Happy New Year 2022
This is the year of new beginnings! We cannot undo the past, but we can decide to change how we do things now. If we continue in the old ways, we will surely get the same results over and over again. It is like being on a Ferris wheel and the only ones who can get off the ongoing cycle is ourselves. With our determination and God’s help we can make a change.
I took someone to the hospital the other day, and as I looked around the waiting room many thoughts went through my mind - reminders of what I had been through last year. So, before you focus on resolutions for this year, please take a moment to recognize all that God brought you through in 2021 and thank Him.
Maybe last year you got up on a day you didn’t feel like it, practiced patience, wrestled through anxiety, refused to let fear win, grew stronger, reached out to a friend, chose not to close down your heart forever, put one foot in front of the other, held on to hope, laughed out loud, loved so much it hurt, tried to understand someone different than you, whispered a prayer, became more of who you are and not who everyone else told you to be, embraced imperfection, let the dishes sit in the sink, turned up the music, sang in your kitchen, learned something new, read a book, stayed curious, felt confused, ugly cried, savored dessert, hugged someone hard, didn’t give up.
Oftentimes, we overlook the seemingly small things and look for the big things. But it is the small things in our lives that build the foundation for the bigger things. Being grateful even in the small things can and will help develop a positive attitude as we move into 2022. For example, when I fixed my husband’s breakfast the other morning and he told me how much he enjoyed it, my response was, “Thank God we are here to eat together.”
I can think of no better way to begin a new year than to spend less time doing and more time being with Jesus, so I want to encourage you to try something. At the end of each day this week, be still. Take two or three minutes and quiet your thoughts, your body, your phone, your television, and anything else that makes noise. Then sit with your heart fixed on Jesus. “Be still and know that I am God.” (Psalm 46:10 KJV)
You were never designed to carry heavy loads of stress, anxiety, uncertainties about tomorrow because tomorrow will take care of itself.
“Casting the whole of your care [all your anxieties, all your worries, all your concerns, once and for all] on Him, for He cares for you affectionately and cares about you watchfully. Ps 55:22 (NIV)
“Cast your cares on the Lord and he will sustain you; he will never let the righteous fall.” (1 Peter 5:7 AMP)
I took someone to the hospital the other day, and as I looked around the waiting room many thoughts went through my mind - reminders of what I had been through last year. So, before you focus on resolutions for this year, please take a moment to recognize all that God brought you through in 2021 and thank Him.
Maybe last year you got up on a day you didn’t feel like it, practiced patience, wrestled through anxiety, refused to let fear win, grew stronger, reached out to a friend, chose not to close down your heart forever, put one foot in front of the other, held on to hope, laughed out loud, loved so much it hurt, tried to understand someone different than you, whispered a prayer, became more of who you are and not who everyone else told you to be, embraced imperfection, let the dishes sit in the sink, turned up the music, sang in your kitchen, learned something new, read a book, stayed curious, felt confused, ugly cried, savored dessert, hugged someone hard, didn’t give up.
Oftentimes, we overlook the seemingly small things and look for the big things. But it is the small things in our lives that build the foundation for the bigger things. Being grateful even in the small things can and will help develop a positive attitude as we move into 2022. For example, when I fixed my husband’s breakfast the other morning and he told me how much he enjoyed it, my response was, “Thank God we are here to eat together.”
I can think of no better way to begin a new year than to spend less time doing and more time being with Jesus, so I want to encourage you to try something. At the end of each day this week, be still. Take two or three minutes and quiet your thoughts, your body, your phone, your television, and anything else that makes noise. Then sit with your heart fixed on Jesus. “Be still and know that I am God.” (Psalm 46:10 KJV)
You were never designed to carry heavy loads of stress, anxiety, uncertainties about tomorrow because tomorrow will take care of itself.
“Casting the whole of your care [all your anxieties, all your worries, all your concerns, once and for all] on Him, for He cares for you affectionately and cares about you watchfully. Ps 55:22 (NIV)
“Cast your cares on the Lord and he will sustain you; he will never let the righteous fall.” (1 Peter 5:7 AMP)