A New Year brings hopes of a fresh start. It is the time of year we look back and evaluate, recalibrate and put into practice some new methods to accomplish change. Change in our Physical Health, Relational Health, and even our Spiritual Health. God has created us each with this deep longing to live productive, fruitful lives, lives that matter in each of these areas. To recalibrate we need to examine ourselves. Do you embrace the practice of self-examination brought on by a new year or do you flee from this as it might expose weakness, pride, and sin?
For me, the month of January is a time of reflection. I clear my mornings to sit down, reflect and be honest with myself. Taking a step further, I write these down — a reflection of the successes and progress that were scattered throughout my year as well as the failures and setbacks. For sure this was a year for me of transitions and knowing myself even a bit deeper at 54. I thought by now I would have things figured out. You see at 54, I am still growing, stumbling, dreaming, and falling short of what I and the world deems perfection. In all of this, the reflection of my sin and shame scream, but the truth of a God who loves me — picking me up, washing me off and allowing me to reflect Him for His Glory — is the miracle of GRACE in all of this.
Ladies, the reality is deep within is we are all growing, stumbling, dreaming, and falling short. That is where the deep gaze into the scriptures and community with others comes into play. Take time to sit and do some self-examination, journal, talk it over with your tribe. If you don’t have a tribe, get one. If you don’t know what the scripture says, read it. For me reading this book from front to back every year has changed everything!
Self-examination is crucial for the Stronger you! We shy away from this because it makes us feel bad, but the truth is it is freeing! Scripture tells us to Confess, and He is faithful to forgive. He remembers it no more. He sets us free. The old is gone, the new has come. Self -examination is the key to moving forward. The follow up to this self-examination is looking forward to what can and will be accomplished in each of us together for Christ. I encourage you, after you complete time examining yourself, to look forward and set some goals in each of these areas that are doable. Share them with your tribe or you can even share them here in the comments. Let’s make 2019 a year of eternal impact!
Philippians 3:12-14 (ESV)
Not that I have already obtained this or am already perfect, but I press on to make it my own because Christ Jesus has made me his own. Brothers, I do not consider that I have made it my own. But one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead, I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.
Over the month of January take time to answer these questions related the 3 sections: Spiritual, Relational, Physical.
Where in 2018 did I find success & progress in each of these areas?
In what ways did I experience failure in each of these areas?
What were the reasons I had setbacks?
Is there sin or something that held me back? If yes what was it? Name it!
What success & progress would I like to see in each of these areas in 2019?
Resources for Reading Bible in a year:
www.bibleclassmaterial.com- Five Day Bible Reading Schedule
Youversion Bible App
Personally, I love Bibliotheca! It reads like a book.