You and I made it! 2021 is here. After a year like 2020, turning this page on the calendar is nothing to take for granted. In this first issue of the “Encouragement Notes,” I hope you find something thoughtful and encouraging for this New Year.
The List of Five
What Do You Expect in 2021?
For those of us who missed attending funerals and weddings, experienced sickness, or lost a job, we might especially be greatly relieved that 2020 is finally over. We would like to think that 2021 will be much better. Yet, maybe it is possible to have expectations about 2021 which are unrealistic and just not that helpful.
Pessimism - “Good grief! Another crummy year with these stupid masks and this crazy virus.”
Optimism - “It’s all good.”
Yet, it is possible to have better expectations about the New Year
Realism with Hope - “Life may be challenging and hard. However, God is at work in us and all around us!”
He continues to hold us in the palm of his hand, even in the darkest of days. He gives us resilience now, and hope into the future far beyond what the eye can see. This is a call to live by faith in God. This life of faith may be hard and may even include suffering. However, God is faithful to his promises and calls us to depend on him.
Of course, so much of what might happen in 2021 is out of our control. However, we can begin the New Year with the following commitments:
You and I can seek first the kingdom of heaven. This, in many ways, will bring clarity to our year.
You and I can consider what kind of person we would like to be 24 - 36 months from now. What kind of person do I wish to become?
You and I can align at least some of our time each day around actions that will help us become the kind of person we desire to be. We can have daily habits and activities that are in line with becoming such a person.
Where might you begin with this?
Choose Habits that Will Undergird Your Life When You are Stressed
What habits will be a part of your life in 2021? These habits can bring value to our lives over time. A year like 2020 really heightened the importance of such habits for my self-care and resilience. Some of my own habits include the following:
Each morning, I read my Bible and pray. I highlight phrases, words, etc. that have great meaning to me in the moment. My prayer is typically for my day at work and always includes my children and grandchildren.
I write in my journal three mornings out of five. I no longer pay attention to writing coherent paragraphs. I am much more concerned with writing down my problems, the situations bringing me stress and even anxiety.
Five mornings a week, I exercise on our elliptical machine at home, as well as workout with weights, stretching, etc. This is so important for me in dealing with stress. It also positively impacts my outlook on life and my energy level.
Each morning, I pay attention to my mood. Am I up or down? Am I leaving for work feeling anxious or am I excited about the day? I find it very helpful to simply be aware of what is happening inside me.
Each morning, I also try to be conscious of how I am feeling and where I might be experiencing any anxiety. I address this to God in prayer but I also want to be aware of how I am about to function as I begin my day. It is important to me to live out of my thinking and faith, instead of my anxiety. (See the excellent questions in this fine article by Kathleen Smith)
About three days a week, I read a book that in some way nourishes me. In addition, I listen to various podcasts and read articles that in some way help me bring more value to others.
There are other habits that I could mention. However, the ones mentioned are particularly important to me.
Don’t Self-Limiting Beliefs Define Your Year
At the beginning of a new year, I consciously reflect on my life including the previous year and the upcoming year. I find it helpful to consider my self-limiting beliefs. After all, what you and I believe about life, ourselves, and our possibilities impact how we will function in 2021.
Self-limiting beliefs are what we often carry into our families, our work, etc. These self-limiting beliefs are false but we bring them along like baggage that always seems to be with us. They may come from our own self-perception or they might originate in the words of others. They may even be false beliefs that we have learned from our family of origin or the culture. These self-limiting beliefs are lies that imprison many of us. Do any of the following sound familiar?
I can’t learn.
I’m not very smart.
I’m too old. There was a time when I was productive and was fully alive. No more.
I’m too young. One day, I will experience real life but right now I’m too young.
I would be living a significant life if I had more money. Since I don’t have much money, I can’t really do anything significant.
I am not a significant minister. I have never spoken at a national gathering. No one “important” is even aware of my ministry. After all, I serve a small church in an out of the way place.
So many of us bring this baggage into our adult lives, discounting who we are, and the value we bring to others.
The truth is that our identity is found in Christ, not in self-limiting beliefs we have carried into our lives as adults. Because of our identity in him, we are capable of far more than we might imagine. Because of this identity, we can know that we are deeply loved by the Father.
What You and I Model Matters
I love these words by James Clear:
Modeling a behavior is stronger than telling someone to act differently.
Kids imitate the habits of their parents. Teammates match the competitive energy of one another. Employees learn to manage like their supervisor.
Be the standard and others will raise their standards.
(James Clear 3-2-1 Thursday, December 24)
As I read these words, I think about the importance of living an authentic, godly life and ministry. Years ago, when I was a minister in Waco, Tx., I asked an older, former minister, “What can I do to get the congregation to pray more?” At first, his reply startled me. He said, “Stop trying to do something to them. Just be a person of prayer and see what happens.”
He wasn’t telling me that there was nothing I could do to help them become a people of prayer. Rather, he wanted me to know that the place to begin was in authentically modeling such prayer in my own life.
Eight of My Favorite Podcasts
Managing Leadership Anxiety - Steve Cuss This is an excellent podcast. Typically, various Christian leaders are interviewed. Very helpful for any person attempting to deal with chronic anxiety both in oneself and in an organization.
Undeceptions - John Dickson Dickson is an Australian scholar who advocates for Christianity in a skeptical world. This podcast is well done! Dickson always makes me think.
Akimbo - Seth Godin. Seth Godin is a thinker who I find refreshing. Godin is unpredictable, practical, and very atune to the culture.
The Carey Nieuwhof Leadership Podcast - Cary Nieuwhof. I don’t listen to this every week. However, I am aware of the guest or the subject matter each week. Some very helpful conversations.
How I Work - Amantha Imber. She is an organizational psychologist who gives many practical suggestions for navigating work today. I find her to be very helpful.
Signposts - Russell Moore. Moore is a theologian whose thoughtful commentary on issues within the culture have helped me think. One example of this is his recent excellent conversation with Dr. Francis Collins, Director of the National Institute of Health.
Before Breakfast - Laura Vanderkam. These podcasts both deal with how a person might work. Each podcast is relatively short but offers helpful practical tips. I regularly take away something helpful.
Espresso and Earl Grey - Sam Chan and Sam Wen. Both are self described as “Two Asian Australians.” Dr. Sam Chan is a medical doctor and also has earned a Ph.D in theology. Sam Wen works at a local independent bookstore. I have found these 20 minute conversations to be helpful and stimulating.
This is just a sample. I have not included sermon podcasts, a number of ministry podcasts, and a few more general interest podcasts. Of course, if you know of podcasts that you recommend as “musts” please let me know.
Each Thursday/Friday, I post about ten tweets especially for ministers and other believers as they anticipate Sunday. You can find me @jimmartin.
I serve as Vice President of Harding School of Theology, Memphis, Tennessee. You can find me at God-Hungry.org. You can find me on Facebook - @jim.martin. My e-mail address is: jmartin9669@gmail.com. Feel free to write. I would love to hear what is encouraging or helpful. — Jim Martin
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