New Year – New You

​The busyness of December can get quite overwhelming, which is why I love the New Year!  A time to reflect on hopes for the upcoming year and a refreshed desire to execute a plan for improvement.  This is also the noted time of year for healthy eating and exercising plans.  However, I encourage you to dive a little deeper this year while not focusing on just the physical, mental or emotional part of your being, but to give more attention to your spiritual self.  When that area is in balance we have confidence to tackle everything else.  God is truly the help to your helpless. Psalm 121:1-2 clearly states, “Where does my help come from?  My help comes from the Lord, the Maker of heaven and earth.”

I like to reference still moments of devotion as “Jesus & Me” time.  If you are looking to make a real lifestyle change – this is where the rubber meets the road.  Remember, it doesn’t have to be fancy – a simple devotion for the day, a chapter in a book, or even a Bible study guide, and for you Moms out there with little ones, “potty prayers” are encouraged (that is usually the only two minutes of the day you get to yourself, and even that is a stretch some days).   The key to any habit is to keep on, and keep on, and keep on, even when you don’t feel like it.  Using the aforementioned suggestions are a great avenue to start forming the habit of spending time with Jesus daily.

One area where I am a huge advocate is journaling (please hear me out, I felt the same way in the beginning).  The fruit of writing doesn’t come right away, but oh the joy of looking back to see how God’s hand has been with you  – it is like no other.  My dear mentor told me for years to journal. I kept thinking, I can’t even read the chapter for Bible Study homework, so how in the world am I going to write in a journal too?   However, what I realized is I didn’t need to journal like her – I needed to journal like me!  It doesn’t have to be daily, but once a week is a great start to some divine reflection.

Here are some great journaling questions to prompt some words on a page.

1. What have you come to know about God, His purposes, or His ways this week?
2. What do you sense God wants you to do in response to Him?

​I am praying 2016 brings many blessings ​as your start your year with “Jesus & Me” time!