As 2022 begins, what do you anticipate? Perhaps you anticipate a better year than the previous year or two. Yet maybe the present challenges make us hesitate to anticipate anything better.
Regardless, it is an opportunity to begin again. It is a great moment to revisit our purpose and passion for living. It is a time to be intentional about daily habits and practices.
I hope 2022 is a significant year for you, filled with God’s abiding presence, and guided by his purpose. May we live for his pleasure.
The List of Five
A Great Reminder for Anyone Who Might be Tired
Promise me you’ll always remember: you’re braver than you believe, stronger than you seem, and smarter than you think.
Winnie-the-Pooh
You are braver — than you believe (“So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God.” Isaiah 41:10)
You are stronger — than you seem (“I will strengthen you and help you;” Isaiah 41:10)
You are smarter — than you think (“I am the Lord your God, who teaches you what is best for you, who directs you in the way you should go. If only you had paid attention to my commands, your peace would have been like a river, your well-being like the waves of the sea.” Isaiah 48:17-18)
Do you need to be brave? God will give you courage. Do you need to be strong? God will give you strength. Do you need wisdom and understanding? God will help you.
If you are like me and so many others, you may feel tired as you begin this New Year. After all, this has been a tough few years for many, many people. Some may feel like giving up.
What's the use in being married? This is just too hard.
What’s the use in holding on to these moral standards? No one else seems to care.
What’s the use in staying in this ministry role? These people are more concerned about their opinions than what Jesus says.
“What’s the use” you might say.
Yet, I encourage you to start this New Year with this good news:
YOU are brave! God, through his Spirit, dwells in you and enables you to hold on and even thrive.
YOU are strong! You may be worn out. Yet, God will give you strength beyond your own human strength. You can rely on God who will strengthen you.
YOU are smart! Yet, God will give you wisdom that goes way beyond your intellect.
Begin the year believing that you were created in the very image of God. By the grace of God and in the power of his Spirit, you can navigate life even when it is hard. After all, your ability to persevere through life is not up to you.
God is with you. It doesn’t matter if you have excellent health or if you are dealing with a critical health issue. God is with you. Whether your problems seem minimal or massive, he is with you (Daniel 3:16-18).
New Year resolutions and goals may be helpful. What is essential, however, is that you and I stake our existence on the presence and activity of the Lord God in our lives. Do this you are off to a good beginning for this New Year.
What Are You Absolutely Committed To?
In the Harry Potter series, there is a scene where Rubeus Hagrid accompanies Harry Potter to the train station. Harry Potter wants to take a train to Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardy. Rubeus Hagrid hands Harry Potter his train ticket and says, “Here’s your ticket. Stick to it, Harry, that’s very important. Stick to your ticket.”
Harry looked at his ticket. It said that his train was leaving from platform 9 and 3/4. He could have assumed this was an error. He could have assumed the ticket meant platform 9. Instead, he chose to stick to his ticket. He and another family find platform 9 and 3/4 and he boards the train for Hogwarts.
He did what he was told. “Stick to your ticket.”
As 2022 begins, perhaps we need to be reminded to stick to our ticket. As we begin this New Year, we affirm again that Jesus is Lord. Others may choose a path that puts their own desires and wants first. We, however, are called to trust and follow the ways of Jesus. Consequently, we need to stick to our ticket!
2020-2021 were pandemic years. What now? We stick to our ticket! Regardless of what we might encounter in 2022, our primary allegiance is to the Lord Jesus.
Perhaps, it would be helpful to reflect on these four questions as we reflect on 2021 (credit to Sharon Hodde Miller). The words in brackets are my own responses to these questions:
What did you learn about yourself this year? (I learned that my daily self-care is essential for living an intentional life.)
What was the primary source of your anxiety this year? (My primary source of anxiety was in focusing too much on what I cannot control in the future.)
What old rhythms from before the pandemic have you slipped back into? (At times, I once again read too much negative news.)
How has God been faithful to you? (God has provided the energy I have needed to navigate through this season.)
What are your responses to these four questions?
Whether you are a business person, a minister, a school teacher or simply a mom or dad trying to rear your children, let us stick to the ticket.
Some of the Most Valuable Thinking You Might Do
Michael Hyatt suggests that there are three dimensions of our lives. There is “you as an individual, your relationships with others, and your "doing.” I find this helpful as I consider my own life.
Myself as an individual
What is the status of my physical health? Do I need to attend to some aspect of my health that I have been neglecting?
Am I getting enough exercise and sleep? What about my eating habits?
Am I practicing good spiritual and emotional self-care?
My Relationships
If married, what adjustments do I need to make with my attitude, my behavior, and my priorities?
What might I do intentionally to bless my children or my grandchildren this year?
Is there a friend with whom I want to re-connect with? Where would be a good place to begin?
My “Doing”
Frederick Buechner has said, “Vocation is the place where our deep gladness meets the world's deep need.”
Are there aspects of my work in which I would like to grow and develop?
As I think about my service to others in our church or community, is there some kind of equipping or training I need in order to serve in a particular area?
What if I considered volunteering to serve my community in some way? Could this in some way allow me to grow and stretch beyond my usual work?
Hopefully, this is helpful. Right now, I am thinking about these three areas in my own life. For me, pondering these three areas often reveal a few gaps that need attention in the New Year.
Start Here: Get Clear About Your Identity
Early in our marriage, we lived in North Alabama. Our children were born in North Alabama. I look back at these years and remember so many good experiences.
Part of the culture in the state of Alabama is the intense rivalry of the two large universities, The University of Alabama and Auburn University. To describe this rivalry as “very intense” feels like an understatement. This rivalry goes on year around, culminated by the “Iron Bowl,” when the rivals play football each November.
We had moved from Abilene, Texas to Florence, Alabama where I served a church for almost eight years. Shortly after our move, a man in the congregation approached me one Sunday morning and said abruptly, “So who you for?” It was sort of like “once and for all, I have to know which side you are on!”
I answered, “Listen, we just moved here. I’m not for anybody!” Of course that was not a sufficient answer. The guy went on to say, “Well you are going to have to be for somebody!” Basically he wanted to know, “Are you one of us, or are you one of them?”
At the beginning of this New Year, it is important to remember who we are. The clear words of Mary in Luke 1:38 might be helpful. Mary said to the angel who appeared to her: “I am the Lord’s servant.” She then said, “May your word to me be fulfilled.”
At that point in her life, Mary was in a very stressful and intense situation. Yet, she declares her identity as the Lord’s servant. This identity determines who she is and what she does with her life. Clearly she has chosen who she is for!
Perhaps we could begin the New Year by simply affirming who we are. “I am the Lord’s servant.” This identity gives perspective to any other identities we might have.
We are first servants of the Lord.
Only then can we talk about national, political, regional, or any other identities. When other identities come first, we may find ourselves focused more on “Who are you for?” than what pleases Jesus as Lord.
As Christian people, all other identities are to find their place in our primary identity as Christ-followers. So we can say with Mary, “I am the Lord’s servant.”
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Resources
I read several biographies recently including The Chancellor, a biography of Angela Merkel, by Katie Marton. Also read, Cokie: A Life Well Lived, a biography of Cokie Roberts written by her husband Steven V. Roberts.
See Austin Klenon’s interview with David Epstein, author of Range. I read the summary which included Kleon’s interesting preparation notes.
During Christmas, we had some amazing cheese from Trader Joe’s (brought by our daughter Jamie from OKC). See Fomage Pave. Oh my goodness!
Listening to H. Hunt, Playing Piano For Dad. This is also on Spotify. (Thanks to Austin Kleon). Also don’t miss Kleon’s “How to Make a Map of Your Mind.” I find this very interesting.
You might enjoy the podcast featuring my friend Josh Kingcade (Edmond, Oklahoma). “Reading the Bible Responsibly.” Brief. Thoughtful. Practical. For some help regarding habits and practices, you might enjoy listening to this recent podcast. Excellent.
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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