A challenge for the New Year
Do you make New Year’s Resolutions? I won’t ask you how many of those are successful. Statistics show that most are not.
I used to believe that the New Year was a good time to start a new good habit, or to stop a bad one. After all, what better time to set some positive goals to help us be healthier, happier, nicer, etc. (the list could go on and on) than during a new beginning–a New Year?
But, when we start that new work-out routine or vow to be forever patient with our children or spouse–what happens? Life often gets in the way. The same circumstances that kept us from making healthy eating choices, setting aside a time for exercise, or creating more quality time with family still get in the way of our goal. The stress of everyday life often throws a monkey wrench into our best laid plans.
What to do?
What if we take a different perspective? What if we ask ourselves…
How can I make a change in myself that will make this world a better place for others? What can I do differently that will bring goodness, joy, and hope to my family and my community?
This different perspective is in the way we view the change we want to make.
Instead of thinking, “What can I change that will make a difference in my life?”
We can ask, “What can I do differently that will make this world better for others (from within my household, to my community, and farther)?”
As we know, a small stone tossed into a body of water starts a ripple effect that extends far beyond the first plop of the stone.
I began to try this different perspective several years ago. It’s similar to what some others have advocated when they select a word that’s going to be a focus for the upcoming year. For example, I selected the attribute of kindness (from the Fruit of the Spirit) to implement in my strategy to make a difference in my home, church, community, and job.
But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. Against such things there is no law. Galatians 5:22
If I implemented the attribute of kindness in every aspect of my life, how could I make a difference in the lives of others?
I wasn’t perfect, but I continued to strive and I could see the difference in how my attitude impacted others. By working (and it is hard work) to implement kindness into everything that I do, my attitude toward myself and others changed. With God’s help, I became a better person and Jesus led me to reflect His Light of kindness into my interactions with others in every aspect of my life.
A new thing!
Our God will enable us to do a new thing, to select an action or an aspect of our personality to change that will make our own little world a better place, starting a ripple effect that will spread.
See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it? I am making a way in the wilderness and streams in the wasteland. Isaiah 43:19
With God’s help, we can do the hard thing. We can make a change in ourselves that will make a difference for others.
Isn’t that what Jesus calls us to do?
Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here! 2 Corinthians 5:17
When we accept Jesus as our Savior, we are a new person in Him. But it doesn’t stop at that moment–our salvation is the beginning, but the change in us continues. When Jesus enters our heart, we are forever changed and Jesus continues to mold and shape us into His child–a child that reflects the goodness of our Lord.
This past week, my friend J.D. Wininger shared a beautiful message about JOY on his blog. If you haven’t had the opportunity to read his inspiring post, you can do so here. His words led me to reflect on the concept of joy–please take a look at his blog–I’m sure it will inspire you, too!
Joy is one of the Fruits of the Spirit that is gifted to us as a child of God, along with: love, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. (Galatians 5:22)
What will happen if we all exemplify these qualities in our interactions with others? What if we select one to concentrate on at home, in our community, our workplace, and our church? Will the ripple effect spread as we share the love of Jesus through our actions?
The sun has set on 2020.
But…we will be gifted with a sunrise and a new day–every day–in 2021. What will we choose to do with that gift? How can we use the attributes God has given us to improve the lives of others and make our home, community, and world a more loving place?
Will you accept the challenge to select a Fruit by which you will share the love of our Savior with others?
If so, please let me know how I can pray for you.
Oh, Amen! Why is it that some of us will do something for others easier than we’ll do for ourselves? I love this change in mindset when it comes to resolutions Ms. Katherine. Let us resolve to change those things about us that will have the most impact on others. In other words; let us change so we can better help others see God at work in our lives! I love this ma’am! Thank you so much.
Thank you, J.D. I agree that we are often more willing to make a change for others and push our needs to the side (of course sometimes it’s just the opposite). My mother was a wonderful example of sacrificial love and I watched how she denied herself to help others. When I was a child, I resented that trait because, in many cases, it also meant that we did without something in order to put others first. But, now I recognize she was living the life that Jesus teaches us. I learned much from my mother and other wonderful role models and I’m trying to do better about putting the needs of others first. If ever our world needs a giving spirit, it is now. Thank you, my friend, for the love you share with your neighbors and community every day, whether in-person, on social media, and through your writing.
Wonderful new, Christ-centered way to approach 2021! Thanks, Katherine.
Thank you, Mary. I pray that we can all share that Christ-centered life and love with our neighbors. And, as you pointed out in one of your Refresh articles, that will be an “infection” that we all want to catch and share because it’s a good one. Wishing you and your family many blessings in the New Year.
What a great switch of perspective! Instead of focusing on making me better this year, I could focus on blessing others. And, oh, that will have the wonderful side benefit of helping me look a little bit more like Jesus by 2022. You’ve motivated me to make this a goal for 2021! There’s even a common theme with the blog I posted on my own site a few minutes ago. Maybe God’s trying to tell me something :-).
Thank you for your encouraging response, Barb. We have such an opportunity to bless others in 2021 because the needs are so great. I agree with you–that’s how we will look and be more like Jesus in our daily lives. Our Lord gave us such wonderful examples of how to reach out to those that are grieving, hurting, and in need. I pray that we can all work to make a difference in our own “small” corner of the world and that love and caring will spread and be the “good” kind of infection. Let’s share love, joy, and kindness instead of strife, conflict, and disease. Wishing you a blessed 2021, my friend.
I love this! By working to make others better, we better ourselves. By taking the focus off of ourself and putting it on blessing others, we, in turn, are blessed. Thank you for this wonderful post.
You are right, Candyce! When we serve others, it not only benefits them, but makes us a much better person. Thank you for adding that pearl of wisdom. Wishing you and your family a safe, healthy, happy, and blessed 2021.
Wise words. Asking God to change us instead of trying to reform ourselves. Very good!
Kindness is a trait not seen much in our society anymore. God gives us His kindness, how much more should we share that with others. Great thoughts, Katherine!
What an interesting reminder to think of others first. It’s true, most of the resolutions we make are with an inward look rather than outward. Thanks!
It’s hard not to think inward, but Jesus is our best example of sacrificial love. He gave all, but when we put others first, the Light of Jesus shines through us in our giving. Wishing you many blessings in 2021, my friend, both for your family and your ministry.
I like the idea of focusing on a fruit of the Spirit for 2021. For me, I’m realizing that I can’t exhibit any of that fruit on my own, because it is from the Holy Spirit. I am trying to soak in Scriptures on who God wants me to be and trust His Word to change me from the inside out. Then the fruit will flourish.
Joanna, you are absolutely right. We cannot develop Fruit of Spirit or share with others without guidance and help from our Lord. Thanks so much for emphasizing that vital aspect. Wishing you (and all of us) much blessing from God as we strive to live by His Fruit.
What a wonderful idea–to choose an attribute from the fruit of the Spirit! Now, which one does God want me to choose and to remember that it’s only in His strength that I can even begin to put it into practice! Thank you for this suggestion, Katherine!
Thank you for your encouragement, Kathy, and for sharing in our Bible Study tonight. Our fellowship brought us together as we shared our love for Jesus and our hope in our mission of spreading His “good news” with others. I pray, that with our Lord’s help, we can grow in our Fruit and share that love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control in all aspects of our lives. With His guidance we can grow in Fruit and help others along our and their life journeys.