Clean Slate

It’s a new year. Welcome to 2024! During this time, some look forward to a figurative clean slate, while others think nothing of another year…another new calendar…another candle added to an obligatory cake.

A new year marks the time when many of us (me included) take inventory of the past twelve months, reviewing our accomplishments, difficulties we endured, memories we made with friends and family, and special moments with those we lost along the way.

This is also a time of expectation for many. The transition to a new year often includes an array of fresh goals, dreams, and promises. Did you embrace or ban resolutions this year?

I’m one who usually participates in the New Year resolution trend. I feel setting goals for myself is important to keep me motivated to do the things I need to do. However, many dislike resolutions because in all honestly, most of the time we just set ourselves up for failure. We put unrealistic expectations upon ourselves that aren’t easily attainable in our frenzied lives, and then we feel dispirited when we falter.

In the past, I’ve often been motivated for the first part of a new year, but by March, I fell off the bandwagon. However, last year, my endurance was much better. One of my resolutions for 2023 was to start this blog, and I succeeded in that through obedience and lots of prayer. I also did well with my goals of reading the Bible every day and not drinking soda. However, over the course of the year, I eventually failed to meet both.

This year, I decided not to make my resolutions too concrete. I want to read through the entire Bible this year, and I have an outlined plan to help me complete this goal. I want to work-out for at least 30 minutes at least five days each week to keep my body (a temple for the Holy Spirit) healthy. Instead of having a specific weekly routine, I’m just going to do whatever physical activity I feel like doing each day.

Additionally, I hope to temper my propensity of becoming easily annoyed by insignificant things, and for every negative thought, word, or action that comes from within me, I plan to intentionally think, say, or do something positive to counteract it. These things will take practice, perseverance, and prayer to accomplish, but I hope to be able to say at this time next year that I’ve made progress with these.

If you are thinking this might be your year to accomplish a major goal in your life, just know that it is your year! In fact, this day is yours and every single one that follows. Every day is yours to choose how you spend it.

How can you meet your goal? You can accomplish it with self-motivation and fortitude but more importantly through prayer and devotion to the One who can accomplish anything.

“Now to him who is able to do above and beyond all that we ask or think according to the power that works in us—to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus to all generations, forever and ever. Amen,” (Ephesians 3:20-21).

A good thing about life is that we don’t have to wait for a new year to make a change. That clean slate can come at any time. The Lord tells us in Isaiah 43:18-19, “Look, I am about to do something new; even now it is coming. Do you not see it? Indeed, I will make a way in the wilderness, rivers in the desert.”

If you want a change in your life today, you can have it. If yesterday was a bad day for you, make this day a better one. If you want a clean slate, you can have that too…a new life through Christ Jesus!

The Bible tells us in 2 Corinthians 5:17, “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here!” Reflect on what you would like to accomplish this year, and then ask the Lord to help you remove any obstacles that might hinder your progress.

Don’t Procrastinate

Procrastination…it’s an action (or more accurately an inaction) that plagues the best of us at times, especially me. In fact, I am writing this blog post right now because I procrastinated and didn’t get it done on New Year’s Day, which I had planned to do.

How often have you felt so tired you decided to put something off until tomorrow? I admit I do that more often than I should. However, I frequently find that tomorrow is even busier than today, so my task again doesn’t get completed.

Furthermore, we all are tired at times and find ourselves feeling fatigued. When I ask my patients if they’ve had any fatigue in the last month, almost every person responds with a “yes.” When we acknowledge this collective exhaustion, we can then push ourselves to overcome it by putting our best foot forward each day despite it.

Seek God to help you overcome this weariness because the Bible promises us that He will. “He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak,” (Isaiah 40:29).

Moreover, how many times have you been running behind, and thought I’m already going to be late, so I’ll just skip this meeting or this church service or this gathering? Frankly, despite tardiness being frowned upon (and I hate showing up late myself), I feel being a few minutes late to something is better than an absence. Think of a church service…hearing most of God’s Word is better than hearing none, right?

When we make our resolutions and plans at the beginning of a new year, we are often more invigorated and ready for a fresh start. However, we can quickly become less motivated, especially during this time of year. Winter with it’s cold and often gloomy days, along with a variety of illnesses during the season can make one want to stay curled up in bed all day, doing little to nothing.

However, no matter the time of year, the Bible warns us against procrastination. “Through laziness, the rafters sag; because of idle hands, the house leaks,” (Ecclesiastes 10:18).

Life doesn’t wait for circumstances to be ideal. The world keeps turning and time keeps ticking, and if we wait to pursue something when the time is right, it likely will never happen. There will always be obstacles in your way. There will always be excuses that can be made.

However, this day is your only opportunity to make something happen today. Tomorrow may be too late, or there may be other demands that require your attention. Stop waiting for the perfect time. Honor the Lord with your diligence in completing the tasks and goals He has brought into your life.

“Those who wait for perfect weather will never plant seeds; those who look at every cloud will never harvest crops,” (Ecclesiastes 11:4, NCV).

Go and do and do so gladly. “Whatever you do, do it from the heart, as something done for the Lord and not for people,” (Colossians 3:23).

What are you waiting for?

Privilege from Purpose

We all walk different paths in life, and we all go through varying seasons throughout our lifetime. As we begin this new year, know that whatever passage of life you find yourself in, there is value and purpose for you today and all days this year and those to come.

When we strive to serve the Lord despite our situations in life, He will reward our faithfulness. We can find an example of this from a biblical woman named Anna. While she is only briefly mentioned, her work for the Lord and her reward from her efforts can serve as inspiration for our service to Christ. You can read about Anna in Luke 2:36-38.

To give you a little backstory, the account of Anna in the Bible takes place after Jesus’ birth when his parents took Him to the temple in Jerusalem for His presentation to the Lord and to offer the required sacrifice. “(as it is written in the Law of the Lord, ‘Every firstborn male is to be consecrated to the Lord’), and to offer a sacrifice in keeping with what is said in the Law of the Lord: ‘a pair of doves or two young pigeons,’” (Luke 2:23).

When they arrived in the temple, the Bible tells us they were greeted by two people who had been led by the Holy Spirit: Simeon and Anna. After Simeon’s interaction with Jesus, we read of Anna’s.

“There was also a prophet, Anna, the daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Asher. She was very old; she had lived with her husband seven years after her marriage, and then had been a widow for eighty-four years. She never left the temple but worshiped night and day, fasting and praying. Coming up to them at that very moment, she gave thanks to God and spoke about the child to all who were looking forward to the redemption of Jerusalem,” (Luke 2:36-38).

So, what can we learn about Anna from a mere three verses?

First, we know that Anna was a prophet, a woman who devoted herself to the Lord. In fact, Anna is the only female prophet mentioned in the New Testament. She is also an older woman. While there is debate of her actual age due to biblical translation, we know she was at least older than eighty-four years. Therefore, she was likely revered in her community as a respected elder, as well as a figure of authority for her spiritual acumen.

We also know the name of her father and the tribe she was from, which is uncommon within the New Testament. Through research, I only know of three others who were given tribal listings in the New Testament, and they were Jesus (from David’s lineage and the tribe of Judah), Saul (of the tribe of Benjamin), and Barnabus (from the Levites).

Anna was only married seven years before she lost her husband. While we don’t know specifics of her marriage, one can infer that losing one’s husband so young and after a short time would have led to struggle and heartache for a young, widowed woman during that time.

However, despite potential grief, loneliness, and trials, Anna never remarried and instead chose to devote her life to the Lord and spend her days and nights in the temple, fasting and praying. While we may not find that life to our taste, Anna found purpose and hope while basking in God’s presence.

She was rewarded for her devotion to the Lord. She received the ultimate privilege: witnessing first-hand the coming of the Messiah, the fulfillment of God’s promise to His people after so many years of waiting.

However, she wasn’t done after seeing Jesus. Just as she had always done, she continued to serve the Lord, giving praise to Him and witnessing about Jesus to others. “…she gave thanks to God and spoke about the child to all who were looking forward to the redemption of Jerusalem,” (Luke 2:38).

Anna didn’t let her age, ability, marital status, or sex deter her from living a purposeful life. The Lord can use us at any time for His glory, and we can be useful to Him during all our years.

You may be hitting the books at college or chasing young children around the house. You may be in-between jobs and wondering how you’re going to pay your bills next month or may have just gotten a long-awaited promotion. You may be waiting to find the man who will become your husband or may be going through a separation or may have recently lost the love of your life.

No matter what stage of life you’re in, begin this new year seeking God’s direction. Look for new ways to serve our Lord and Savior. If you are faithful to do so, He will honor you, just as Jesus said.

“Whoever serves me must follow me; and where I am, my servant also will be. My Father will honor the one who serves me,” (John 12:26).

Have a blessed week, and a joyous year!

-Becky