Lannie Armstrong

There’s something about July that invites me to pause.

The fresh-start energy of the new year has long passed, and the busyness of spring has settled into the slower rhythm of summer. It’s easy to keep moving from one task to the next without stopping to notice where I’m headed. But I’ve learned that every now and then, it’s worth taking a breath and asking honest questions.

I don’t see this as making a whole new set of resolutions. Instead, I think of it as taking inventory—looking at my heart, my habits, and the direction of my life. It’s a chance to thank God for His faithfulness over the past six months and ask Him to continue guiding my steps through the rest of the year.

“The heart of man plans his way, but the Lord establishes his steps.” — Proverbs 16:9

If you’re also feeling the need for a fresh perspective, maybe these questions will encourage you too.

1. Am I spending my time on what matters most?

Life has a way of filling every empty space. Before long, our calendars become full, our to-do lists grow longer, and the days seem to blur together.

I’ve been asking myself whether my time reflects my priorities. Am I investing in my relationship with God? Am I making space for my marriage, my home, my health, and the creative work He’s entrusted to me? Or am I simply staying busy?

Sometimes the answer requires small adjustments rather than dramatic changes.

2. What has God been teaching me this year?

Growth often happens quietly.

Sometimes it comes through answered prayers. Other times it comes through disappointments, waiting seasons, or unexpected detours.

When I look back over the first half of the year, I can see lessons that I didn’t recognize while I was living them. Patience. Trust. Contentment. Gratitude.

Looking back helps me remember that God has been working all along, even when I couldn’t immediately see it.

3. What habits are helping me flourish—and which ones are holding me back?

The life I want isn’t built in one big moment. It’s built in the small things I choose repeatedly.

I’ve learned that peaceful mornings, time in Scripture, caring for our home, working in the garden, and creating content with purpose all help me become the person I want to be.

On the other hand, distractions, comparison, and trying to do too much rarely leave me feeling fulfilled.

This question reminds me that small daily choices shape the direction of my life.

4. What am I grateful for right now?

It’s surprisingly easy to focus on what hasn’t happened yet.

The goals I haven’t reached.
The projects still unfinished.
The dreams that feel far away.

But gratitude changes my perspective.

When I slow down, I notice so many gifts that I might otherwise overlook: quiet mornings with coffee, harvesting vegetables from the garden, worship music filling the house, conversations with my husband, laughter from unexpected moments, and the comfort of home.

Those ordinary blessings are anything but ordinary.

5. Where do I need to simplify?

Every year I become a little more convinced that less really can be more.

Less clutter.

Less pressure.

Less comparison.

Less rushing.

I’ve found that when I remove unnecessary things, I create space for what matters most. Simplicity isn’t about owning less for its own sake—it’s about making room for peace, relationships, creativity, and rest.

6. Am I trusting God with the future?

As someone who enjoys planning, I sometimes forget that I don’t have to have every answer.

There are goals I hope to accomplish before the end of the year, but I’m learning to hold those plans with open hands.

God sees the whole picture when I only see today’s page.

One verse I return to often is:

“Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths.” — Proverbs 3:5–6

Those words remind me that faith isn’t having everything figured out. It’s continuing to walk with Him one step at a time.

7. What kind of person do I want to become by the end of this year?

This might be the most important question of all.

Instead of focusing only on accomplishments, I’m trying to think more about character.

Do I want to become more patient?

More generous?

More peaceful?

More faithful?

More present?

Goals matter, but who we’re becoming matters even more.

That’s the kind of growth I hope to pursue for the rest of this year.

Moving Into the Second Half of the Year

July doesn’t have to be about starting over.

It can simply be a gentle invitation to pause, reflect, and realign.

I’m thankful that God’s mercies are new every morning. We don’t have to wait until January to begin again. We can choose today to take one faithful step forward.

As I enter the second half of the year, my prayer isn’t that everything goes according to my plans. It’s that my heart stays close to the One who faithfully directs my steps.

If you’re reading this in your own season of reflection, I hope you’ll take a few quiet moments this week to ask yourself these questions too. You may be surprised by what God gently reveals when you make space to listen.