I know it’s a weird time of the year to talk about New Year’s resolutions, but did you know that most of those resolutions are dead by the second or third week of January. In fact, (I know it’s morbid), but, some studies show that the third Monday in January has been reported to be the day of the year that people feel most depressed and many suicides take place. It’s easy to understand why “Blue Monday” exists; after the holiday season people may be more in-debt than usual, they may be missing the family and friends they were able to reconnect with over the holidays, or they may have a difficult time adjusting to the return to work. The last Christmas season was not a great one for us. We had COVID that shut down ALL Christmas activities and then on the heals of that, I had a serious bout of anxiety (the clinical kind, not just heightened stress). With all that said, I was forced to make some resolutions that have actually stuck! I waited until NOW to make sure that they are actually becoming habits and not just a “flash in the pan!” The verse below challenges us to press into what God has called us to do.
Philippians 3:12-14 (NIV)
12 Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already arrived at my goal, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me. 13 Brothers and sisters, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, 14 I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.
So, What… for This Week?
We made some drastic adjustments (mainly because of my anxiety, which God used to kick-start my changes), including cancelling Hulu, Netflix and Peacock. We were watching so much junk and whatever we put in our minds needs to be more Christ-like and not worldly. We replaced TV with walking each night, reading and even having a game night (which I thought I would HATE, but instead, I LOVE it)!
Take a GiANT Next Step
What do YOU need to consider giving up, so you “press on toward the goal” that God has placed in your life? How can YOU declutter so you can hear God more clearly? Also, what can you give up, so you can replace it with Godly things, like Bible reading, worship, meditation and devotions? Take the time this week to audit YOUR time and decide how you can get more of Jesus in YOUR life!