New Years 2021
How many of you a week, or even a couple days before the new year, decide to make a list of new years resolutions? I do, my husband does, and we do together. Every year! Now, how many of you keep your new years resolutions? A week, a month, a few months? I don’t know too many that continue through the whole year. This was probably the first year in my 42 years, and my husbands 43 years, that we have actually kept a majority of our goals the whole year. We have actually added goals, and some have had to be tweaked, but we have been consistent!! It’s been a rough year, and we have had to adjust, but we kept going. We have continued in not just one or two things, but most of the original resolutions.
Resolutions
The dictionary says resolutions are a firm decision to do or to not do something. You become resolute in your decision. How many of us actually are firm and really make a decision? We usually really write down ideas that sound good. We like the way it makes us feel to say we are going to change, and want to be better but in the long haul we really aren’t committed. Why? What keeps us from being firm and keeping these amazing goals?
Holding Back
I believe we are holding back because we don’t really think we can accomplish it or will be successful. We hold ourselves back so many times from truly doing what we are called to do, because of fear, rejection, failure, insecurities, and the like. Why don’t we just overcome these hurdles? Humans don’t like to stop and look at themselves long enough to do an honest assessment of who they really are. It’s hard to see our flaws. Most talk about resolutions and never write them down. Let’s say you are the small percentage that does reflect, write down goals, and see your own shortcomings. What holds this person back?
Feeling Incapable
When we are so bogged down with all of the long lists of what we can’t do, we never move towards working on ourselves, growing, and stepping out by faith. When you feel incapable, you freeze in fear, and lose all footing. It truly paralyzes some people. So when you do start to step out and work on yourself, grow, and step out by faith, you will encounter others who say you can’t do it. Have you ever heard of crabs in a bucket? When you put 2 or more in a bucket they will never leave because if one tries to escape the others will pull it back down, so no need for a lid. We can do this with each other.
Encouragement
The bibles tells us to encourage one another, to prefer one another, to lift each other up, to rejoice with those who rejoice. We should be encouraging one another to do well. Sometimes you find others who would rather criticize someone for doing something different, or something that they themselves don’t do. Let us love one another, encourage and strengthen each other. Your spouse needs your support, they need you to say “you did a good job”, they may never find that anywhere else. Be the encouragement we all need, and lift up your spouse. I love how my husband always encourages me, he is who I go to. I trust him because he does encourage me, and I encourage him. So if something isn’t a good idea he will tell me and I can hear it. It’s the same way with my best friends. They can speak into my life because they encourage and I trust them. We also have this in our Pastor and First Lady.
Habits
How do we grow, work on ourselves, and learn? Readers are leaders, podcasts, reflection, trainings, the word, prayer, fasting, and so many more ways. You can do all of this and still not be successful. Why? Because you have to take action. You have to take the knowledge, and understand, all of the time spent working on you and make it a habit. We recently read “Atomic Habits” by James Clear, and learned even more about making goals, creating good habits, and doing it in a way that each day you get a little better on those goals you set at the beginning of the year. Daily disciplines that become habits, that become a way of life.
Measurable Goals
Measurable, attainable goals, happen when we are consistent and write down and track them daily. Does this seem like a lot of work? Yes, it is at first, but then it becomes a part of who you are. We have a daily routine, and even when things get off a little we adjust and still accomplish them. If you want this next year of 2021 to be great, you have to make up in your mind, that you will be consistent and track the small measurable goals. You have to write down the goal, then make it specific. Go backwards, and make quarterly, monthly, weekly, and daily goals. Practice good time management, and see your world change. We all have the same amount of time in a day, and have been blessed to have it. We challenge you to sit down before the new year and do this. Get a calendar with your spouse, write down what is important, and slowly start with one measurable goal. You can add on later, but remember, this is attainable when you start small. You will be amazed by the end of next year how far you have come when you do this and stick to it!
Scripture
Monday: Philippians 3:13-14 says, ” Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but [this] one thing [I do], forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before, I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.” In all of the goals you set this year with your spouse let this scripture be the guiding one.
Tuesday: 1 Corinthians 9:24 says, “Know ye not that they which run in a race run all, but one receiveth the prize? So run, that ye may obtain.” If you are running to obtain you are resolute in your decision. Run this next year after all God has put in your heart!
Wednesday: Proverbs 21:5 says, “The plans of the diligent lead surely to abundance and advantage, But everyone who acts in haste comes surely to poverty.” AMP. Don’t let anything hold you back this next year, especially not yourself. You can do this with your spouse!
Thursday: Philippians 4:13 says, “I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.” All year when we attempted things that seemed too hard, we would quote this scripture. You can too!
Friday: Ecclesiastes 4:9-12 says, “Two are better than one; because they have a good reward for their labour. For if they fall, the one will lift up his fellow: but woe to him that is alone when he falleth; for he hath not another to help him up. Again, if two lie together, then they have heat: but how can one be warm alone? And if one prevail against him, two shall withstand him; and a threefold cord is not quickly broken.” We need each other, we need encouragement, and it should flow down to our children and those we love.
Saturday: Hebrews 13:8 says, “Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and to day, and for ever.” Jesus is consistent, and constant. We can learn so much from Him, even to be consistent in our everyday lives.
Sunday: Habakuk 2:2 says, “And the LORD answered me, and said, Write the vision, and make it plain upon tables, that he may run that readeth it.” This next year is before you friend, spend time in prayer, with your spouse, write it down, make it plain(measurable), and run! We don’t know what little time we have left. Live and give with this life you have been given!