New Year New Goals

New Year New Goals – Week 5 Encouragement: Share with Others

2 Corinthians 1:3-4
Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves receive from God.

We have all had the experience of a text at just the right time, a verse that hits the heart in the most needed way, or a compliment that lifts the weary head just a little on a defeating day. Encouragement can come in many ways, but it is the right amount of hope given at just the right time. Imagine a place where no encouragement can be found. How much easier and faster would we all give up?

The verse of 2 Corinthians 1:3-4 is what gave me the confident assurance that there is always purpose in my pain. During dark, dreary days, encouragement from others kept me going. There were times when prayers were poured over me by phone when I didn’t have the words to pray myself, times when scripture was texted to me at the perfect moment reminding me of God’s promises and Truth, and invitations to safely share what was on my heart that had been weighing me down. Once you have been the recipient of that kind of hope from encouragement, you know the value of giving it to others.

Though the details of our stories are different, we have all experienced the deep hurt from living in a broken, fallen world. When we encounter the Great Comforter in these moments, it shifts our perspective and hearts. God is our source of encouragement and hope in a messy world and it is our call as Believers to share this hope and comfort with others.

This encouragement should be an overflow from the first four steps of walking in providence: devotion, scripture, prayer, and community. When we experience the protective care of God, especially in difficult situations, we can’t help but share it with others. When we look at the miracles of Jesus, we see the first response of those touched and healed by Him is to run and share the good news of their healing with other, even when Jesus asked them to keep quiet. When the Father of all compassion comforts us in our troubles, we naturally want to share this same comfort with others.

Romans 15:13
May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.

How can we be an encouragement to others? We are all different with unique talents and gifts and this may look different for all of us. One of the best ways to be a great encourager is to make a list (if that’s your thing) of all the ways you have been encouraged by others. Have you been encouraged by someone texting that you were on their hearts and being prayed for? Has someone brought you a meal during a busy or difficult season? Has someone taken you to lunch or bought you a coffee? Think of ways you have been greatly encouraged and look to be a similar source of encouragement to someone else.

The best way I have found to be a source of encouragement is to be tuned into the promptings of the Holy Spirit. If you get a nudge to text someone, speak to the girl you don’t know well, or pay for the person ahead of you at the coffee shop, be obedient. The Holy Spirit knows what others need and may be using you as a vessel to be their comfort. Sometimes it can be as simple as a warm smile in the long line and a compliment on the shirt the cashier is wearing. Imagine this woman as being beaten down by life and wearing the same tired shirt she has had for five years, but the moment you warmly smile and sincerely compliment her, it could be the very thing that encourages her to keep going.

Be light in the darkness. Be the hands and feet of Jesus. Be kind. Be compassionate. Let the love and peace you have received from your Heavenly Father spill over to the lives of others pointing them to your source of strength and hope.

2 Corinthians 13:11
Finally, brothers and sisters, rejoice! Strive for full restoration, encourage one another, be of one mind, live in peace. And the God of love and peace will be with you.

1 Thessalonians 5:8-11
But since we belong to the day, let us be sober, putting on faith and love as a breastplate, and the hope of salvation as a helmet. For God did not appoint us to suffer wrath but to receive salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ. He died for us so that, whether we are awake or asleep, we may live together with him. Therefore encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing.

If list making isn’t your thing, here is a list of ways I have received encouragement over the last several years. I pray it inspires you that even the smallest things can be a huge source of encouragement to someone else.

A texted prayer
Sending a link to an encouraging scripture, devotional, or sermon
Someone sending a praise song
Being invited to lunch or coffee
A meal provided for our family
A friend helping me fold my laundry while we talked
Offering to take the kids for an afternoon
A small gift like a candle or plush blanket
A compliment (this goes a long way when you feel tired and have cried a lot)
A hug

Prayer: Father, thank You for the ways I have felt encouraged this week. I ask that it is through Your protective care that I am filled to overflow with Your love, kindness, and encouragement to those around me. As You provide for my every need, use me to be a source of encouragement in meeting the needs of others.

New Year New Goals – Week 4 Community: Find Your People

Hebrews 10:24-25
And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds, not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching.

Christian community. These words can bring a mix of emotions. The concept can bring a smile and thoughts of warmth and gratitude, but it can also trigger feelings of hurt and disappointment. After all, a community, even a Christian one, is made up of fallible humans. Christian community can be both the sweetest and most precious gift we receive, but also a source of deep, painful wounding. How do we navigate this?

First, let’s look at the importance of Christian community. We were designed for community. We serve a triune God that He Himself embodies as the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. As His image bearers, we are created to live and thrive in community with others. From the beginning and before sin entered the world, God saw that it was not good for man to be alone (Genesis 2:18). Community brings companionship, accountability, support, and encouragement.

The wise King Solomon spoke about the importance of community in Ecclesiastes.

“Two are better than one, because they have a good return for their labor:  If either of them falls down, one can help the other up. But pity anyone who falls and has no one to help them up. Also, if two lie down together, they will keep warm. But how can one keep warm alone? Though one may be overpowered, two can defend themselves. A cord of three strands is not quickly broken” (Ecclesiastes 4:9-12).

We may be able to survive and manage on our own for a short period of time, but having community is better. It allows us to flourish and experience a richness of life we would not experience alone.

Jesus modeled this for us in His life on Earth. During His ministry, He had an intimate group of friends that walked with Him in His daily life and ministry. This circle of people included His twelve apostles and a few close followers that helped carry the burden of ministry by aiding in the provision of His physical needs, protecting Him when crowds of people swarmed Him, and helping coordinate the simple logistics of travel. This was not done because of motivation to further their careers (many left their careers behind) or to gain social standing (following Jesus made them social outcasts). Rather, it was done out of love and a desire to be with Jesus.

When Jesus called each of His apostles and close followers, He knew their hearts and the future role they would play in the establishment of the Church after His ascension. Jesus’ hand-selected His people and we can do the same. We must surround ourselves with those that are like-minded and those that will spur us along in our faith. As we walk the narrow road of faith, we must keep in mind that it is not the quantity but quality of our friendships and community. We must check our own motives as to what is drawing us into a certain group. Is it rooted in Christian love or motivated by popularity or self-promotion?

Just as Jesus modeled and experienced the benefits of Christian community, He also suffered the deep pain of betrayal and rejection from His closest friends. It was Judas, one of His chosen twelve that sold Jesus out to the religious leaders for the meager price of a slave (Luke 22:3-6). After His arrest, the other eleven fled (Mark 14:50) while Peter denied knowing Jesus three times in public (John 18:15-18; 25-27). Here is the thing, Jesus knew all of this before He even chose these men, yet He still chose them anyway. Why? Because He knew they were human, He trusted the Father’s will, and He was the very source of the forgiveness they would need.

Yes, Christian community comes with risks, but we can’t let that stop us from experiencing the benefits of being part of something God designed to ultimately be for our good. In the healing of pain and hurt, we can gain a deeper understanding of God’s grace, mercy, and forgiveness.

If you have been hurt by Christian community, seek healing and forgiveness. What can you learn and grow from the experience? Are there friendships you need to step away from in order to have a healthier community? Do you need to pray that God will bring strong, healthy people into your life? Is bitterness, resentment, and unforgiveness holding you back from trusting the people God has given you?

This is not easy or simple, the Christian life rarely is, but it is worth the work and effort. Though there are some relationships we cannot escape (like family or coworkers) we can choose our inner circle and the people we let into the intimate parts of our lives. We need to be part of a small group of believers that are deliberately in God’s word together and encouraging each other in discipleship. If this is not something you have, ask God to guide you to the people or group you need to be a part of.

It can be the Christian community God has given us that allows us to walk in the providential care of God. It can be from Christian community that we receive an encouraging text, intercessory prayer, a simple meal brought during illness, and like-minded companionship when we feel alone in this evil world. God created us to benefit and grow from being a part of Christian community. I pray that each of us are able to find these precious friends while being a friend to others.

If you need healing in the area of community and friendships, here are some resources that have helped me, and that I recommend to you:

A licensed, Christian counselor – directly contact me for local recommendations.
Good Boundaries and Goodbyes by Lisa TerKeurst
1 Corinthians 13 – read through this chapter in the Bible. Do you love like this? Do people in your Christian community love like this? If not, pray over how that can change.

Prayer “Father, you gave us community with which we can share life. Jesus, our perfect example, surrounded himself with community and trusted friends. Thank you for the trusted friends you have given me OR I ask that you fill my need for trusted, loving, and encouraging community. Protect me from those that will harm me, take advantage of me, or lead me away from You. Remind me to be a good friend to others and to always be willing to reach out to the lonely by being unconditionally inclusive.”

New Year New Goals – Week 3 Prayer: Talk to Your Father and Be Still Before Him

Philippians 4:6-7
Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

If I am being honest, prayer is an area I feel very insecure about. Prayer is one of the most basic and foundational aspects of our faith yet can feel so vast and at times distant. I’m a talker, so I worry I talk too much during prayer and don’t give God space to speak. To me, it can often feel like a one-sided conversation or a monologue, and then I just walk away. I imagine God is left standing there shaking His head and rolling His eyes at my self-centered, narrow-minded perspective. Am I alone in this?

For years, I felt prayer was an obligation. Something that must be done before I venture too far into my day. I would go through a mental check list of asking for blanketed forgiveness, showing generic gratitude, and praying for people in my life (usually ones that needed to change to make my life easier). But then life got hard, really hard, and complicated. I needed to hear from God desperately. I would cry out and plead but felt like I would receive nothing but silence on the other end.

This year, prayer is an area I want to specifically grow in and deepen in my life. There are so many resources and books about prayer, but I don’t want to educate myself on prayer, I want to fold it into my everyday life. I want prayer to be a normal part of my daily rhythms and not an obligatory event each day. I want to speak and hear from God as one does a friend. I don’t have the answers as to how I will achieve this but there are a few things I have done recently that seem to really help.

As we talked about last week, Scripture is God’s Word to us. Scripture is how we get to know who God is and how He moves and works in our lives and in those around us. As I have deepened my time in Scripture, it has deepened my understanding of prayer. It can be anywhere and anytime.

There isn’t a formula I must use, rather, I can whisper my heart’s desires to God in the moment. It can be thoughts of praise and gratitude, “Thank you God for this beautiful sunrise!” Or thoughts of intercession on someone’s behalf, “Father, be with my friend as she goes to the doctor today. Speak wisdom and fill her with Your peace.” It can even be immediate repentance, “Please forgive my terrible attitude and please help me respond in love today at work.” This mindset echoes the words of Paul in 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18, “Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.”

When I need to be more intentional about prayer, I have found journaling my prayers works best for me. I literally hand write God a letter in my journal. This helps me organize my thoughts and emotions. I was also taught several years ago that as I journaled my fears, worries, and emotions, to then write Scripture along side the words. It is a tangible way to fight what is going on in your heart with Truth.

The most challenging practice I have tried to implement has been contemplative or centering prayer. This is the practice of clearing your mind and completely fixing your focus on God which allows you to be still before Him and open your heart to hear from Him. This is a huge challenge for me! I am not still and quiet unless I am asleep. My mind continuously has about twelve different things tumbling around including the grocery list, a past interaction with someone, and what I plan to eat for lunch. Getting my mind still is hard but in doing so, it opens the opportunity to hear from God.

Prayer is a gift. Because of Jesus and the righteousness we have through Him, we can go directly to the throne of the King of Kings and lay our supplications at His feet. Jesus modeled this so well while He was on earth with His own prayer life. He often withdrew to be alone with the Father. It was part of His normal routine to be alone with God. We have this gift and privilege allowing us to bring every anxious thought, moment of gratitude, and times of regret and repentance directly to our God. God longs to hear from us but He also longs to speak to us. He is the God of peace, and it is His peace that has the power to change our hearts and perspectives.

Below are some resources that have encouraged and helped me in my prayer life:

Exodus 14:14
The Lord will fight for you; you need only to be still.

Psalm 37-5-7
Commit your way to the Lord; trust in him and he will do this: He will make your righteous reward shine like the dawn, your vindication like the noonday sun. Be still before the Lord
and wait patiently for him; do not fret when people succeed in their ways, when they carry out their wicked schemes.

Lamentations 3:22-26
Because of the Lord’s great love we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness. I say to myself, “The Lord is my portion; therefore I will wait for him.” The Lord is good to those whose hope is in him, to the one who seeks him; it is good to wait quietly for the salvation of the Lord.

Prayer: “Father, thank you for Jesus and his sacrifice so that I can come before You completely righteous. Thank you for loving me unconditionally and caring for every detail of my life. Teach me to talk to You as one speaks to a friend. Remind me of your glory and majesty, trusting that Your ways are better than my ways. Even when things are difficult, I can trust that You are moving and working because You are faithful. When I need wisdom from You, remind me that you promise to reveal Yourself to me. Open my heart to Your voice.”

New Year New Goals – Week 2 Scripture: meditate on His promises and Truth

2 Timothy 3:16-17
All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the servant of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.

Most of us long to hear from God. There are amazing stories of God speaking audibly to people or revealing Himself through miraculous signs or visions. However, not all of us will experience this supernatural communication. What we do have at our disposal, now more convenient than ever, is His very Word to us in Scripture. The Bible is God’s message directly to his children.

Through His Word and the working of the Holy Spirit, God reveals to us who He is, direction for our lives, and all the answers we could ever need here on earth. This is why reading the Bible every day is so important. Just as Paul told Timothy in his second letter, “All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the servant of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work” (2 Timothy 3:16-17).

For many years the Bible was daunting and somewhat confusing for me, but several years ago, I did a Bible study that helped bring it all together for me. Seamless by Angie Smith shows how the Bible is one seamless story told from Genesis to Revelation. It was so impactful I began the challenge of reading the entire Bible in a year. When you understand how each piece of the Bible fits n the greater narrative, it makes even Leviticus come to life.

There are so many resources out there that help explain the Bible, giving historical and cultural clarity. From study Bibles to commentaries, so much is available to help explain God’s message to our modern understanding. If you are new to reading the Bible, I recommend a paraphrase translation like The Message or a modern translation like the New Living Translation. The You Version Bible App not only gives you access to multiple versions of the Bible, but it also has reading plans and video Bible studies to help explain what you are reading.

As a follower of Christ, the Bible should be a part of your daily time with God. His Word is how we hear from our Father. In his book, The Attributes of God, Arthur W. Pink confronts the issue in modern Christian circles. “To countless thousands, even among those professing to be Christians, the God of Scripture is quite unknown.” Pink goes on to say that we have gotten comfortable letting our understanding of God come solely from others rather than spending time in Scripture to gain understanding of God for ourselves. Though the words of others can be encouraging, it should not replace the words spoken directly from God Himself through His Word. We need to be in the Bible every day, as Pink says, “searching Scripture for ourselves, rather than lazily accepting the teaching of others.”

If you need understanding for what you are reading, ask! James tells us “If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you” (James 1:5). God’s desire is to reveal His heart to us and for us to know Him. He will be faithful to give you understanding of His Word.

Ephesians 3:16-19
I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the Lord’s holy people, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge—that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God.

Make it a goal this year to spend time each day in Scripture. Dig deep into the areas you may not understand for clarity. Who authored the passage and what was the purpose in writing it? What was going on at the time the passage was written? How does Jesus fit into the passage? As much as we long to hear from God, He longs to speak to us even more. This is why He gave us Jesus, “The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the one and only Son, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth (John 1:14).

Below are some of my favorite Scripture resources along with a prayer as you seek to mediate on His promises and truth a goal for this year.

“Father, thank you for Your Word and for the way You use it to speak to me, teach me, and draw me closer to You. I ask for understanding as I read Your promises and truth. Guide me as I navigate Your Words and learn to apply them in my daily life. Remind me to meditate on Your promises and truth rather than the lies and insecurities from the enemy.”

New Year New Goals – Week 1 Devotionals: Get in His Word and Spend Time with Your Father

Deuteronomy 4:29
But if from there you seek the Lord your God, you will find him if you seek him with all your heart and with all your soul.

What is a devotional? Merriam-Webster defines it as a short worship service. I love this definition! Devotionals come in all forms these days. From beautiful, leather-bound books, to digital reading plans, to even podcast and YouTube videos. There is no shortage of options for believers to have guided time alone with God. But are we actually doing it every day?

Jesus came to heal our broken union with God that was destroyed by sin centuries ago in the Garden of Eden. What makes Christianity stand out from other pagan religions is that it is an intimate relationship. We are called far beyond a list of rules, traditions, and good deeds. We are being pursued by our Heavenly Father, the Almighty Creator to have a close, one on one relationship with Him.

Are we meeting with Him each day? Are we setting aside time for a short worship service to praise, repent, and seek guidance with the One who holds our lives in the palm of His hand? Do we spend more time in the mirror preparing our faces for the world than we spend preparing our souls for eternity each morning?

Sisters, this is a foundational essential in our relationship with God; time alone with Him. It must take top priority. There are seasons in life when it can be hard to carve out this time. I have spent many devotionals with a nursing baby, interruptions to help button a shirt, or even at the end of my day. Rarely can these times be considered quiet and meditative, but they are still important. I would say they are especially important when you are in a busy and full season. Do not let the lie that you are too busy creep in and steal this time away from you.

Psalm 25:4-5 & 9
Show me your ways, Lord,
    teach me your paths.
Guide me in your truth and teach me,
    for you are God my Savior,
    and my hope is in you all day long.
He guides the humble in what is right
    and teaches them his way.

When we spend time alone with God, he guides us and speaks His truth to us through His word.

Psalm 34:4-5 & 8
I sought the Lord, and he answered me;
    he delivered me from all my fears.
Those who look to him are radiant;
    their faces are never covered with shame.
Taste and see that the Lord is good;
    blessed is the one who takes refuge in him.

When fear, anxiety, and shame greet us in the mornings, time with Him recalibrates our hearts to the truth and His love. We are reminded of who we are in light of His goodness and refuge.

Proverbs 4:11-13
I instruct you in the way of wisdom
    and lead you along straight paths.
When you walk, your steps will not be hampered;
    when you run, you will not stumble.
Hold on to instruction, do not let it go;
    guard it well, for it is your life.

When we don’t have the answers and things seem beyond our understanding, He is the One who grants His children wisdom and walks alongside us.

Matthew 11:28-30
“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.”

When we are exhausted, weary, and burdened, it is in Him we find our true rest. He invites us to bring it all to Him and lay it at His feet.

No matter what season you are in, I encourage you to make a devotional time as a part of your day. As you create this habit, it will become something you look forward to and long for. If daily devotionals are already a part of your life, I encourage you to deepen your time with God with a reading plan, study Bible, or commentary to give you a deeper understanding of God’s word. Maybe you could add worship to your time alone with God or contemplative prayer. Let the Holy Spirit guide you this year. After all, He has already gone before you and knows exactly what you need for each day.

Below are some of my favorite devotional resources, along with a prayer, I encourage you to use as you seek to make time alone with God a goal for this year.

Prayer: “Father, I long to know you more. I ask that you teach me to understand your Word and how it applies to my life. Thank you for those who have gone before me and shared their stories of how Your Word changed them. Guide me to a reading plan, devotional book, or Bible study where I can spend a few minutes each day with You. Protect my time and give me the discipline to be consistent.”

New Series Starts Monday!

The New Year is traditionally a time to get a fresh start and set goals to be better versions of ourselves. As you begin to think about new goals for the New Year, think about setting new spiritual goals Do you have a reading plan for 2024? How about deepening your prayer life or memorizing scripture? Should you look for Christian community and spiritual encouragement?

In this series, I want to take it back to the basics and look at the five steps to walking in providence. To walk in providence is to look for and recognize the ways God is protectively caring for us no matter our circumstances. We can do this through devotions, Scripture, prayer, community, and encouragement.

Let’s walk into 2024 in the protective care of God together!