Something about the first week of the year makes me feel like I’m starting a race, lined up ready for the gun to sound. This week I flipped over my calendar to 2014 and suddenly deadlines loom closer. Email messages are flowing in reminding me of promises that I made. It’s time to begin working on the goals listed on the paper before me. It can be overwhelming.
On your mark…
Where is our starting point for the New Year? It’s a good time to take inventory. What were my achievements in the past year? What are my goals for this one? If we are rooted and grounded before we start, the race will go better. We wouldn’t get far in the race if we didn’t know where we were headed.
However, I consider my life worth nothing to me, if only I may finish the race and complete the task the Lord Jesus has given me–the task of testifying to the gospel of God’s grace. Acts 20:24
Get set…
Take a breath. Focus on one thing at a time. Life is lived one moment at a time. Writing requires perseverance, one word, one paragraph, one page, one chapter at a time. A slow persistence. Persevere. God provides our daily bread – just enough for today.
Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one gets the prize? Run in such a way as to get the prize. 1 Corinthians 9:24
Go…
Okay. Time to begin. The route is marked out ahead. Let’s run it. The New Year has already begun. Let’s live it well!
I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. 2 Timothy 4:7
Happy New Year,
Betsy and Laurie
Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us.
Hebrews 12:1
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As always I am inspired by your posts. Today’s seem very appropriate and, in my mind, ties in with the sermon in church today which centered around ‘the broken road’. As in, “God bless the broken road that lead me straight to you”. All our roads and all our races are not straight, clear and without obstacles. We can only reach that finish line with Him! Here’s to a blessed and amazing 2014.
Thanks Kerry,
I love your thoughts about the broken road. There was a time in life when I expected the way to be straight and clear. All we can do is trust Him and keep in the race. Those broken roads all lead to Him too.
Wow. You know I’ve started this year with new energy and ready to take the bull by the horn (okay I’m not going to Spain to run with the bulls, but you know what I mean). Thanks for your continued support. I consider you two a gift I could only have found by letting myself go.
Somehow I can’t see you running with the bulls! The new year does bring us new energy and a sense that we can do anything. It is in the persevering that I struggle! Thanks for sharing your thoughts.
Good advice on taking inventory and setting goals at the beginning of a new year. I also like your choice of photos to illustrate and Bible passages to support the advice.
Thanks, Bob!
Overwhelmed–a perfect description of how 2014 started for me. But I’m hoping to get my act together soon. Thanks for your encouraging word and this timely reminder for me, “God provides our daily bread – just enough for today.”
I love that too. The idea of God providing just what we need brings a sense of peace to my day. The first of the year can be overwhelming!