Taking Stock

The end of the year is quickly coming upon us. We have many end of year activities and holidays. It is really easy in the hustle and bustle to let the new year sneak up on you so that you have a limited opportunity to review, reflect, and evaluate this year and then plan ahead for the next year.

What have you gotten done in 2019?

What do you want to see done in 2020?

Have you accomplished your goals? What have you learned in the process?

What do you need to push on towards in life and what do you need to give up?

This was a banner year for me, I had two health issues. One that put me in the hospital and another that has caused me to make major lifestyle changes. Learning to deal with stress means taking stock of your life, your priorities, and your abilities.

One of the major things that I have had to learn this year is having enough margin in life. I cannot cram something into every moment of the day. I have to have time to think, to read, to pray, to do nothing. This year has reinforced the idea of the Sabbath day and our need to rest. I see the need to take stock of my life to understand that all my children will be out of the house in seven years. What can I do not that I will not be able to do in seven years. What opportunities are before me as a husband, son, father, and as a man? We have to stop and take stock of our lives.

Lamentations teach us that we need to examine our life:
“Let us test and examine our ways and return to the LORD!”- Lamentations 3:40

Paul teaches us to examine our particularly our faith:
“Examine yourselves, to see whether you are in the faith. Test yourselves. Or do you not realize this about yourselves, that Jesus Christ is in you?—unless indeed you fail to meet the test!” - 2 Corinthians 13:5 (ESV)

The end of the year is a great time to think about what has gone before you and what is to come. We need to examine our life in all areas. We need to consider those things the Lord has called you to do in life: your calling as a spouse, a parent,   a child, a church member, also in your vocation. In all areas of your life, you should try and examine to evaluate and plan.

This is especially true in the area of faith. This is what he tells the Corinthians they must do is examine and test themselves to see if they are in the faith. One of the great doctrines of the Christian life is that of assurance. However, assurance does not mean we do not test. It is the testing that gives us assurance. The Christian life is not like a mutual fund. We do not make an investment and leave it alone. The Christian life requires dedication and work. It cannot be ignored.

Do you have Spiritual goals? Do you have a plan for reading the Bible? How have you organized your prayer life? How are you seeking to share your faith with the lost around you? One of my favorite sayings is, “If you aim at nothing, you will hit it!”

What have you done this year to grow as a disciple of Christ?

What are you planning to do in 2020?

Has your Christian life turned over to autopilot?

What are you going to do to stop going through the motions?

Is there a sin that continues to plague your life?

What is your plan to deal with that sin?

Who are you going to enlist to help you to defeat this sin in your life?

Who has the Lord put on your heart?

What concrete steps are you going to take to tell them about Jesus?

A new year is coming quickly upon us, now is the time that we need to evaluate the old year and prepare for the new year.