Refection rather than Resolutions
I’ll tell you, I wish I could say this was my idea. It wasn’t I got a call from a friend who said he heard this from his Pastor. The idea is to stop for a little bit. "Instead of looking ahead into 2024, which Jesus Himself tells us we should not do, why not look back?"
I agree and find this completely Biblical. Instead of looking for, coming up with, and breaking, New Year Resolutions, why not take some time in the past year's reflections?
Resolutions sometimes feel restrictive and overwhelming, while reflection encourages introspection and growth. It's like shifting from pushing a boulder uphill (resolutions) to taking a scenic hike on a winding path (reflection).
You can explore areas like these.
Achievements and accomplishments: What are you proud of? What challenges did you overcome?
Growth and learning: What new skills or perspectives did you gain? What lessons did you learn?
Relationships and connections: Who were the important people in your life this year? How did those relationships evolve?
Gratitude and appreciation: What are you thankful for? What brought you joy?
Challenges and setbacks: What did you struggle with? What did you learn from those experiences?
Where was God in this past year? Where was He working in your life? I know it seems simplified, but every breath you take is a gift from your Heavenly Father. Why not take some time to thank Him?
Why are we so quick to forget yesterday and look towards tomorrow? Look what the Bible says.
Resolutions sometimes feel restrictive and overwhelming, while reflection encourages introspection and growth. It's like shifting from pushing a boulder uphill (resolutions) to taking a scenic hike on a winding path (reflection).
You can explore areas like these.
Achievements and accomplishments: What are you proud of? What challenges did you overcome?
Growth and learning: What new skills or perspectives did you gain? What lessons did you learn?
Relationships and connections: Who were the important people in your life this year? How did those relationships evolve?
Gratitude and appreciation: What are you thankful for? What brought you joy?
Challenges and setbacks: What did you struggle with? What did you learn from those experiences?
Where was God in this past year? Where was He working in your life? I know it seems simplified, but every breath you take is a gift from your Heavenly Father. Why not take some time to thank Him?
Why are we so quick to forget yesterday and look towards tomorrow? Look what the Bible says.
"Do not boast about tomorrow, for you do not know what a day may bring forth." Proverbs 27:1This verse reminds us of the unpredictable nature of life and encourages humility in the face of the unknown.
Jesus Himself emphasizes living in the present moment and trusting in God's care for the future.
Tomorrow, or 2024, is what it is. You may lose a loved one. You may lose your job. You may get sick. You may be blessed with good fortune. It is what it is. What will be will be. Why worry? As a child of God, we are to rely on Him. His wisdom. His strength. His provisions. His love.
“I will quit smoking.” Will you?
“I will quit drinking?” Are you sure?
“I will stop swearing.” Really?
“Will no longer lie?” OK.
I only made one New Year resolution that I ever kept.
“I will not make nor keep any New Year resolutions.”
Instead of lying to yourself and others, how about taking the time to see God in your life? We go through our days at the speed of life. We do. We get into routines and we live our lives in such a way we miss SO VERY MUCH! We talked about this in the past. So many times, myself included, we travel through our every day at the speed of life. We get up. We eat breakfast or don't. We drink our coffee, watch the morning news, or whatever. We get dressed and head out the door. We, most of us, have a routine. We stop here or there. We get stuff, we head off to work, or school, or whatever. We complete our assigned tasks. We head home. We wonder what we will eat for dinner. We miss our loved ones. We think of Birthdays or now at this time, the New Year coming up. We plan trips. We pay bills. For the most part, we live in our happy little bubbles.
Who is the person who sold us the coffee? What is your mail person's name? Why is there that thing there? What is this over here? Did you see that person on the corner? What were they doing? Did you know that the person who just cut you off in traffic was on their way to the Hospital? Did you see the old person on the bench? What did you miss? You would be surprised.
We talked about tomorrow. What if this is your last day on earth? How would you spend it? Think about this. If we were to put God in our terms, a thousand years to us, is but one day to God. 2 Peter 3:8. By the time God has his first cup of coffee, you were born, grow, hope and dream, live your life, and pass on. Wars are fought and won. Wars are fought and lost. Saints walked the earth and demons have slithered. Picture the last 130 years. We went from horse and carriage, fire and horse-carried mail, to laser beams and space travel. To carry around with us little computers in our pockets. All in the last 130 years. A cup of coffee in the morning of God's day. In that, is you. "A vapor, that appeareth for a little time, and then vanisheth away."
God is not asleep. He is with you. He is not concerned with time. We are. He tells us that we need not be concerned with it. We need to live in the moment. Live in today.
"Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own." Matthew 6:34
We read this in James.
"Come now, you who say, 'Today or tomorrow we will go to such and such a city, spend a year there, do business, and make a profit.' But you do not know what your life will be like tomorrow. What is your life? You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes." James 4:13-14This verse reminds us of the fleeting nature of life and encourages reliance on God's guidance.
"And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose." Romans 8:28This verse offers hope and assurance, reminding believers that even in uncertain times, God's plan for good prevails.
Tomorrow, or 2024, is what it is. You may lose a loved one. You may lose your job. You may get sick. You may be blessed with good fortune. It is what it is. What will be will be. Why worry? As a child of God, we are to rely on Him. His wisdom. His strength. His provisions. His love.
“I will quit smoking.” Will you?
“I will quit drinking?” Are you sure?
“I will stop swearing.” Really?
“Will no longer lie?” OK.
I only made one New Year resolution that I ever kept.
“I will not make nor keep any New Year resolutions.”
Instead of lying to yourself and others, how about taking the time to see God in your life? We go through our days at the speed of life. We do. We get into routines and we live our lives in such a way we miss SO VERY MUCH! We talked about this in the past. So many times, myself included, we travel through our every day at the speed of life. We get up. We eat breakfast or don't. We drink our coffee, watch the morning news, or whatever. We get dressed and head out the door. We, most of us, have a routine. We stop here or there. We get stuff, we head off to work, or school, or whatever. We complete our assigned tasks. We head home. We wonder what we will eat for dinner. We miss our loved ones. We think of Birthdays or now at this time, the New Year coming up. We plan trips. We pay bills. For the most part, we live in our happy little bubbles.
Who is the person who sold us the coffee? What is your mail person's name? Why is there that thing there? What is this over here? Did you see that person on the corner? What were they doing? Did you know that the person who just cut you off in traffic was on their way to the Hospital? Did you see the old person on the bench? What did you miss? You would be surprised.
We talked about tomorrow. What if this is your last day on earth? How would you spend it? Think about this. If we were to put God in our terms, a thousand years to us, is but one day to God. 2 Peter 3:8. By the time God has his first cup of coffee, you were born, grow, hope and dream, live your life, and pass on. Wars are fought and won. Wars are fought and lost. Saints walked the earth and demons have slithered. Picture the last 130 years. We went from horse and carriage, fire and horse-carried mail, to laser beams and space travel. To carry around with us little computers in our pockets. All in the last 130 years. A cup of coffee in the morning of God's day. In that, is you. "A vapor, that appeareth for a little time, and then vanisheth away."
God is not asleep. He is with you. He is not concerned with time. We are. He tells us that we need not be concerned with it. We need to live in the moment. Live in today.
“Look carefully then how you walk, not as unwise but as wise, making the best use of the time, because the days are evil.” Ephesians 5:15-16In Colossians 4:5-6
“Walk in wisdom toward them that are without, redeeming the time. Let your speech be always with grace, seasoned with salt, that ye may know how ye ought to answer every man.”He tells us, not to fear. He is with us.
“fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.” Isaiah 41:10Instead of us, blindly rushing toward 2024, let us take some time to reflect on God and His working in our lives and remind ourselves that we should do as Jesus tells us.
“But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.” Matthew 6:33What things? Food, clothing, shelter, money to pay bills, you know, our daily needs. Be thankful that we are children of a timeless and limitless God who is with us always and will never leave us nor forsake us. A God that will defend us and fill us with His Spirit to make us invincible,
“What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? He who did not spare his own Son but gave him up for us all, how will he not also with him graciously give us all things?
Who shall bring any charge against God's elect? It is God who justifies. Who is to condemn? Christ Jesus is the one who died--more than that, who was raised--who is at the right hand of God, who indeed is interceding for us.Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or danger, or sword? As it is written, "For your sake we are being killed all the day long; we are regarded as sheep to be slaughtered." No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us.
For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.” Romans 8:31-39
2024 will be what it will be. You just need to be what you are, a blood-bought, washed clean, renewed as a new creature, a child of God. Let Him control your coming year. We cannot possibly be in better hands.
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