The 5 P’s to Staying Flexible in a Constantly Changing World

I don’t know how you feel, but this world is constantly changing.  New apps to make things more organized, new updates to make things faster or new gadgets to make life ‘simpler.’  Sometimes trying to balance all of the constantly changing demands of life, can leave you weary, exhausted and needing rest.

Everyone reaches their breaking point.  We can’t let ourselves reach the point of exhaustion, frustration or on the verge of a meltdown to do something about it.  Being equipped and prepared with the right tools can set us up for a pattern of success instead of a pattern of burnout.

Staying in Prayer is the key to helping us stay focused, keeping us in communication with God and equips us with the right tools.

Praying the 5 P’s to staying flexible, can be the very thing you need to keep in a pattern of success before a break down occurs.

Prayer-  Give God your worries, anxieties and fears.  He will do immeasurably more with them than we could ever do.  Prayer is where it all starts.  It keeps our eyes on God and in close relationship with him.  The furthest God is ever away from us is our knees to the ground.   When in doubt, PRAY!  It’s a good place to start!

The 5 P’s of Staying Flexible in a Constantly Changing World
1.  Purpose-  Ask God “What is the Purpose you have designed me for?”

Romans 8:28 ESV “And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose.”

God did not make us all the same.  He has given each of us spiritual gifts to use how he has designed them.  Asking God this prayer will help you see his design for you.  I will never forget when I read the “Purpose Driven Life”  by Rick Warren.  The first Sentence of the book says, “It’s not about You!”  It was the first time I ever heard that.  It’s so true.  This life has bigger meaning and purpose than what is happening in my own world.  Trying to conform to the patterns of this world of what is meaningful and purposeful, will always leave you burnt out.  It is impossible to live up to the constantly changing world standards.  We can always find rest in God’s truth and purpose for us.  No matter what the world says, God’s truth never changes.  No matter who you are, who you were or who you will be, You will always be Accepted, Loved and Valued by God.  

2.  Pleased–  Ask God, “Please Help me to Stay Thankful in All Circumstances and Focus on all there is to be Thankful for.”

Ephesians 5:20 ESV “Giving thanks always and for everything to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ”

An Attitude of Gratitude keeps a heart thankful and grateful.  Staying thankful despite your circumstances keeps you grounded, keeps you focused on what you have been blessed with.  It could always be worse.  Focusing on what you are thankful for can be the very thing that gets you through what you are going through.  Thankfulness fills us with more and can get us out of our slimy pits.  Start every day with something you are thankful for.  It can turn your day around and set you in the right direction.  (Disclaimer:  To be thankful in all circumstances doesn’t mean you have to be thankful for evil or someone dying, etc. but thankful for God’s plan for us after this life that one day there will be no more dying, sorrow, pain or crying (Revelations 21:4).

3.  Positive–  Ask God “Help me to fill my heart, my mind, my eyes and ears with what you desire for me.”

Proverbs 17:22 ESV “A joyful heart is good medicine, but a crushed spirit dries up the bones.”

Stay Positive.  Nothing can crush a spirit more than filling it with negativity and malice.  Filling your heart, your minds, your eyes and ears with thankfulness, things that are positive can keep a heart and mind focused on God’s desires for you.  If you are stuck in a rut and need to get back towards a path of being positive, try challenging yourself.  For every negative comment, replace it with a positive one.  Try not to curse or listen to music with cursing.  What we put into our hearts, minds, ears and eyes is what will come out.  Challenge yourself to fill your heart, your mind, eyes and ears with only positive things and thankfulness.  Listen to nothing but Christian music for 30 days, like KLOVE radio, so your ears and mind will be filled with something positive.  You will be amazed at the difference it makes.  

4.  Patience– Ask God, ” I pray that I will Trust in your Truth and Promises and Wait Patiently for Your Timing.”

“Rejoice in hope, be patient in tribulation, be constant in prayer”   Romans 12:12

“Patience is accepting a difficult situation from God without giving him a deadline to remove it” (*PTS p. 141).  God’s timing is perfect.  We may not always See what lies ahead, but we can Trust in God’s Promises that His Plans are so much better than ours.  Being Patient can be a cumbersome task, but the reward is so worth it.  It has never been God’s desire for us to suffer or go through hard times.  Unfortunately, we live in a world where there is evil and brokenness.  But thankfully, we can rejoice because of God’s plan for us.

God desires for our hearts to be filled with his purpose for us;  to be filled abundantly with his love, his joy, his hope, and freedom.  The trials we go through are not for nothing.  They help develop our character of Patience, which allows God’s plan to worth within us.  “Time ceases to be a factor when patience is motivated by love” (PTS p. 142).  We can learn so much from the trials that Abraham,  Job and Jacob faced in the Bible.  Their love for God produced within them a patience that went beyond understanding.  Their patience produced a great harvest, one where God’s glory was able to grow.  When we are patient and wait for his timing, he is able to fill us abundantly more than we could ever imagine.   God’s character is filled with a love and hope that will never disappoint us.  His is plan is so worth waiting for.

5.  Peace–  Ask God, ” I pray that your Love will guard my heart and mind, that my heart will be filled with your Peace.”

Sometimes life throws us curve balls.  We may not always anticipate or are ready for when life suddenly takes a nose dive. Staying in prayer can equip and prepare our hearts and minds for things to come.  We may not always understand or agree with God’s plan, but we can rest in knowing that He loves us and never desires harm for us.  His love can guard our hearts against the lies of this world that try to plant seeds of doubt, discouragement or unworthiness.

Staying Flexible in a World that is Constantly Changing can be a dueling task.  Staying in prayer and filling your heart with God’s Truth and Purpose for your life will keep you in a pattern of success instead of burnout.  Praying the 5 P’s for God’s Purpose in your life will fill you more of what he desires for you.  It will keep your hearts ready to be in a position of readiness when life happens.

What helps you stay flexible in this constantly changing world?  

What prayers help Equip and Prepare you for when Life Happens?   

Did you find this post to be encouraging and helpful?  Please share with others who are in need of prayer.  For more encouraging messages, Subscribe to my blog to receive a FREE ebook and weekly message of hope right to your inbox or like my Author Facebook Page. to keep updated on posts.

I would love to hear from you!  Leave your comments below.  

*”The Power of True Success:  How to Build Character in Your Life,” by the Institute in Basic Life Principles Oak Brook, Illinois 2001.