“New year, new you!”
“Out with the old, in with the new!”
“We all get the exact same 365 days. The only difference is what we do with them.”
“What is the one word that will change your life this year?”
Both our social media feeds and our brains brim with thoughts this January about new beginnings and deep introspection. Nothing makes us want to examine ourselves, our habits, and our resolutions like the start of a new year. Mentally, it’s not just the first month on a clean calendar; it represents the chance to make a fresh start and begin a new year with a clean slate.
Whether our 2018 was awful or amazing, we want 2019 to be better. We want more fitness, more joy, more abundance. And even if we point fingers or make excuses the rest of the year, in January we lay the responsibility for our future failures or successes squarely on our own shoulders.
Many of us know our Enneagram number (I’m a seven) or the result of our Personality Color Quiz (I’m a blue). In an ever-changing world, we seek to know and understand ourselves, but often, we place too much value in those results and allow them to limit or define us. All things seem possible, basking in the hope of January’s reset button.
My Color Quiz score is divided into three shades — troublesome, typical, and true. Troublesome makes me squirm; it’s my natural tendencies left unchecked — acting without thought to consequences, never on time, failing to keep promises, self-gratifying, unreliable. Spontaneity and fun are Typical behaviors associated with my shade, which certainly sounds better than the first category. But the True shade represents what I would hope to be: respectful of other people’s time, someone who thinks before I speak, capable of inspiring others through focused energy.
In January, we seek transformation and vow we can live out our True shade. I do believe people can change radically for good; I’ve seen it. And although we usually see Satan as the enemy when we think of spiritual warfare, the start of the year brings a spiritual warfare of another kind. I’ve discovered that as good intentioned as I may be, my lazy, hedonistic, self-indulgent self can be quite resistant to change.
As much as we want to lose weight, exercise more, achieve our goals, eat healthier, and embrace our carefully chosen word of the year — these are all well and good — our greatest pursuit this year should be to follow Jesus and seek to know Him more. God wants good things for us, His children. He is love, goodness, and truth, but the Lord does not want our happiness at the price of sin. The Comforter, His Holy Spirit, lives within us. We hear Him best when we place His will above our own.
After leading the Israelites through the wilderness for forty years, Moses reminded them of the many ways the Lord blessed them during that time — manna to eat, clothes that didn’t wear too thin or too small, and the surety of the promised land to come — and then restated the commands and statutes God had given them and how He would rejoice over them if they would obey Him and turn fully toward Him with their hearts and souls.
This command that I give you today is certainly not too difficult or beyond your reach. It is not in heaven so that you have to ask, ‘Who will go up to heaven, get it for us, and proclaim it to us so that we may follow it?’ And it is not across the sea so that you have to ask, ‘Who will cross the sea, get it for us, and proclaim it to us so that we may follow it?’ But the message is very near you, in your mouth and in your heart, so that you may follow it.
Deuteronomy 30:11-14 (CSB)
Make your plans, set your goals, and evaluate how you can be better and smarter in 2019, but remember God rejoices over you when you seek Him first, honor and obey Him, and follow the Holy Spirit He’s placed within your heart to guide you.
God rejoices over you when you seek Him first, honor and obey Him, and follow the Holy Spirit He's placed within your heart to guide you. -@DawnMHSH: Click To Tweet Leave a Comment
Amen. Thank you Dawn for this important and special reminder as we plan out the year ahead of us may it simply be more of God, more time with Him and to follow His path.
Jas,
How is it going?? Give us a report….
Lifting you in prayer!
Bev xo
And, Bev, how are things with you? Give those of us praying for you a report.
Frances,
You are SO sweet!! I have always struggle with anemia (deficiency of red blood cells). Upon some further testing, we discovered I have BTM (beta thalassemia minor) which basically means that my red blood cells are smaller than they should be. So not only do I have fewer red blood cells, the ones I do have are small and therefore do not carry enough oxygen to the rest of my body to give me energy….thus I feel very lethargic and exhausted a lot of the time. I’ve increased iron and other supplements to help with the anemia, but there is no “cure” for the small size of my red blood cells – it seems to be hereditary. Yesterday I had a blood transfusion in order to try to jump start my system that was really dragging after having my gallbladder removed. I am feeling a bit better. Not quite sure how long this will last as it is a band aid but would be nice to have a little energy for awhile….sorry so long an answer…..praying for your prayer concerns. Our God is able!!
Blessings sweet sister,
Bev xoxo
The internship was amazing. I did with with the Centre for Peace and Conflict Studies in Cambodia. Two days after I started they sent me to Myanmar where I witnessed two launches of a report on a four year project which talked to local people of Myanmar in the 6 ceasefires states and what they wanted from the peace process. I then worked at the Cambodian Peace Museum in Battambang and then helped to organise the 7th Asian Annual Peace Practitioners Research Conference. The experience was beyond amazing and enlightening and life changing and it was all down to God. There is no way I could have had that experience on my own. I now have to write a report on it. I am taking a month and a half off to just be a mum until the kids go back to school and then I will start writing. Thank you to everyone for their prayers!! It was the power of the prayer circle that has carried me on this journey. Can I ask for more prayers as financially I need to get a job as well as write my report and I just don’t know how I am going to do it.
What an incredible experience! My suggestion as a writer? Jot down some bullet points while it’s fresh and it will be easier to come back and fill them in later instead of starting from scratch.
You won’t do it…but God will…”I have plans to prosper Jas (and those she serves and loves as I love) , to give her a hope and a future.” Christ has the job or circumstance and has you every step of the way. You don’t “know” but He has already gone ahead to make the plans. Stay close to Him and abide with Him in prayer. Before I push send, I have prayed for His Incredible Provison of Peace and giving You all you need. Pray into His Glory to give “exceedingly abundantly beyond all you could hope for or imagine.” Overflow is what He does because it is Who He Is. All the best Jas and anyone who needed this reminder and encouragement. The Spirit has “cymbals” clanging at the doors and ears of my own heart. He is whispering loudly as my soft thumbs pound these words on my hand-held devise. He holds our hand personally into every circumstance. May the Precious Spirit arouse us to focus on His exceedingly,abundantly & beyond possibilities” – – ..”with God, ALL things are POSSIBLE”. Yay! Go “Women of Faith!” Much love and encouragement as we are reminded we are His valiant women of FAITH and He has Victory before we even begin!
Janine thank you from the bottom of my heart that your would include me in this prayers as well as our sisters in Christ! God Bless you in your own life and for letting the spirit guide you! I needed this so much!!
Jas,
What an awesome experience!! We just have no idea how others are living as we live here in our little bubble in the US. The Foundation I head up has sure opened my eyes!! I will be praying for a job/income and some quiet space for you to write!! So glad you are back safely!!
Blessings,
Bev xo
Thank you Bev! Much love to you. I thank God for you and this incourage community where Christ shows up every time!! Asking God to continually bless you with your health and life xx
I love the prayer circles here in the (in) comment boxes. Do y’all have anything to share?
Dawn can I ask for prayers for God to provide for my family financially. For him again to make his plan CLEAR as DAY, for his forgiveness and for the strength, space and time to write this report? I have applied for a part-time job at the NZ Red Cross if it is Gods will please allow me to get it? Thank you so much. Praying for you right now to have a safe and fruitful new year.
Jas
Jas,
How did it go in Cambodia? You have a good experience? Praying for you in all areas.
(((((Hugs)))))
It was amazing Beth! I have put a more thorough comment above please read it! Thank you for your prayers and continued prayers I sure have benefitted from them and am still in great need of them! God is so amazing!! Happy new year to you and I hope you are well xx
Yes and amen.
Trusting for grace to follow closely, listen carefully, and obey consistently.
Happy 2019 to you, Dawn!
Happy 2019 to you too, Michele!
Dawn,
I know my life gets all out of kilter if I continually try to pour out without soaking in God’s Word. Seek first the kingdom of God and HIS righteousness, and all these things shall be added unto you. (Matthew 6:33) We are great at making OUR plans and seeking OUR goals, but if that’s our first priority, it simply ain’t gonna work! At least that’s what I’ve learned. When my mind and attention go off down bunny trails….I need to get it back and focused on the One who gives everything. Great reminders!!
Blessings,
Bev xx
Amen, sister! Blessings to you too, Bev.
So true Bev, so very true for me too!
I have been following this website for a while, and I am grateful that it continues to encourage one another as it does for me. I would like to share quotes that our pastor shared with us last Sunday that impacted a bit of what we all should do as the new year has begun:
By God’s help I aim daily to reset my focus on Christ by surrendering my life to the control of the Holy Spirit.
By God’s Help I aim daily to refocus and remind myself that God loves me unconditionally and I make Him glad!
By God’s help I aim daily to refocus my faith on the awareness of the heavenly realm as I live my life for Christ in THIS world.
Hope this helps for pondering…My husband and I are trying to make this our practice as there is sooooo much going on this world.
Carrie, those are very good daily reminders. Thank you for posting!
Carrie these are great! Thank you for sharing!
Dawn.
My color turned out to be yellow. Like you I don’t like the troublesome side to my shade. Love the typical & true. I don’t typically make resolutions. Sure I make promises to myself to lose weight, eat healthier, etc. I start out strong but don’t always follow through with it. I believe my problem to be simple. No prayer. I don’t usually pray & ask God to help me do these things. Prayer is such a simple act. We just need to sit down & ask Him to be in our plans. There is nothing wrong with planning per se. Proverbs 15:22 states: Plans fail for lack of counsel, but with many advisers they succeed. Proverbs 16:3 states: Commit to the Lord whatever you do, and he will establish your plans. Proverbs 19:21 states Many are the plans in a person’s heart, but it is the Lord’s purpose that prevails. Quite obviously God is telling us all to seek Him first in all we do.
Blessings 🙂
Very nice reminder……thank you for these words of truth! Amen!
Hi Dawn,
This was wonderful, thank-you for sharing. It also made me think of
Psalm 46:10-1 He says,”Be still and know that I am God”
Have a blessed day all,
Penny.
Yes Penny 100% calm comes from God. It is so amazing what He can do for us and it still surprises me that he loves Me and provides for Me in the way he has and does. It is so easy to loose sight of that, when our focus is more God centred and we feel that connection with him whether it be during praise or now even while I am writing this comment, it is a sense of safety that is invaluable.
In my everyday life i get lots of courage from animals and birds and even from disabled personalities. whenever i get disappoint my life or someone hurts me i read your posts and follow your tips. you know what i am living a happy life.