Month: January 2021

We can all find ourselves stressed out about something.  I find it is often the most minor, insignificant things which cause me the most stress.  I am on guard for the big problems.  They come and they go.  It is the everyday stressors that seems to get me.  They are eating away without us even noticing.  At the end of the day, they are the things we cannot believe we let get to us.  They cause us to lose our peace and they nibble away at our joy.  

Why do we let this happen?  We don’t do it on purpose.  We don’t seek out issues (at least most of us don’t). We don’t want to have things which stress us out.  We try and eliminate those things – and then find more.  I think a major issue is we lose focus.  What are we doing this all for?  Why are we working so hard?  Why are we spending our moments doing the things which can cause us this stress?  What is it that drives us?  We must have a base, a foundation for which all things are built.  We need a reason why we started.  We need to find out where it all starts and keep focusing on that – whatever ‘that’ is for you and me.  

Today’s focus scripture is a treasured one for me.  I hold this one close.  It speaks to the life I want to live.  It directs my paths, when I pay attention.  I want to make life about so much more – but the prophet Micah, with a directive from God, brings it back.  He reminds me of the base.  He reminds me of the foundation.  He directs me back to the place of why I should be doing what I am doing.  He helps me to see where it all starts – and it does all start somewhere.  To do justice, to love kindness, and to walk humbly with God – those directives seem so simple.  They flow together so well.  But they are so difficult to keep as the focus.  So many things are vying for our attention.  Our stressors are calling us away from this path.  We are being directed in so many different ways.  But where does it all start?  To do justice, to love kindness, and to walk humbly with God – seems like a great place to start.  Maybe we start here – today.  

Focus Scripture:

Micah 6:8

He has told you, O mortal, what is good; and what does the Lord require of you but to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God?

Photos included in Devotions are captured by David Cain – The Cain Gallery.  Photos are available for sale by contacting The Cain Gallery

New Year’s resolutions generally are worthless.  We make unrealistic goals of some far off dream without any accountability nor a solid plan.  In a few short days, maybe even weeks, we give up because living the way we always have is just easier.  It took many decisions and long weeks and months (and often years) to get us to where we are and we want to fix it all at New Years.  We set ourselves up for failure and then wonder why we don’t make progress.  We think this year is going to be different but we haven’t actually put anything in place to make this year different. 

And yet, I love New Year’s resolutions.  I enjoy new starts and new opportunities.  For some people, January is the only month they actually eat with any sense – so there’s that.  I enjoy putting away the old and striving towards the new.  It does actually take planning.  It takes a significant amount of work.  It won’t happen in January and will likely take the whole year – or more.  If someone is determined and puts the right plans in place, things can really happen.  

One of the biggest barriers to change is the phrase “But I”.  We say it so much we don’t even realize what we are saying.  I would eat healthier but I…. I would exercise more but I… I would start practicing paying attention to all of creation but I… We continue those sentences with more excuses than we even thought possible.  We have failed before, so why try.  We have started it and it didn’t work (probably because we didn’t try).  We started that but we got busy.  

I get it…change is hard.  It is real hard.  And it is so much easier to stay as we always have than to change.  It is easier to continue down the path we are on, even if it is self-destructive.  It takes real courage and strength to even take the first step towards change.  

What we do not need to do is to set a long list of goals.  Pick one.  Pick something that matters to you.  Find something you can put energy and passion around.  Do that.  Work on that.  Start setting up a plan, find accountability along the way, and celebrate the victories.  You will only be where you are now, or worse, if you simply live in the “But I” camp.  Maybe it is time to move forward.  And maybe today really is the perfect day to do it.

Happy New Year’s Day!  Blessings to you!

My New Year’s Benediction (and one I treasure all year long) is from the book of Numbers:

The Lord bless you and keep you;
the Lord make his face to shine upon you, and be gracious to you;
the Lord lift up his countenance upon you, and give you peace.

Photos included in Devotions are captured by David Cain – The Cain Gallery.  Photos are available for sale by contacting The Cain Gallery