Now having passed President’s Day, you are into week eight of 2022. Blink, and it will be summer. Blink twice, and football will be back with Christmas music playing in the stores. Time is flying by, and there is no slowing it down!
Stop for a second and consider – how is 2022 going for you?
You have experienced enough of 2022 to understand what this year may entail. Some surprises? New achievements? Same disappointments (I hope not!)?
Having reflected on this year so far, here is the bigger question. Are you still executing the promises you made yourself (aka “New Year’s Resolutions”)? If you fell off the wagon or lost your way, let’s get back on track.
Amy Morin, author of “13 Things Mentally Strong People Don’t Do” penned an article for Business Insider with the Top 5 reasons behind failed New Year’s Resolutions.
1. You aren’t ready to change.
2. There is no measurement monitoring.
3. You lack a plan.
4. Overconfidence made it look too easy.
5. Not looking at what needs to be given up.
Is the pony in the ditch? Maybe you are waking up today, and you see you’re off the original plan. Let’s get your resolution “out of the ditch,” not only through willpower. Let’s restart with a quick mental reset…
You get what you expect, and you deserve what you tolerate.
Now that’s a bucket of cold water dumped on our heads! My former boss used to state this when she felt we were getting off track or playing too loose. We don’t want to tolerate a failure of any kind. Let’s get after an antidote.
When Paul wanted to get the Corinthian church’s pony out of the ditch, he made an appeal to get this body of believers back on track. His encouragement?
“Therefore, my beloved brothers, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that in the Lord your labor is not in vain.” 1 Corinthians 15:58 ESV.
Summarize the above into this – be stubborn and keep the vision of the future out in front of you. That future understands that there is a reward for our work. If God said our work would not be in vain, then the work is not only for His glory (which He deserves) but also for an outcome we should desire.
Suppose you want to put Paul’s encouragement into a spiritual category, good! Everything we do is spiritual. My every choice and action reflect what I believe about God. Therefore, my stubbornness to an integrated, successful life across my family, career, and Kingdom calling is needed.
When Paul says be immovable, imagine a 200-ton elephant grazing. There is no chance that thing is moving. So, pound your fist on the table and dig in!
Here’s our New Resolution – we aren’t giving up on God’s call on our lives. Today, we refuse to let something get in the way of the disciplines and routines for success. We will joyfully march forward ready to change, measuring success, with a plan, realistic in our need for focus, eliminating that which would hold us back.
Want a tool to help you put this in place? Then, watch for this Thursday’s Insider Journal, where we’ll give you a ready-made tool you probably have on a nearby bookshelf.
Until next time – what are you expecting, and what are you willing to tolerate? Reset your resolutions and expect in God who rewards richly!
