I have several planners filled with lists and goals that go back over the years that never were attained or completed. I usually pick a word and Bible verse that means something that I want to be my theme for the year, too. It feels good to have those things in the front of my planner as a fresh start on the blank canvas of a new year.
But, you know what happens?
I get busy and then that list is forgotten, the goals go to the back burner in the day-to-day chaos that is my life and the word that was supposed to be the focus of my new year is blurred by laundry, my ever-growing to-do list and life…life in general.
Goals don’t mean anything if they aren’t achieved. They are literally just words on a piece of paper that look great as motivation for self.
Words don’t mean anything if they aren’t intentional. They are literally letters pressed together on a piece of paper that look great as motivation for self.
It just feels good.
I feel like the last few years, it has been about motivating self to accomplish or achieve something that is attainable, but only if the plans are actually executed. Writing things I want to do or focus on and not actually doing them is wasteful. I don’t like being wasteful…except for when it comes to slathering on expensive wrinkle cream or buying excessive amounts of black leggings.
As I sat in church this morning taking notes from the sermon that was in Joshua 3, I was overwhelmed with emotion at verse 5. I don’t want to take it out of the context of what was happening to the Israelites in that moment, but it spoke to my heart this morning in a fresh and exciting way that made lists and words for a new year seem obsolete.
“Consecrate yourself for tomorrow the Lord will do amazing things among you.” Joshua 3:5
Whoo-wee.
Before this, the people had refused to take hold of God’s promise…the land that God said He would give to them. All they had to do was walk into it. But, because they refused this promise that God gave them, they never entered the promise land. This new generation is standing there and Joshua tells them to separate themselves, cleanse themselves, examine and sanctify themselves because God is going to something amazing! In later verses (7), the Lord tells Joshua that He will exalt him in the eyes of all Israel, so that they may know that He is with him as He was with Moses. We know that God parted the Jordan River so they could walk across into dry land. Then, at the beginning of Chapter 5 we see that the Amorite kings were fearful and no longer had the courage to face the Israelites, due to them choosing to follow God’s plan and purpose. Don’t you just love the power of God?
I know what you are thinking…
What does this have to do with my new year…my goals…my focus for 2023?
I don’t know what it means for you, because that is between you and The Father, but for me those words spoke clearly to my heart…
Consecration and Devotion.
It isn’t about what I can do in 2023. It’s about what HE CAN DO through me.
I can’t expect God to do great things when I am unable to leave where I am at and move closer to Him. I must pursue His goals and His will for my life…not those that are motivation for self. That’s just wasteful. In past years, those goals were great, but they weren’t accomplished because I refused to take hold of the promises He had already given me. The promises were blurred by my priorities, problems and PLANNING. Nothing was intentional.
It was simply to make myself feel good.
The Lord is going to do amazing things in 2023.
I’m not going to plan…I am just going to pursue Him intentionally and watch Him part waters and put fear in those that want to destroy His plans for my life.
Now, that just feels good.
