A Great Year
I don’t know why the new year needs to be set up to create anxiousness. It’s interesting how after what is supposed to be a nice season of re-centering with family, gratitude, and generosity we move straight into the pressures of goals for the new year. We need to “do better”, secure a corner office, lose 10 pounds and learn Portuguese. Let alone all the pressure around the unknown: Where is the economy going? What’s happening on the world stage? etc. It’s no wonder that many of us walk around wide-eyed and feeling somewhat hollow. Can I suggest some ancient wisdom that might actually be really relevant today in order to help us through this season even when it’s SO cold? It comes from the Apostle Paul: “Always be full of joy in the Lord. I say it again—rejoice! …Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done. Then you will experience God’s peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus. And now, dear brothers and sisters, one final thing. Fix your thoughts on what is true, and honorable, and right, and pure, and lovely, and admirable. Think about things that are excellent and worthy of praise.” ( from Philippians 4)
Three simple practices to push back the worry, anxiousness and the pressure life seems to throw our way: Rejoice, Replace, Reclaim.
Rejoice is what Paul starts off with. What are you grateful for? What has brought you joy during this season? When was the last time you said thank you to God or others?
Replace is the practice from verse 6. This more about surrendering. Life happens, stuff happens that is out of our control and rather than spending more time worrying (captured in the old English phrase, “a dog worries a bone,”) chewing, gnawing, over and over again, why don’t we go ahead and give it to someone who can actually do something about it? God is up all night anyway so you don’t have to be. Surrender it, replace worry with prayer.
Verse 8 help us with the final practice, Reclaim. Reclaim our thoughts. This isn’t a repeat of gratitude, this is now focusing on one thing right and what could be. This about taking control of our thoughts. I’ve heard one person compare our thoughts to an air traffic controller, some planes need to keep circling, some even get diverted to another airport if need be. Not all thoughts need to land, you can send them on. Keep only what is excellent, lovely, admirable… So how about we start the year off exercising these practices instead of all the other things crowding your life and mind.
Till next time, Dave
If you have questions or would like to go deeper into conversation, please feel free to contact Pastor Dave
Also small business owners of the area don’t forget to join us for lunch Feb 26th at the Hub.
by Pastor Dave Zimmerman
www.braggcreekchurch.ca
