Jan '22
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Scripture
Hebrews 6:1-12
Therefore let us move beyond the elementary teachings about Christ and be taken forward to maturity, not laying again the foundation of repentance from acts that lead to death, and of faith in God, instruction about cleansing rites, the laying on of hands, the resurrection of the dead, and eternal judgment. And God permitting, we will do so.
It is impossible for those who have once been enlightened, who have tasted the heavenly gift, who have shared in the Holy Spirit, who have tasted the goodness of the word of God and the powers of the coming age and who have fallen away, to be brought back to repentance. To their loss they are crucifying the Son of God all over again and subjecting him to public disgrace.
Land that drinks in the rain after falling on it and that produces a crop useful to those for whom it is farmed receives the blessing of God. But land that produces thorns and thistles is worthless and is in danger of being cursed. In the end it will be burned.
Even though we speak like this, dear friends, we are convinced of better things in your case - the things that have to do with salvation. God is not unjust; he will not forget your work and the love you have shown him as you have helped his people and continue to help them.
We want each of you to show this same diligence to the very end, so that what you hope for may be fully realized. We do not want you to become lazy, but to imitate those who through faith and patience inherit what has been promised.
Devotional
Making New Year’s Resolutions is an American and Eastern-World tradition that started in the early 19th century. This tradition is based on the concept that an individual should commit to actions that will lead to a happier and healthier life in the new year. In fact, the word resolution, according to the Webster dictionary, refers to the quality of being “admirably purposeful, determined, and unwavering”.
On the surface, the idea of setting resolutions for the next year of life seems like a noble idea; who doesn’t want to be healthier and happier? It’s likely because of our innate desire to be happy, that in 2020 27% of the American population made New Year’s Resolutions. However, when asked later in the year, only 8% of the original 27% had managed to keep them.
This might be the point where your lips have slowly curled into a smile as you remember the New Year’s Resolutions you’ve tried to make in the past. I remember even as a child, our teachers would encourage us to write out resolutions with action items we could take to make them happen. I must admit, I never actually made a resolution because of how many people I knew that had made one, and later felt like a failure, when they inevitably stopped trying.
You know what I’m talking about dont you? In the spirit of the season, you decide to cut out all sugar intake and start going to the gym. At first, you are motivated, striving towards that image of “healthy living”. As time goes on though, you start to get worn out. Going to the gym at 5 am no longer seems novel and at the end of a long week you desperately want a bowl of ice cream…and well…we all know how it ends.
Why then, if we all know that we are more than likely not “resolute” about our New Year’s Resolutions, do we still make them?
I would argue, because at the root of all our desires, we all just want to be happy. New Year’s Resolutions were built on the foundation of building a healthier, and happier life. It only makes sense that we would feel drawn to make a resolution to try and achieve a happier life; the same way we buy self-help books, listen to endless podcasts, and buy motivational home-decor. We live in a world that can sometimes feel overwhelmingly dark. It’s so easy to feel lost, like we’re missing out on something, or to become afraid of an unknown future. And so, if something is laid out in front of us, with the allure of creating a happier life, it’s too tempting to not grab hold.
The problem with New Year’s Resolutions is that they root having a healthier and happier life in the wrong place. Consider the historically five most common resolutions: exercising to get in shape, diet to lose weight, save/make more money, get healthier in general, and start an action of self care.
All of these resolutions have one thing in common: they’re rooted in this world.Now don’t get me wrong, I’d love to be more in shape, and to love salads more than pizza, as much as the next person. I’m even a huge advocate for self care because we can’t continue to care for others unless we learn to care for ourselves as well. The problem with these resolutions isn’t that they’re inherently evil, but rather, that they consider how we can make ourselves better and happier.
The New Year’s Resolutions we make each year are a screaming proclamation that we can care for ourselves, provide for ourselves, and make ourselves better and happier people. Well my friends, I hate to break it to you, but we can’t. Even set with the best of intentions, any action rooted in the ability of ourselves, is destined to fail.
My friends, we can’t do everything by ourselves. It would be foolish to believe that we are capable of achieving perfect peace and happiness by ourselves. But there is One that we can rely on to be our provider for a healthier, happier, and holier life.
This January, instead of setting intentions rooted in this world, let’s consider how we can readjust our sight on the Kingdom of Heaven.
Hebrews 10:24-25
And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds, not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another - and all the more as you see the Day approaching.
Near the start of advent, my husband and I decided to make the drive to go to church in person. Over a year ago we had made the move from Denver, CO to Estes Park, CO and, while God had blessed us greatly in our move, it had severed us from our church. Conveniently, COVID forced our church to create an online option that had allowed us to continue “attending” services online. While these online services were intended to be temporary for the health of the community, they had become a crutch for us to stay home rather than making the hour drive to church. Eventually, attending church online turned into sleeping through the alarms, and watching the service later in the day. And watching the service later in the day, turned into not watching it at all. And so, one random Sunday, knowing the drive would force us to wake up, we decided to go to church…and man friends, were we convicted.
We were both genuinely surprised and touched when we got to church and various pastors and people made the effort to come and tell us hello. It had been so long since we had seen anyone, that we barely remembered them, and yet, they remembered exactly who we were and the struggle that drove us to avoid in-person church in the first place. Touched, the service started and the conviction hit again. Wrapped into a beautiful message about Jesus bringing light into the world, was the phrase that got us both: “if you want to grow closer to God, you have to spend time with God’s people”.
When the service was over we turned to each other, and our mutual expression said it all. We had stayed financially and emotionally invested within our Church but had failed to invest our time. We called the church our home, but had failed to visit. We wanted to build God-fearing relationships, and yet were remaining isolated. That single sermon was all it took to remind us that God’s people are meant to spend time with God’s people. We couldn’t expect to grow in our faith, to feel closer to God, and to wisely follow his path, while choosing to do it on our own.
Matthew 18:20
For where two or three gather in my name, there am I with them.
I know that we have been living in a season of life where the noise of the world is screaming that we should be afraid. Afraid for our health, our future, our injustice. I know that for a long time, staying home from church was something we could do to keep those we love safe. I know that symptoms of life and chronic conditions can make going to church in person seem impossible.
I understand needing to set boundaries to preserve the precious little energy you have to give. But my friends, what if going to church is part of what gives you that energy back?
We can’t expect to grow closer to God, to grow in wisdom, kindness, and mercy if we avoid spending time with other people who are also walking towards Christ.
We will inherently take on the characteristics of those we choose to surround ourselves with. Are we going to choose to grow in our loneliness and accept the characteristics of whoever happens to be closest, or are we going to make the bold leap of faith to pursue spending time with God’s people?
1 Corinthians 15:58
Therefore, my dear brothers and sisters, stand firm. Let nothing move you. Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain.
If we want to jumpstart our faith, to become a resolute people of God, then we have to willingly sacrifice our worldly freedom for the freedom He offers. We have to learn to pursue the cross with everything we have, to go through the actions of a living faith, even when it all starts to feel mundane.
From the beginning, God told his people, through the Bible, how to spend time with him and grow in his likeness. We grow in our relationship with God by going to church, studying his word, spending time in prayer, communing with his people, and by following the example of His son. If you’ve been looking for a sign, this is it. Be brave, step out in faith, and start fighting past the excuses preventing you from pursuing the Gospel full heartedly.
This month, in lieu of reflection questions, we’ve chosen to create a list of practical applications for jumpstarting your faith. With each application, there is an accessibility tip to help you learn how the actions of the Gospel are accessible with health conditions.
My friends, choosing God is choosing life. Don’t become complacent, don’t stop the good fight, don’t give in to choosing the world over your eternal salvation. This New Year, choose to become resolute for the good news of the Gospel.
Application
Read Your Bible Daily
Accessibility Tip: Put your Bible by your bed and choose a book of the Bible to start with. Aim to read at least one verse before you go to bed each night. If you choose a book of the Bible, you eliminate the uncertainty of what you are supposed to be doing. By having your intention to be reading one verse, you ensure you read your Bible, while keeping it accessible to the energy and mental focus you have to give that day.
Go to Church
Accessibility Tip: Know what part of church is a symptom trigger for you and apply any resource that helps alleviate this. Some ideas might include: blue light glasses to help with light, earplugs if worship is too loud, a pillow to provide better back support, sitting or leaning against something during “standing” portions, knowing a room (bathroom, outdoors, nursery, etc) where you can take a stimulation break, or closing your eyes for a stimulation break as needed. If you struggle with staying focused during the sermon, bring a notebook and take notes. This will also provide a smaller and less cluttered visual field for you to look at.
Prayer
Accessibility Tip: Pray as often as you can, for as long as you can. One of the most frustrating things I experienced post-concussion was my inability to maintain prayer. It was a battle to even remember that I should pray, and as soon as I started, I’d completely forget what I was doing. Start small & pray often. If you are taking a shower and remember that you should pray, say a prayer for as long as you can. If your mind wanders off, and you forget you were praying, return to the prayer as soon as you remember. Set an intention to try praying before a meal, bedtime or before your day starts - even if this means saying a set prayer such as the Lord’s prayer. You can also try writing down your prayers in a journal to help you focus on what you are wanting to say and do. I promise that the more you practice this with grace, the easier it will get, and the more you will learn to pray again.
Join a Bible Study
Accessibility Tip: Consider joining a Bible Study that allows you to meet online if traveling is a barrier to spending time with God’s people. If you have a dear friend with similar symptoms, ask to do a Bible Study with them. By engaging in the Gospel with others who understand what you are going through, there is less pressure to “be okay” and to “show-up” in an expected way. Choose a time to do your Bible Study when you will have the most energy to give and will be able to rest afterwards if needed. If you are going to an in-person study, let your host know that you might leave early or ask if there is a room where you can rest if needed.
Honest Prayers & Conversations
Accessibility Tip: We all know the conversation: “how are you?” “I’m fine, how are you?”. Being generic because it’s easier than sharing the burden of our struggles, is not productive to our mental health and keeps the testimony of God hidden. Be vulnerable with those whom you feel safe doing so with. Be vulnerable with God. He already knows how you are feeling, so be brave, and share with God the ugly, painful truths. You can’t grow in your relationship with God or others, if you can’t be honest and vulnerable about where you are at. You can’t feel the warmth of God’s comforting embrace, if you aren’t willing to tell him that you are in pain. You can’t repair your relationship with God, if you aren’t willing to share where it broke in the first place. I know this is so hard, and let me tell you, I felt like a horrible Christian on the days where I screamed at God. But the fact is, I had to tell God that I was hurt, and angry with him, in order to be open to letting his Holy Spirit back in. If your relationship with God feels broken, you have to talk to Him, in order to repair it.
Write a Guest Devotional for Perennial
Accessibility Tip: Being a guest author on Perennial Devotionals can be as involved as you want it to be. At the minimum, you can write a devotional and we will create the supplemental content. At the maximum, you can write the devotional and be involved in the supplemental content. While this may seem scary, or like something you aren’t “qualified” to do, I highly suggest it - especially if you are wavering in your faith. On some level, God spurring me to start Perennial is what helped preserve my faith. It forced me to come to the Gospel and to lay my sorrow at the foot of the cross during the times where I felt too sad, tired, or alone to consider God’s hope and love.
Prayer
Lord,
We look forward to each new year with hope. We hope for a year that will be healthier, happier, and overall better than the one before. Each year, we hope that we have found the year, where we will have it all together. In our pursuit of being okay, or even happy, we tend to take our eyes off the cross to see what we can accomplish for ourselves.
Remind our weary hearts that we are not capable of doing this alone. We need your unfailing mercy, and the encouragement of your children, to walk the good walk.
We pray to be a resolute people for you Lord. That we will be unwavering in our pursuit of You and our desire to follow the example your son set.
As we enter into this New Year Father, I pray that myself, and my brothers and sisters in you, will choose to set our sight on your kingdom. Give us the courage and the desire to stop being complacent in our faith, and to seek out opportunities to learn and grow in your ways. May we build beautiful new relationships with your children.
Align the desires of our hearts, with the desires of yours Lord.
In your name we pray,
Amen
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