I don’t really do resolutions…I tend to be a pretty goal-oriented person to begin with and have no problem setting goals throughout the year. But the last few years I have selected a word or phrase to kind of be my mantra for the year. Something I need to work on or want to strive for.
In 2018 it was “Qualified” and I spent the year working to believe that it was God who did the qualifying and whatever He called me to, He would qualify me for. That focus led to writing and leading my first Bible Study, getting published by multiple online sites and magazines, and getting my first paycheck for writing.
In 2019 it was “What could I do if I wasn’t afraid?” And it was a year of facing fears and doing bold things, like publishing my first book, attending a writing retreat, and quintupling (yes that is a real word, I looked it up) my readers.
And these last two years were great.
I faced my insecurities, trusted God, and accomplished things I’d only ever dreamed of.
But, when you stay focused on achieving–even if it’s for God’s Kingdom–the view can get a little blurry at times. By the end of 2019, I found myself burnt out and let-down. I was distracted by worldly measures of success and feeling defeated by all that didn’t happen.
Thankfully, I have some wise, trusted counselors/friends in my life and I confessed how I was feeling to one of them. He reminded me that when we are in ministry and pursuing God’s calling on our life, there is only one measure for success:
Was I obedient?
World measurements — things like numbers, feedback, growth, response, etc. — don’t always apply. Or at least they won’t always look like we want them to, because God’s vision of “success” is so much different from the world’s.
So for 2020, I have decided that my word is “Obedient”.
I want to spend this year focused on drawing closer to God and trusting Him enough to be obedient to whatever He asks of me.
Then today I was reading some scripture and came across Jesus’s words in John 15:
“I have loved you even as the Father has loved me. Remain in my love. When you obey my commandments, you remain in my love, just as I obey my Father’s commandments and remain in his love. I have told you these things so that you will be filled with my joy. Yes, your joy will overflow! This is my commandment: Love each other in the same way I have loved you. There is no greater love than to lay down one’s life for one’s friends. You are my friends if you do what I command. I no longer call you slaves, because a master doesn’t confide in his slaves. Now you are my friends, since I have told you everything the Father told me. You didn’t choose me. I chose you. I appointed you to go and produce lasting fruit, so that the Father will give you whatever you ask for, using my name. This is my command: Love each other.” (John 15:9-17)
And this really sums it up doesn’t? Like, if these were the only words in the Bible, the only snippet of teaching from Jesus Christ himself that endured the last 2,000 years it would be enough wouldn’t it?
Because we would know who we are (loved, chosen, friends of Christ), and how to live our lives (in obedience and love).
But it’s verses 10-11 that really spoke to me today. Knowing that when I choose to follow and live out God’s commandments with obedience, my “joy will overflow” has given me a glimpse of what God has in store for me this year.
So here’s to 2020!
Here’s to a year of obedience, love, and overflowing joy!
