Each new year I begin the same way. I sit in my favorite comfy chair with a clean sheet of paper and a good sturdy ink pen and write Goals for(whatever the current new year)at the top of the page. I then proceed to make a list of things I hope to accomplish in the upcoming year. I think goals are good, however, this year I made the mistake of reading through not just last years goals, but the year before as well. They looked eerily similar. Some things had been accomplished–but most had not. There were several items that appeared on both of these lists (and I’m guessing for many years prior)–still undone. Why is that? And what prompts me to keep thinking it will be different this time–because the year has changed that miraculously somehow I have too?
The experts tell me that to be successful–I need to be specific. To write down the goal and then how I plan to achieve it. That sounds great, but what they have forgotten is that specifics don’t account for the “feel like” index. Some days I just don’t feel like doing the thing and taking the steps to improve my life. My mind wants to, but I’m in a battle against my will and my flesh–and so often the flesh wins.
The first sermon I had the privilege of hearing for this year spoke on this–at least to my ears. The pastor’s (Dr. Joe Stowell)whole sermon was on Psalm 46, but he focused a lot on vs. 10. It says “Be still and know that I am God”. I–like many of you–have heard this verse dozens of times throughout my life. But, today, I heard it in a new way. (Don’t you just love that about the Bible? You can read the same things over and over and then Wham! God gives you a fresh lesson)
He reminded us that throughout our lives we will always encounter problems–there will be small annoyances as well as well as big catastrophes. For me these problems can often cause me to derail from my good intentions and not feel like making the better choice that will help me achieve my goals and making positive changes in my life.
In the midst of these troubles–we need to remember who God is (and what He is capable of). Dr. Stowell gave five practical ways to “be still” in the midst of whatever comes along.
1. Turn your face to the Lord. When problems come, I seem to always self sabotage. I get whirled around in a moment of chaos and it knocks me off track. I attempt to calm myself by slipping into my old patterns and ways. It always seem more comforting because it’s familiar. It’s a habit. But, by turning to God–He shows me a different way–one I hadn’t thought of before.
2. Reject unrighteous options. The old ways will always make me feel guilty, ashamed and like a failure. Why do I keep going back to them? Choosing a different way sometimes feels unnatural, but it always leaves me feeling like I made a better choice.
3. Recite what God has done. God has helped me break many bad habits and overcome sin throughout my life. He did it before. He will do it again.
4. Read God’s Word. The Bible has something to say on every topic known to man. There is nothing new under the sun (Ecc. 1:9) and there is nothing I am experiencing that God has not given me a way out of (1 Cor. 10:13)
5. Obey what it says. In the great words of Nike ads-“Just Do It”
For me this message went deep into the psyche of what is keeping me in the same viscous cycle of set goal, try my best, fail, and repeat. The “I don’t feel like it” in the moment of opposition is a battle I can’t face on my own. It’s going to require super natural help and that’s just what these steps do. By following steps 1, 2, 3, and 4 God does an amazing transformation in me. He changes my perspective and that changes my feelings. I no longer want to rebel and petulantly say “I don’t feel like it”. I WANT to follow step 5 and obey and He gives me the strength to resist the pull of my flesh so that I CAN.
I won’t lie–it’s not easy. But, hoping in God will never return to me as a disappointment. He is absolutely incapable of failing. So, either I will achieve victory and overcome the thing or He will change my mind about even needing to. Either way it’s a win and it will prayerfully never end up on my beginning of the year goals again.