It's the 1st of January...
I love new beginnings. The beginning of a new year for me always brings a new sense of hope and a fresh promise. My past year contained both successes and failures (as I imagine is true for most of us) but my hope is that for every year that passes I learn a little bit more, and become better equipped for the next leg of the journey.
I haven't made any New Year's resolutions as such, but one of my main prayers as I go into 2013 is that I will have the wisdom, discernment and desire to focus on the things that are important. That I will understand God's priorities for my life better and that the way I spend my time will reflect this. I know that for me this will mean saying no to certain things, taking on new challenges that will take me out of my comfort zone, and also taking more time to rest and look after myself.
I have been reading and thinking about the passage on Love in 1 Cor 13.
" If I speak in the tongues of men or of angels, but do not have love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal.
If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but do not have love, I am nothing.
If I give all I possess to the poor and give over my body to hardship that I may boast, but do not have love, I gain nothing.
Love is patient, love is kind.
It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud.
It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs.
Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth.
It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.
Love never fails. "
I love new beginnings. The beginning of a new year for me always brings a new sense of hope and a fresh promise. My past year contained both successes and failures (as I imagine is true for most of us) but my hope is that for every year that passes I learn a little bit more, and become better equipped for the next leg of the journey.
I haven't made any New Year's resolutions as such, but one of my main prayers as I go into 2013 is that I will have the wisdom, discernment and desire to focus on the things that are important. That I will understand God's priorities for my life better and that the way I spend my time will reflect this. I know that for me this will mean saying no to certain things, taking on new challenges that will take me out of my comfort zone, and also taking more time to rest and look after myself.
I have been reading and thinking about the passage on Love in 1 Cor 13.
" If I speak in the tongues of men or of angels, but do not have love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal.
If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but do not have love, I am nothing.
If I give all I possess to the poor and give over my body to hardship that I may boast, but do not have love, I gain nothing.
Love is patient, love is kind.
It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud.
It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs.
Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth.
It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.
Love never fails. "
As I think of the year ahead these words seem incredibly relevant. For a dreamer like me it's easy to pursue and imagine all sorts of great things that I would like to see happen this year. And that's fine... those dreams keep me going and keep my heart alive. But the fact still is that most days of 2013 will be of a more mundane nature: Work. Making money. Looking after my family and my marriage. Working out relationships on a daily basis. Doing the stuff that needs to be done.
I want to try to make the verses above my guiding motto this year. None of the other 'grand' stuff really matters unless this kind of love is real and evident in my day to day life. This is the kind of character that God wants to develop in me, as the basis for everything that I do. It's not about a soft wishy-washy sentimental love. It is about a love that is strong and confident enough to make a choice to put others first, to choose to let go of hurt feelings, to choose to see the good in people, to choose not to get angry but to show kindness. A love that speaks up against evil and for the truth.
