“I can do all things through him who strengthens me.”
(Philippians 4:13) Between travel, weddings, birthdays, celebrations, and – hopefully – at least a bit of worship, the end of December to the beginning of January leaves little time for reflection. And yet, this period demands just that. On Christmas, we rejoice the birth of our Savior, Jesus Christ. At family gatherings, we are bombarded with questions of past, present, and future. Come New Year, we’re then to have resolutions neatly laid out for the entire year. But, no pressure…right? Perhaps pressure really doesn’t have to accompany the holiday season. Instead, we can conceive of ways to be renewed and even ready for the New Year during this inter-holiday week. In years past, I’ve fallen victim to the trap of New Year’s resolutions. If you’re part of the 8% of people who keep their resolutions, you could teach me something because I am part of the 92% who don’t. This year, however, I have a new course of action. Rather than commit to a year long resolution, why not divide the year into 90-day sprints? We don’t set ourselves up for operational failure, so why should we set ourselves up for personal failure? Focusing on a 90-day target enables constant recalibration and allows us to critically asses our goals. We can ask of our goals: What end are we chasing – a worldly impermanence or everlasting life? Is Christ our cornerstone or are we self-reliant? Are we honoring God’s vision or drafting our own? Do take time to reflect and plan during this holiday interlude as we decompress from Christmas and anticipate the fresh start of New Year. But, as 2018 draws nearer, don’t let the holiday pressure paralyze you from making the desired changes in your life. Maintain the joy of Christmas in your heart, relish in the miracle of our continued redemption in Christ, and consider how you can carry the promise of deliverance that God gave each of us into the New Year in 90-day sprints. |