Whew girl!!!! 2020 has been a freaking tornado, hurricane, tsunami, earthquake, and volcanic eruption all rolled into one big natural disaster of a year. Not to say that 2020 hasn’t been good at all, but I think most would agree that overall, it has been unimpressive—and that’s putting it mildly.

For me, it started when I received that TMZ notification alert on my phone informing me that Kobe had died in a helicopter crash back in January. I know I didn’t know him personally, but it really had me all the way in my feelings, as if he was a close family member or friend. It was more than just another celebrity death to me and it just didn’t seem real.

In March, my company blessed us with the gift of working from home, as the coronavirus began to disrupt life as we knew it. It was cool at first, but factor in my three-year-old son Xavier being home with me as I worked: then it wasn’t so great. It was hard to balance work/life responsibilities, as it seemed like the workload was even more intense than if I was in the office.

Then I actually did experience death in my family. My grandmother passed away less than a week before my 40th birthday. As relatives poured into town it was therapeutic to see everyone, but then the grief set in. The morning of my birthday, I woke up depressed. How could I celebrate after just losing someone I loved so much?

I thought she was invincible. She had come close to leaving us so many times before, but God continued to restore her health and bring her back to us. This time was different. God called his precious prayer warrior home to be with Him. Then in an instant, my last living grandparent was no longer here on earth.

We had a “black” funeral in the middle of a pandemic. Don’t give me the side eye—you know how black people do funerals. It’s like an awards show. Everybody flies into town for the main event and the get togethers/hangout parties are epic! Fortunately, we did our best to social distance, wear masks, etc., but it was by God’s grace and protection that no one caught The Rona as we came together to celebrate my beautiful grandmother’s life. Thank You Jesus!

With racial and social injustices across the nation, this crazy election cycle that seems to still not be over for some, and the coronavirus pandemic that has put the entire world in a WWE chokehold, 2021 has got to be better right?

YES!!!!!! It can and it will be, if we make an intentional effort to make it better.

Every year between October and December, I create and finalize my goals for the next year. As I was planning for 2021, I felt led to get my priorities in order. As I planned to FLOURISH in the various areas of my life, I realized I must first seek God and then everything else would be added to me (Matthew 6:33).

I don’t know about you, but whenever I’m not consistent in my relationship with God, other areas of my life suffer because of it. With everything we have faced during this year, maybe like me, you sometimes struggle with finding the time to spend intentional alone time with God. If that’s the case, this is the challenge for you!

In spite of the hardships, despair and obstacles we faced in 2020, we still can look forward to better in the new year! No matter what’s going on around you, we all get the same reset when the clock strikes 12am on January 1st. Let’s get into position to make next year better than the last.

There are so many benefits to spending time with God through prayer, reading the Bible, praise and worship, etc. During this 30-day challenge, I will encourage you to stay on track, as I share a benefit of intentionally spending time with the Lord every day. If you haven’t already done so, follow me on Instagram @flourishqueenllc to make sure you receive all the benefits!

Let’s start 2021 by putting God first in our lives, as we dedicate 30 minutes a day for the next 30 days solely to Him. If you can spend more than 30 minutes with God each day, do it. Don’t miss a day though. We want to build a consistent habit of seeking God daily, and continue this habit after the challenge ends.

For those of you who love a challenge, but already spend at least 30 minutes with God every day, add another 30 minutes with God at the beginning, middle or end of your day that you would not normally spend with Him. You can never spend too much time in the presence of the Lord!

As we close out this unprecedented year of 2020, I want to ensure that we all get off to the right start for 2021.

Here are 3 keys to success during the 30/30 FLOURISH Challenge:

1. Pick a specific time of the day to spend with God that works best for your daily schedule.

2. Pick a specific spot in your home where you can freely and comfortably get intimate with God.

3. Have a pen, notebook, Bible, music, etc., ready for your time with God.

The 30/30 FLOURISH Challenge will officially start on January 2, 2021.

I challenge you to FLOURISH Queen!

Don’t forget to follow me on IG: @flourishqueenllc