriage is in or the distance that has grown between you and one of your children. His plans are greater.
Don’t give up on reaching a higher education or accept that you’ll always be working at a job you hate. He doesn’t want you to camp out where you are. God has so much more in store for you if you’ll only believe!
His thoughts about you are far beyond what you could imagine. In fact, the limited mental capacity we have as human beings can’t grasp the magnitude of the potential God has placed within us.
Now to Him who is able to do far more abundantly beyond all that we could ask or think, according to the power that works with in us, to Him be the glory in the church and in Christ Jesus to all generations forever and ever. Amen.
Ephesians 3:20-21 (NASB)
Ephesians 3:20 clearly states that God is able to do far more than we can ever dare ask or even think. His plans for us are infinitely beyond our highest prayers, desire, thoughts, hopes or dreams.
He wants to help you create a life that is better than you could dream of—and He always follows through on His promises!
Conclusion
Building a whole new normal may sound like a scary thing, because it takes getting out of your comfort zone, stepping into the unknown and often doing a lot of hard work. But when you decide to take the leap, there's no limit to where God could take you!
We hope that as you went through the last five chapters, you've created new expectations for your life and where it could go in the future.
Here are some key points from each chapter to help summarize what we covered:
- Chapter 1: Your normal is not a fixed destiny, but a flexible concept that can be reshaped through the power of renewing your mind with God's Word.
- Chapter 2: All of God's promises are available to you. Start believing they are yours!
- Chapter 3: You can achieve amazing things with God's strength working through you.
- Chapter 4: When you cast aside limiting beliefs and embrace prosperity without guilt, the world opens up for you in new ways.
- Chapter 5: Your past doesn't dictate your future, and God has incredible plans for your life!
As you close this eBook, let these principles serve as a constant reminder that the path to a better future starts with your mindset. Embrace each day as an opportunity to live in God's best, to walk out the dreams He's given you and to break free from limitations.
Be encouraged to dream bigger, believe deeper and live a life that defies the ordinary. You are now equipped to set a new normal—one that is filled with joy, purpose and unwavering faith.
