The question I’ve struggled with this week: To make or not to make new years resolutions. Some years I have set them and some years I have rebelled with the excuse of everyone making them just to have them broken in a month. They are the reason why I avoid the gym in the month of January and tune out all the promotions being advertised. I do agree resolutions are a great thing to have and what better time to start than a new calendar year. However, I believe major changes can only happen when you are ready and prepared to fight for it not at an obligatory time. Life should be about balance and needs to be adjusted from time to time not just restarting while trying to change your muscle memory of writing the date.
This New Year was brought in by my V-squad fam with many laughs, games, memories, sparkling juice and a make-shift ball that did not cooperate, oops. It was celebrated 5 hours earlier than the New York ball drop on the African coast. I brought in the new year with a bucket shower and instant coffee yet completely filled with joy because of God’s great love shining all around me. I can smile because of all the memories I made last year, all the change and growth that came. Looking ahead to 2018, I can be excited for all the growth continuing and all the more change that will happen. The first half of this year will be filled with more adventures, more challenges and more growth than I can imagine. Is a resolution necessary for me?
I decided to just continue to focus on my specific goals I set for each month. Balancing and adjusting my goals each month based on my circumstances and struggles, at the given time, will create an overall better me and more personal growth. So here’s to January! My goals are to work on my intimacy with the Lord and being in tune with the Holy Spirit through tweaking my quiet time to be more intentional. It’s figuring out how to lead my team in vulnerability and encouragement with their specific gifts and abilities. It’s gaining freedom from the controlling thoughts that consume my mind. It’s learning how to be a humble servant…maybe I’ll cut down on my coffee intake or set some exercise goals as well…oh dear, I got my work cut out for me.
I am encouraging everyone in their resolutions and praying for achievement and perseverance through all of them. I am also challenging you to think how your resolutions can become incorporated into your lifestyle. As you may have noticed I only mentioned my first half of this year above…I have no idea what the second half holds or where God will take me. No, I am not worried or stressed about it as I am finding complete peace in when God is ready to share His plans He will. I am praying for guidance and dreams…whole other topic that I hope to write about in the near future.
Fun Fact: The people here in Ghana speak English! Many have native languages as well and to them we have some thick accents so we have to speak slower but a nice change of pace getting communication back 🙂
Sorry no pics, my couple minutes of wifi is not strong enough to upload pics ;'(
