How serious do you take New Year’s resolutions?
Are you someone who has a list of things you want to improve or accomplish, and on January 1st you dive in and start knocking them out? On the other side of the spectrum maybe you’re someone who doesn’t even think about them, and one year just rolls into the next for you.
Sometimes during this time of year I can catch myself becoming anxious or overwhelmed even though we have just come out of a season of rest through the holidays.
It’s naturally the time of year where I think about all the things I want to do with my family, at World Compassion, in my church, or ways I want to improve myself personally or professionally. I think through financial, health, and relationship goals. I find myself focusing only on what I want to achieve, where I want to be and wonder how I can accomplish it all. When these types of thoughts consume me, life can feel like I’m not making much progress. I start asking myself what more I can do, how can I work harder, where do I need more discipline or accountability. My thoughts stray to how to make it all work, and if I’m not careful, feelings of being overwhelmed, an unhealthy dissatisfaction towards life, self doubt and even anxiousness can begin to take over, stealing my peace.
Have you ever experienced this? The vision seems so far away, the goal remains just out of reach, things haven’t gone as quickly as planned or the way you thought they would go at all. Maybe you’re not where you thought you would be by now. Whatever it may be, I’ve learned if we’re only looking ahead it can lead to thoughts of frustration, sending us into overdrive, working tirelessly to reach the mark. Constantly striving but never happy. Although pressing forward is also a spiritual principle, there are times when it’s important to reflect back and to see where God has brought you from, to see His faithfulness in the steps we have taken, and to be thankful for the progress we have made.
Philippians 4:6-7 is a great reminder this time of year. “Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.”
Yes, we may need more personal discipline in our lives too and to help us we have the Holy Spirit who empowers us. It’s not by might nor by power, but by My Spirit, says the Lord (Zechariah 4:6).
Yet, as you press forward toward your goals and dreams in 2024, consider starting with a perspective of thankfulness for how far you have come, what God has brought you through or how He has protected and provided for you. Allow the progress you have made to inspire you to keep diligently pressing towards the calling He has for you! This helps put us in a place of peace, enjoying the progress we are making in life while eliminating any room for anxiety. Let’s press forward in the peace and power of the Holy Spirit into what God has for us in 2024!
Go get ’em this year!
Jason Law
Listen to this recent message our president Jason Law preached at his home church on how God’s discipline and correction leads us to a life of peace. We hope this message will be a timely blessing in your life as we start a new year.
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