I have always struggled with New Year’s. A holiday that others welcome with sighs of release from the past year and with hopes held high for the new is a day from which my knee jerk is to pull back. Soundly pull back. Pull back as in OMGosh….what now?....pull back.
I know my reaction’s source. When I was running real estate offices, the New Year signaled that now we had to do it all over again: beat last year’s figures for sales, listings, and recruits and perform anew, clueless about what the economy would bring. I was much happier staying in the past year where we had proven ourselves and where we had laurels upon which to perch. The familiar knot in my stomach would ultimately motivate me to strive but initially all it did was hurt and I did not like it.
Now I pastor a church and I do not have the business concerns I had as a broker. Still there is the thought of new challenges. In 2009, how does the Lord desire to work through me to grow His kingdom, to reach those who either do not know Him or who do not attend church? What will the Lord have us do as we seek to disciple those who call East Valley their church home?
My approach is a lot different in ministry than it was in business. I would bring the concerns I had to the Lord in prayer then but it was pretty much a solo event. Large business settings are not usually supportive of group prayer. Now at the church the first week of the year is dedicated to the Lord, and as a body we bring all the concerns and thoughts in seven evenings crying out to Him. Quite a difference
I still pull back on New Year’s. But only to press forward into the Lord. It is a blessing to no longer have the knot in my stomach.
Phil 4:13
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Here, here. New Years is no longer scary. No worries about what's to come because we know that He has it all under control. Our job is but to seek Him, find Him, know Him through His word. Yay for us and Yay for Him!! Life is so much simpler when we're not in charge, isn't it?
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