What about this new year?

New Year. New start.
New direction.
New resolve. New ideas.
New hope.

What will the new year hold for you? There is a temptation to think that the new year holds any more promise than the old one. I’m not talking about hope or forgiveness or a fresh start. I’m talking about your investment in what will happen in this new year. While it may be a “new” year, it is, in reality, a continuation of the life that God has given us, and for which He expects us to be good stewards.

I was looking at an ebook on some of John Maxwell’s inspirational and motivational quotes. At the very start Maxwell lists “Seven Steps to Success.” I’ve added some of my thoughts here on his steps for success.

Make a commitment to grow daily.
To me, that means to read, to listen, to explore, to seek God’s direction through prayer and Bible study. Daily.

Value the process more than events.
What are you learning from those things that happen, both good and bad? Realize that the Christian journey is just that, a journey. Like a family vacation, you may stop along the way and enjoy the view. Or you may stop to change a flat tire. But it is the destination that is your goal.

Don’t wait for inspiration.
There is an old saying. “Necessity is the mother of invention.” Often our creativity and inspiration comes out of our own need in the daily activities of life. Be observant, and use these observations to spur you on to accomplish the Lord’s will for you.

Be willing to sacrifice pleasure for opportunity.
It may be like the boy who would have rather been playing outside with his friends instead of practicing the guitar…who became an effective worship leader. The sacrifice for the moment meant joy and opportunity later on.

Dream big.
The quote is attributed to several leaders and thinkers, all the way back to Niccolò Machiavelli in the early 1500’s. “Make no small plans for they have no power to stir the soul.”

Plan your priorities.
This one gets me frequently. The urgent is the enemy of the important. Set your priorities early in the day, each day, and you will more often accomplish the things that are important. Yes, some interruptions are divine encounters. But many are just interruptions. Pray for God to order you day. Then do your part.

Give up to go up.
I find it hard to let go of something that has seemed successful to move on to something that we aren’t sure about. But like they say, “A ship in harbor is safe, but that is not what ships are built for.”

May the New Year be filled with the hope and the promise our Savior has for us who follow Him and call him Lord.