No Pain, No Gain

As January comes to a close this week, some of the goals, resolutions, and changes we put in place as the New Year began are in progress. Others are in a state of hit or miss and some we have already abandoned. When we set out to change our routines, we usually have high hopes. Then, we miss a few beats and find ourselves struggling to hold on.

Years ago, jogging became a part of my life and after a while, those "runs" became an important part of my quiet time. Somewhere along the way, running a marathon became a goal. That meant a lot of one hour runs. That meant getting up at 4:45am and jogging six days a week.

So,whether working in Minneapolis (where it's cold if you are from Florida) or here, the alarm would go off, I would roll out of bed, have coffee, suit up and go; return home or to the hotel- sweating, yet clearly awake and begin the next segment of the day reading Psalms for my cool down. I don't remember how long it took before the routine overtook the thought "what are we doing?" when the alarm went off, but most people agree it takes 21 consecutive days to establish a new routine.

Change happens when we so clearly identify with the purpose or goal that we are willing to disrupt and redirect our routines. The goal was to run not just a marathon, but the NYC Marathon- and it was time driven and very visualizable. And with God's help, that dream happened, on the first Sunday in November, 1987. I have struggled this month with putting some routines in place, so this week I'm shaking off the failures and asking God to redeem those routines for His glory... and I'll be praying that for all of us.

...But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.   from Philippians 3:12

Leaning In To God's Leading

In a conversation recently, we were talking about how when New Year's falls on Friday, by the time we go back to work, it feels like we're behind. Sure enough, as this year began, the sense of being behind tried to creep up on me, bringing it's friend, discouragement.

Thankfully, just two days before the year ended, a friend had invited me to do some strategic planning (complete with a calendar) and so, I have visual proof of progress to throw in the face of discouragement.

Standing in front of that calendar, it dawned on me that our invisible God also provides proof to throw in the face of discouragement. Visible proof in His Word, in the incarnate Christ, and through the work of His Spirit. Additionally, as we make time to be still in His Presence, we can shore up our proof- leaning in to God's leading- by inviting Him to speak to us.

It does require giving God our undivided attention and being disciplined about it. Let's pray that for each other this week- that God would lead us to be more disciplined about giving God our undivided attention, the He might deploy us to the purposes He ordained for us before the world began.

That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked at and our hands have touched—this we proclaim concerning the Word of life. The life appeared; we have seen it and testify to it, and we proclaim to you the eternal life, which was with the Father and has appeared to us. We proclaim to you what we have seen and heard, so that you also may have fellowship with us. And our fellowship is with the Father and with his Son, Jesus Christ.     1 John 1-3 

For we are God's handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.      Ephesians 2:10

One Resolution That Makes ALL Others Possible

New Year. New Start. New Resolutions.

How many Resolutions are too many? How many will last more than the first week?

Many of us are list makers and yet we get carried away as the New Year starts and then we have the let down that comes from not making a resolution happen. The most notorious of these is "losing those 20 pounds".

As Leaders, we are often in a position to call the priorities for those whose work with us, especially those we lead. Isn't that what a resolution really is- a change in priority? Repositioning something to a new place of attention and focus?

When I'm called into an organization to turn around a team or a business process, the first thing we do it set the priorities and establish key measurements. We set no more than three priorities and then we focus on the one that drives the others.

All of our New Years Resolutions are driven by just one: Our resolve to seek God first, then God will meet us at the point of all the other resolutions. Inviting God in is the one game changer.

Join me in this challenge to seek God first, inviting Him to have His way and buckle up for this New Year.

But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness,

and allthese things will be given to you as well.  Matthew 6:33 NIV (italics added)

and here in The Message:

Steep yourlife in God- reality, God- initiative, God- provisions.

Don't worry about missing out.