When you look back at this season of your life, what might you be glad you did with your time? What will you regret having not done? Thinking about what really matters to you, and allowing the Lord to show you poor habits and weaknesses can help you predict areas of potential failure. The questions in this article will help you identify your trouble spots and give you tools to move forward.

Will You Fail Because You Don’t Do Well With Changes To Routine/Structure?

• It’s quite common to experience significant stress anytime there is a change to routine or a removal of former structure/habits/freedoms.
• You may have to adjust your expectations for now, understanding they can be changed again down the road.
• Even if you’ve already attempted to create your own agenda each day, it’s prudent to re-evaluate whether your schedule is working to best foster your unique productivity and well-being.
• Don’t hesitate to respectfully communicate with others the ways they help or impede your ability to accomplish your daily tasks. Then brainstorm together how you can best respect one another’s needs.
• Have you prioritized spending private time with Jesus by scheduling daily Scripture reading and prayer into your calendar?

Will You Fail Because You Have No Plan For Resisting Temptation?

• Have you pinpointed/discovered where and when temptation is hardest for you?
• Have you identified and confessed your areas of low motivation?
• Are you prepared for how you will flee evil desires? (2 Tim. 2:22)
• Do you have practical ideas in place to help you lean on Him during those times?
• Are you willing to pray for help – even in the trickiest of situations? (Phil. 4:6, 1 Thess. 5:17)
• Does your ability to roll with the punches also sometimes cause laziness/inefficiency?

Will You Fail Because Of An Unhelpful Mindset?

• Are you underestimating your ability to cope? (2 Cor. 4:8)
• Have you remembered to reposition your thoughts on heavenly matters rather than in the abyss? (Phil. 4:8)
• Is your body starting to show signs of physical symptoms (headaches, sleeping too much or too little, stomach pains, teeth grinding, etc.) due to defeating/worried thoughts and feelings? (Ps. 31, 32, 38, 39, 41-43)
• Are you catching any tendencies to operate like a helpless victim rather than a creative problem-solver?

Will You Fail Because of Your Social Network?

• Are you keeping a good balance between casual engaging (discussing the next meal/following someone’s feed) and authentic connection (consistent in-person conversations/video calls to ask the hard questions and to care for your important relationships)?
• Which influences are bringing out the best in you leading you to become more obedient to the Lord; and which are bringing out the worst in you by making it harder for you to follow through?
• Can you name those who are encouraging, comforting, and urging you to live a life worthy of God who calls you into his kingdom and glory? (1 Thess. 2:12)
• Can you name those who are exhorting and strengthening you in your faith so that you would not be unsettled by trials? (1 Thess. 3:2-3)

Will You Fail Because You Default To Willpower?

• Do you find yourself working by human power instead of relying upon His mighty and divine power to empower your endeavors? (Jn. 15:4-5)
• After beginning with the Spirit, do you regularly get off track and begin to pursue your objectives by human effort? (Gal. 3:3)
• With these goals, will you be trying to win the approval of men, or of God? (Gal. 1:10)
• What spiritually-disciplined steps can you take to refresh your memory regularly of your need to be dependent upon Him?