Dear Worshipers,
Just a few weeks into the New Year and you may be wondering what you were thinking when you made some of the resolutions that seemed like such a good idea only a few weeks ago. Maybe you decided to read through the Bible, but you have missed a couple of days and are now feeling overwhelmed with the idea of reading 110 chapters just to catch up. Maybe you had hoped to loose a few unwanted pounds, but the scale seems to indicate that you weight is the same as it was on January 1. Maybe there was a long overdue phone call you decided to make early in the year that remains unmade. Or maybe there is something else.
The reality of the New Year is setting in and it seems to be shaping up much like the old one. There are habits to develop, and others to break, as well as things to accomplish. Yet the resolutions you made do not seem to be helping you. What you need is real solutions. And you know who has them? GOD! [I know, you already knew that. But I wanted to remind you.]
Every year since sometime back in the late 90’s [that seems strange to say] while we were serving a church in Nebraska, Sarah and I have had what has know become known as our Annual Planning Day. This is a day where we separate from our normal schedule and reflect on our plans for the New Year. Though the planning has much to do with budget and calendar issues, we also discuss specifics of spiritual formation as well.
Now, in case you are thinking, “I would like to get away for a day and plan my year”, let me encourage you. It does take a day, or rather not all at once. For Sarah and I, that day is the culmination of working last years plan successfully or not and reevaluating it, finding better solutions, and setting it in motion. But really more than a day, this is a lifestyle. Just like what you probably need is more than a resolution, but some real solutions.
You have heard this phrase, “Plan Your Work, Work Your Plan”. But you have to be certain to let God guide this process. An old friend once said to me "We worship our work, we work at our play, we play at our worship". That is the danger if you let your life priorities get out of balance.
I saw a little story on ABC News last week titled “24/7 Lifestyle”. I was immediately curios because this is my vision for the worship of God. It was about companies who are letting their employees work whenever they want, wherever they want, as long as they get it done. You might think that less work gets done, but the employees end up working even more. They are working all the time, easily putting in 60-70 hour weeks, with many 12-14 hour days. The freedom to take their work with them anywhere has left many taking it with them everywhere.
While I am not advocating that kind of lifestyle for anyone, I am advocating that kind of commitment. Live your life resolved to worship the Lord 24/7. But don’t just resolve to do it, set in place some real solutions that will help you attain that goal. Maybe you need to get to bed earlier so that you can wake up earlier to get that Bible reading done before the day really gets going. Maybe you need to fast a couple meals a week, spending concerted time with the Lord as He fills your soul with Himself, instead of your stomach with food. Maybe you need to organize your thoughts before the Lord for that phone call, humble yourself and pick up the phone.
Carve some time out with the Lord in the next week and evaluate your plans for the year. Where is God in them? Or rather, where do you plans put you in relation to God? Make it your intent to live a lifestyle of worship, one that is constantly responding to the glory of God. Set in motion some real solutions that will help you live that way, and set your plan in motion.
If you will resolve to let God reveal His plan for you and that you will work diligently at whatever He places before you, you will have some real solutions coming your way that will revolutionize your New Year, for the glory of God, and your good.
In Christ,
Pastor Scott
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