Welcome back to Porch, your go-to weekend companion. Discover a fresh perspective. Energize your mind. Scoop up some spiritual sustenance. Get unstuck. Share your story.
Friends, buckle up. Ready or not, 2022 has arrived.
What could be healthier and holier than approaching the year ahead with a clean slate. A no regrets lifestyle. A courageous choice to rid ourselves of all those woulda-coulda-shouda's that act like quicksand, pulling us down and leaving us feeling like failures.
If ever we needed to be purposeful, it'd be right about now.
Instead of barreling headfirst into whatever's out there, how 'bout we take time to sift through the last 12 months. Fully understand the victories, the disasters, the accomplishments, the pain. Celebrate who God is and the provisions that have come from His hand. Name our fears and failures and sorrows. Confess our attitude problems and sins. Forgive and ask for forgiveness. Appreciate the gifts and opportunities He's given us. Acknowledge daily provisions and graces. Come to some measure of peace about what we've lived through.
In the process, we:
1. Aim to release our accumulated why questions.
2. Ask God what He's inviting us to.
3. Listen to the still small Voice for clear direction.
4. Claim the fresh calling, verses, OneWord, goals, resolutions, song He's whispering to us.
5. Chose to move ahead with a clear head and an open heart.
A few resources to help you discern your own unique focus:
Jean harvests her journal.
Maree takes a spiritual inventory.
I've got a ministry evaluation and 25 topics to pick and choose from.
If your load is complex and heavy, a counselor, support group or workbook just might be the ticket. Click here to get an idea of what's available to you. No one says you have to line all your ducks in a row by the first week of January. If you need a season to move further toward healing, please give that grace and space to yourself.
So don’t be anxious about tomorrow.
God will take care of your tomorrow too.
Live one day at a time.
- Matthew 6:34 -
God will take care of your tomorrow too.
Live one day at a time.
- Matthew 6:34 -
One day at a time.
It's become my mantra. The breath I breathe. The song I sing. The promise I've claimed. I've said it a million times in the last three years and am continuing to learn how to live it out in this disruptive, disturbing season.
Loosening my grip on every loved one. Every question. Every opinion. Every agenda.
Embracing Jesus' words in Matthew 6 has freed me up and lightened my load. It's kept me from thinking I've got all the answers. Looking too far ahead. Entertaining every worst case scenario and giving it free rein to endlessly play on repeat in my head.
One day at a time has freed me from anxiety's death-grip. It's giving me a right perspective. It's equipping me to reach out.
So that's my focus for 2022. Again.
This is the first day of the rest of your life
'Cause even in the dark, you can still see the light
It's gonna be alright, it's gonna be alright
Sing it here!
'Cause even in the dark, you can still see the light
It's gonna be alright, it's gonna be alright
Sing it here!
One Day at a Time,
Linda
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Good 2022 to you Linda! You give some very helpful advice here. I like the idea of loosening my grip and (for me) focusing on what really matters. I don't make resolutions (I break them pretty quickly). I don't get so hard and fast in starting something that will eventually stop because of time or life getting in the way. But I do want to loosen my grip on things and people and allow God to have His way with them instead of me pushing them a certain way with "this is what God wants for you." I pray your 2022 will be a year of surprises from God that will bolster your faith and bring you to Him in a deeper way. Oh...that is my prayer for me as well.
ReplyDeleteHey Bill- you've said it all right here -->'I do want to loosen my grip on things and people and allow God to have His way with them instead of me pushing them a certain way with "this is what God wants for you."'
DeleteUh ... yes, for myself as well, for sure. I'm continuing to learn that I'm not the Holy Spirit and that He does a splendid job in directing and convicting the hearts of others! Maybe even more so as I get out of the way.
I'm aiming to listen more ... it's amazing how often people discover their next right step when they tell their stories to someone with an empathetic ear and the right questions.
Bless you as you lead your flock into yet another unknown year, friend. No 1-2-3 guarantees anymore in this sad craziness except for God alone. And that's the way it should be.
Happy New Year, Linda and thanks for the link today. Yes I harvested my journal yesterday and today spending some quiet time in my journal praying, dreaming and listening to God's invitations for the coming year. You have written the PERFECT blog post to start the new year!!
ReplyDeleteJean, so many of us have no idea what to do with our journals once we're done with them. Your concept of harvesting is simply spot on and allows our musings and observations to be redeemed as we move ahead.
DeleteThanks for the nudge, too, not to race through the process but to sit still to pray, dream, and listen. We're all in such a hurry ... to go where?!
You bless us by your continued ministry and I am so appreciative.
“One day at a time.” Amen to every word, my friend. I’ve got a long way to go, but this mindset has helped me so much these last few years. Wish it hadn’t taken so long to take root, but I suppose that’s even more incentive to leave the Holy Spirit’s work up to the Holy Spirit in the lives of my loved ones. His timing is always best, isn’t it, even when it doesn’t fit with my impatient need to know how it’s all going to turn out. :-)
ReplyDeleteI don't know if it's our human nature or our culture or what, but this one day at a time mandate from Jesus is a hard task. We want so badly to figure things out, to control outcomes ... like He somehow can't orchestrate the future without us.
DeleteMaybe it takes exactly what we've been experiencing the last few years to wake us up to the truth that He already knows the rest of the story. And allow Him to guide us one day at a time.
It takes the pressure off us and gives us freedom and rest. It was all so exhausting anyway, wasn't it ...
Happy new year, friend! So glad we're entering it together. Again.
Always a wealth of encouragement, wisdom, and quality resources and recommendations. Thank you, Linda. Happy New Year....one day at a time.
ReplyDeleteDebby, hugs and thanks for the kind words.
DeleteAnd a happy new year to you, friend. Can't wait to see what God does in the months ahead! Keep me posted, ok ...
Happy New Year, Linda. This is a beautiful start. Thank you. This especially grabs my heart - "Loosening my grip on every loved one. Every question. Every opinion. Every agenda." Yes! I've been trying to more intentionally loosen my tight grip on my "need to fix" things and leave them in God's hands. Love and hugs to you!
ReplyDeleteIt IS intentional, isn't it, Trudy. Somehow I guess I thought it'd just come naturally.
DeleteNOT!
Here's to a beautiful start into the next season of the unknown, with God leading the way and protecting our souls in the process.
Linda, this is a great start for 2022. I always look forward to your encouraging and inspiring posts, my friend. Wishing you a Healthy and Happy New Year!
ReplyDeleteThe same to you, friend ...
DeleteI don't make New Year's resolutions, Linda, but the journaling has certainly been on my mind and heart. I love how we can look back at the end of the year and recap, rethink, see where we could have done better spiritually and in truly loving others.
ReplyDeleteI think it's going to be a new and marvelous time of reflection. Right now, though, that start will have to be delayed. I've been somewhat under the weather since Christmas day, and certainly don't have the energy to embark on something new. All will be well in time, and I do so appreciate your prayers for healing.
Happy New Year!
I'm sorry you're not feeling like yourself, friend. Me, too. It's not the way we had hoped to enter this new year, is it. I'm praying right now that each day we'll feel stronger and more like ourselves. And that in the process of healing, we'll experience His gentle kindness in abundance.
DeleteHappy New Year, Linda (and Tim}. Harvesting my journal is a splendid idea but most of the other suggestions overwhelm me. I have never been good at inventories (the strong proponent of 12-steps says). I have trouble pulling answers from memory but everyone does inventories their way and most of my codependent literature speaks volumes about the sins that so easily entangle.
ReplyDeleteBut living one day at a time leaves me with no regrets cause it lowers unreal expectations….
Happy New Year, friend. I'm missing you these days. There's something about the holidays that brings past celebrations to mind.
DeleteAnyway, I actually agree with you about one day at a time. Looking back, I think you've modeled this for me along the way. Isn't it wonderful to lower those unreal expectations and take the pressure off ourselves to be somewhere we aren't meant to go? 2 Corinthians 5:9 has become so meaningful in recent years - 'we make it our goal to please Him.'
I love that.
xo
Those 5 steps - wonderful and helpful Gail
ReplyDeleteOh, I'm glad you've found it helpful, Gail!
DeleteHappy New Year! I agree, it's so helpful at this time of year to take some time to reflect and seek God for the way ahead. And I definitely need to learn to be better at taking one day at a time!
ReplyDeleteMaybe the good thing about the pandemic re-emerging is that we're connecting with God at a deeper level to try to discern what He's inviting us to in this endless season.
DeleteEspecially if we thought we had it all figured out.
Happy New Year sweet, sweet Linda. Your posts are truly a breath of heaven's words most often to me. One day at a time Sweet Jesus comes to me as I read your words of wisdom. Oh that I may enjoy each day no matter what with my Savior. Hugs and blessings, Cindy
ReplyDelete'One day at a time Sweet Jesus'
DeleteI'd forgotten that song! I'm off to listen to it again ...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JhUvFqOY00I
Thanks, Cindy!
Hi again Linda - Happy New Year! I’m not sure my earlier comment this morning went through, and I didn’t want to kiss a chance to thank you for this post. I especially identify with the idea that I need to be purposeful. Your expression was exactly what I’ve been feeling but struggling to express. So thank you. I trust that I will be guided.
ReplyDeleteYou're right, Barbara, so often we know what we're thinking but we can't find the exact words. Purposeful is a good word for many of us, especially when we feel kind of aimless or powerless. The endless pandemic easily does that to us. God gives us that purpose He created us for back when we ask for it and then sit and listen to His still small voice.
DeleteI'm so grateful.
Thanks for your shout-out for our One Word group. I'm looking forward to hearing everyone else's words again this year.
ReplyDeleteLove this (and need this!): "No one says you've have all your ducks in a row by the first week of January. If you need a season to move further toward healing, please give that grace and space to yourself." Yes. Thanks for your grace, Linda.
This is definitely not the season that lends itself to lined up ducks, is it, friend ...
DeleteAll will be well.
I think all this is very good advice for the New Year and every day. Thank you Linda. Oddly enough, and coincidentally, I was writing about worries and concerns only today in my latest book.
ReplyDeleteI agree about not worrying about tomorrow. Tomorrow has already happened in Australia, so we should be OK. They always get there first and if it's OK over there it will be OK when tomorrow arrives for us too.
I always take one day at a time. I tried one week at a time and couldn't handle it. My ducks were never in a row. Especially considering the price of ducks in the supermarket. I like ducks ... especially duck a l'orange! How do they say duck a l'orange in French? I wish I was good at languages.
Anyway, good post to start the year with. Wishing you well now and beyond.
God bless always.
I like ducks, too, Victor. Did you know my family used to eat duck sandwiches when we were kids? Really.
DeleteNow, I'd prefer mine a l'orange.
The last twelve months were glorious,
ReplyDeleteand well you may ask how;
though cancer's not victorious,
they cannot help me now,
for only that which lies ahead
within next hour's scope
can be my manna, daily bread,
and so indeed I cope
by placing past upon the shelf
to gather archive-dust,
and I look not to myself
but to the God I trust
to change the rules and paradigm
to those that suit this place and time.
And this is exactly why you are now our Poet-in-Residence, friend.
DeleteLinda, your words brought light to a dark and painful day.
DeleteThank you so much.
'no man is an island'
DeleteHappy New Year, Linda. This is just what I needed to read today...as my province enters into another lockdown...
ReplyDeleteThanks for celebrating my blogiversary with me. Good luck on the giveaway!
I hope you're keeping healthy, friend. We have been self-quarantining and have lost count of how many people we know who are dealing with covid.
DeleteYear three, here we come.
;-{
Along with "one day at a time" I also try to embrace God's commendation to Mary: "She did what she could" (Mark 14:8). No one can do it all--that's a myth. But with prayer and discernment from God we can accomplish what he desires for us (Psalm 139:16). And the outcome will be fulfilled purpose, satisfaction, and contentment. May that be my course, Father, for 2022!
ReplyDeleteOh I love this, Nancy! There's such freedom and peace that comes with knowing we've done what we can. No hand-wringing, no regrets, and no burn out, either. And thanks for the reminder that we don't come up with this on our own, but only by the discernment God gives us as we continually connect with Him.
DeleteBless you!
Linda, this was so encouraging. "One day at a time." That is all we can do, along with loosening our grip on loved ones, questions, opinions, and agendas. Only our God holds all things in His hands and for this I find myself most grateful at this time.
ReplyDeleteI've found that loosening my grip was hard but necessary if I was going to stay healthy and sane ... and not make family members run the other way whenever they saw me coming!
DeleteAnd yes, I'm with you, so grateful that God's got all this. Thank You, Lord.
Oh, yes, one day at a time! That also keeps us open to what God wants us to do, instead of working in our own agendas. I'm a list gal who likes her check marks, so need a lot of work in letting go of my undone's that may not have been God's list for me. Happy New Year, Linda, and I look forward to reading about your journey with Him this 2022 and beyond!
ReplyDeleteI love a good list, too, Lynn! White board, memo pad, little spiral notebook. Can't live without them. I'm old school, for sure!
DeleteThis business of letting go...
ReplyDeleteLoving without expectations, hands-off concern for their welfare. I am on a vertical learning curve!
This is hard stuff, friend. My girls are in their early 40s and it's only in very recent years that I've eased off throwing in my 2 cents every other minute.
DeleteI'm confident that you'll do better than I've done!
God never said that the journey would be easy, but He did say that the arrival would be worthwhile. Happy New Year friend. Blessings.
ReplyDeleteVisiting today from Imparting Grace #12&15
Yes and amen! Let's keep our eyes on our eternal heavenly destination!
Delete