“Be transformed by the renewing of your mind.”
Romans 12:2 NIV
Several years ago, I found myself in the deepest rut of my life. I was financially strapped, selling plasma twice a week at a blood bank just to make ends meet. My faith was still there, but it felt distant, like a faint echo in the chaos of my circumstances. I knew God had called me to entrepreneurship — I could constantly feel the tug of that vision in my heart — but at the time, I had no idea why or how it would happen. Every step forward felt like trudging through mud, and I doubted my strength to keep going.
It was in that season of uncertainty that I started exploring simple, practical ways to reconnect with myself, God, and the vision He had placed in me. Step by step, God met me in the mess, and I began to see a way out of the rut.
The truth is, the journey out of a rut doesn’t require a grand, dramatic overhaul. It’s the tiny, consistent steps that reconnect your vision. It’s rediscovering the gifts He’s placed within you and reclaiming the joy that’s been buried beneath the weight of discouragement.
The rut you’re in doesn’t define you. What defines you is the God who holds your future, who gives you the strength to rise, and who is waiting to meet you in the small, steady steps of faith.
“If you change the way you look at things, the things you look at change.”
-Wayne Dyer
What are you allowing to shape your thoughts? The stories we hear, the environments we inhabit, and the voices we engage with all influence the way we see the world and the work we do within it.
In 1937, anthropologist Zora Neale Hurston published her now classic novel, Their Eyes Were Watching God. At the time, Hurston was immersed in the cultural vibrancy of the Harlem Renaissance, but she didn’t limit her influences to her immediate surroundings. She traveled extensively across the Caribbean and the American South, collecting stories, folklore, and music that infused her writing with authenticity and depth. By stepping outside of her comfort zone and engaging with diverse perspectives, Zora found the creative spark that helped shape her voice and legacy.
Her willingness to broaden her inputs brought fresh energy to her work, allowing her to craft narratives that remain timeless. Zora’s story reminds us that transformation often comes when we expose ourselves to new ideas, environments, and voices; and that stagnation steps in when we recycle the same influences without venturing into the unfamiliar.
Romans 12:2 urges us to “be transformed by the renewing of your mind.” Renewal requires intentionality. What are you consuming daily? Are your inputs inspiring you to grow closer to God’s purpose for your life? Are they expanding your vision or keeping you in a cycle of sameness?
Much like Zora’s travels enriched her creativity, we are called to explore and invite new influences that align with God’s truth. This doesn’t mean abandoning the familiar but rather complementing it with voices that challenge and inspire you. It might look like reading a book on a topic you’ve never studied, listening to a podcast outside your usual genre, or engaging in meaningful conversations with people who see the world differently.
Zora’s travels were not just physical — they were spiritual and intellectual journeys as well. She believed that the richness of life came from embracing diverse stories and perspectives, and her work reflected that belief. Sometimes we need to step out of the echo chambers of our own making and seek new voices through books, music, sermons, or even moments in nature.
Each new input becomes an opportunity for God to speak to you in fresh and unexpected ways. If Zora Neale Hurston had stayed within the confines of Harlem, she might have missed the folktales and cultural treasures that made her work iconic. Just like you might be missing the creative, spiritual, emotional, and intellectual treasures God is waiting to reveal to you.
Growth starts when we dare to change the way we look at things. Just as Zora Neale Hurston found her unique, creative voice through diverse influences, you, too, can discover new dimensions of your faith, purpose, and calling when you step beyond the usual and embrace the new.
Heavenly Father, open my heart and mind to new influences that align with Your truth. Help me discern what to let in and what to let go, so I can grow closer to Your purpose for my life. Expand my vision, renew my thoughts, and guide me toward what inspires and uplifts me. AMEN.
QUESTIONS TO CONSIDER:
- What influences are currently shaping my thoughts and beliefs?
- Are there any inputs that are causing me to feel stagnant or uninspired?
- How can I invite more God-centered influences into my daily life?
- When was the last time I intentionally stepped out of my comfort zone?
- What specific areas of my life could benefit from fresh perspectives?
Each devotion in the new book, Rising From the Rut: Reawaken Your Spirit, Rediscover Your God-Given Gifts, and Reclaim Your Joy, by Isis Breanna Bradford, offers a practice to help you reawaken your soul, rediscover your God-given gifts, and reclaim your joy. It’s the perfect time to pick up your copy as we look ahead to ending this year strong and beginning another with God leading the way!
We know you’ll be inspired by this new book. . . so we’re giving away FIVE copies! Just leave a comment answering any of the questions above, and we’ll select five winners at random.
*Giveaway open to US addresses only, and closes on 10/20/2025 at 11:59 pm Central.
Isis Breanna Bradford is a magnetic force in the entrepreneurial world. As a Harvard-certified marketing strategist, author, and speaker, she’s on a mission to transform dreamers into doers, empowering ambitious souls to turn their God-given gifts into thriving lives and businesses. As the heart and mind behind the popular blog The Daily Yes, she encourages subscribers to say yes to messy progress, imperfect discipline, brave pivots, and creative persistence. Find her on Instagram at @isisbreanna and say hello!
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Isis, thank you such a thought-provoking read! I am transitioning from an almost 40 year career to a reduced work schedule. I want my free time to be spent doing meaningful things. I would say that creating this new work/life balance could benefit from a fresh perspective as I’ve never considered how to spend my free time because I had so little to spend! Thank you for helping me think about this in a more focused and intentional way.
I don’t really remember the last time I stepped out intentionally out of my comfort zone. I’m such a creature of habit.
Also, I do try to incorporate time with the Lord each day in some way, shape, or form but sometimes it feels stagnant. So, I need to really focus in and try to be more refreshed in my quiet time each day with the Lord (no matter how it looks). What matters most is just spending time with Him, so I need to be refreshed in that feeling snd embrace new ways of connection with Him.
Influences shaping thoughts and beliefs has been on my heart a lot lately. With my children, I keep trying to point back to “what God says in the Bible” about this or that. I am aware that the world around us is trying to influence our minds and hearts, and so articles, songs, and conversations that point us to God are so helpful.
RE: Are there any inputs that are causing me to feel stagnant or uninspired? It’s so ironic that this question is being posed to me b/c I’ve been struggling with the stagnant, uninspired and totally detached feelings lately. In August my husband suddenly w/o warning went through a near death experience. Bled out, blood transfusions, ventilator and airlifted to emergency surgery. I realized the Lord had spared him. I sense may have allowed an attack from the enemy. As a result, instead of feeling, gratitude, relief and joy, I input a quiet detached type of sadness, disappointment, breathlessness and as a result I withdrew from church and my usual fellowship moments.
This article is so encouraging! I could use fresh perspectives, as I’m raising my pre-teen grandson who is angry and grieving at his mother’s abandonment. Some days, I feel so overwhelmed at the state of the house, all the appointments and therapy sessions, and the hours spent helping him process through things. I forget to look up sometimes, and when I do, Jesus is here providing fresh mercies and grace. Thank you so much for the encouragement!
Using my talents, my gifts in service to someone else’s vision and dream is keeping me small. I’m ready to walk my own path, inviting God to lead the way!
I have been actively involved with pastoral care in our church for 15 years, but I am feeling tired, a bit disconnected and ineffective in my reach. Our grandson is a prodigal and we just got word from my daughter that her husband is divorcing her and the other 2 children. Layer upon layer of grief has broken her and our family. I know God is faithful and all His promises are YES and AMEN. Im praying for God’s will to be done in all this. I just feel like the burden is almost too hard to bear. I love the Lord. I need a new touch from God. My daughter needs a miracle. Thank you for praying for us.