Quiet Reflections:
“Where there is no vision, the people perish; but he that keepeth the law, happy is he” Proverbs 29:18 (KJV).
“For the revelation awaits an appointed time: it speaks of the end and will not prove false. Though it linger, wait for it; it will certainly come and will not delay” Habakkuk 2:3 (NIV).
These verses remind me to stop and pause for a while and look for the vision the Lord is putting before me. What am I to focus on in this New Year?
This is just one question I’ve asked myself this year and here are some thoughts that came to mind when I was pondering this question.
For my mental and physical health:
To eat better, get my proper amount of rest. Go to the gym on a more regular basis. To take up something new like joining a ski club, painting class or taking a course on line that’s of interest. To complete a long forgotten project before I decide to take those dancing lessons I keep talking about. Follow through on a business endeavor I’ve embarked upon.
For my spiritual health:
To wake up early and spend precious time waiting on God. To enjoy those special people in my life and treat them with extra love and kindness.
Sometimes breaking it down into smaller bite size goals, like cleaning out a closet helps me to just get started. The longer ones that require more commitment like volunteering with my local church in a ministry that I’m passionate about may require some prayerful thought and conversing with my family members before I jump in.
I like to just sit down and write out all the things I’d like to accomplish this year. Maybe even review some of the things that happened in 2017 and evaluate their fruitfulness. Looking back over the previous year can be good.
I’m more of a spontaneous person and planning has not always come easy or natural to me. But being married to a planner has shown me that there is great value to sitting down with my family members and sharing ideas or even schedules for the week. How and where you’d like to spend the next family vacation often requires some thoughtful planning.
We all like to set new goals for the year which is always good place to start because it gives us something to aim at.
I’m encouraged to ask myself as I begin this New Year, these questions.
“What am I believing God for in 2018”. I believe God is giving us all a fresh new start and 2018 can be a year of great possibilities and adventures just standing before us waiting to be realized.
Maybe it’s a God given gift you want to nurture and develop. As we write down all the things we hope to do and then we can then ask God to open doors of opportunity to see them happen.
Maybe it’s your passion to reach out to people who are hurting and lonely. Maybe you have a burning desire to see souls won for the kingdom of God. You may need to ask God how he wants you to do that.
Another question I find myself asking is, how do I go about setting realistic achievable goals for myself?
One way might be to just write down all the things that are on my heart and then bring them before the Lord to ask him to show me what to focus on.
Even encouraging our family members to write out their own personal goals and dreams can help us achieve then together.
Maybe you are thinking I have too many road blocks standing in the way. Like the negative self talk that all of us battle from time to time that tells us “Oh I’ll never achieve anything great. I’m too this or that…” I’m more of a spontaneous person and staying on task with something can be more challenging then I’d like. Understanding my personality type and natural bent has be very helpful to me because I’m less likely to start comparing myself with others or give up too quickly. Being patient with myself and others is helpful in reaching my goals.
I have discovered over the years that speaking what I’d like to see rather than my circumstances, shortcomings and mishaps is very helpful.
When I fail at something, dropped the ball or given up. I have learned to be less remorseful and discouraged but bring my regrets and failures to the foot of the cross and ask my Heavenly Father to turn it them for good in my life and the lives of others. I thank the Lord that His mercies are new every morning and great is His faithfulness in my less than perfect life.
We fail when we don’t try. Sometimes we need to take a risk or better yet a firm leap of faith towards realizing our goals. Often just putting my simple trust in God and letting go of my expectations of the results is helpful and freeing. Learning to trust and obey God is going to be a life-long journey filled with ups and downs, twists and turns, hills and valleys.
Whatever you decide to do this year, don’t give up on your hopes and dreams. Just keep trusting God one step at a time walking with him hand in hand. And finally enjoy the journey, the best is yet to come!! Expect great things, believe great things, accomplish great things. You’re up for the challenge.
Most importantly you’re not alone. Jesus is walking with you this year and He is in your future prepared and ready for you. No matter what this year may bring and I’m believing for beautiful one, you can be assured that all you really need is His Presence.
