Happy New Year!!
It’s that time again, the Roaring 20’s—very special, only comes once every hundred years. During Christmas, an aunt asked me what I see myself doing this coming year? I told her I am not sure, I don’t have 2020 vision (there are going to be so many jokes about having perfect vision this year… I can’t wait to see them all).
The New Year is very exciting; it feels like we get a fresh start. We get to look at last year (or even the last decade) and see what we accomplished, what needs more work, and what we want to do.
One of the traditions I started three years ago is to pick a word and incorporate that word throughout the year. I even get a bracelet with the word carved in it, so I am constantly reminded of that word. My word last year was Discipline. I chose the word because I wanted to develop discipline in various areas of my life. I wanted to be disciplined and wake up early (to pray). I wanted to be discipline and read my Bible more. I wanted to be disciplined and go to the gym. I wanted to have discipline over my money, time, eating habits, etc. Looking at the last year, I have developed more discipline over these areas; it is not perfect but much better than 2018.
This year I really struggled in choosing my word, here were the candidates:
- Consistent – this word was to expand on my last word
- Philippians 4:6 – Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.
- Hope – I have a personal struggle and this word was to remind me of the hope that God provides.
- Faithfulness – Similar to the previous word but it is to remind me of God’s faithfulness.
- Wait – The word is to wait for God to show me the way as I go through my personal struggle.
As I was looking at my words, I realized that 4 out of 5 were all related to my personal struggle. While this struggle is something that I been dealing with for the last couple of years, and it does create a lot of anguish in my life; I didn’t want a bracelet to constantly remind me of it. So, there I was wordless, that is why I told my aunt I didn’t have a 2020 vision.
Then as I was reading the Bible (I was going through Revelation, which I don’t read too often), I read this verse:
Nevertheless, I have this against you, that you have left your first love. – Revelation 2: 4
The verse (and the entire chapter) is a little intimidating; after all, it is a warning from God to the church of Ephesus.
However, those two words that caught me: “First Love.” God is our first love; He loved us long before we were born or anyone knows we even existed.
You guided my conception and formed me in the womb. 11 You clothed me with skin and flesh, and you knit my bones and sinews together. 12 You gave me life and showed me your unfailing love. My life was preserved by your care. – Job 10:10-12
I didn’t need a reminder of my personal struggle; I just need a reminder of HIM. Those two words really called to me, and I knew my 2020 Vision: I need to make this year all about Jesus first. I need to look deep within the Word, Jesus, and who Jesus says I am. I need to be able to answers the following questions with confidence:
- Why did He choose to die?
- Why did I choose to follow Jesus?
- Why did He make a child of God and even a co-heir (Romans 8:16-17)?
- Why should I do everything in the name of Jesus?
- What does it mean to be a new creation in Christ (2 Corinthians 5:17)?
- Why should I give my trust to Jesus?
I challenge you to do to the same, start the new decade remembering your “First Love”.
Love,
Milo
PS: For those that are interested, I get my bracelet from https://www.myintent.org/
