— Five Minute Friday —

New Year’s Motto: Motivation

Motivation. We could all use some. It is preached to our children. We embrace the thought. Do we follow through?

My Five Minute Friday post comes from a New Year’s motto for all ages: Motivation.

I admit it, I did not make a New Year’s resolution. I wanted to but I always fall short and didn’t want to make an empty promise to myself knowing that there would be a point that I wouldn’t follow-through.

As I reflect back on last year,  I am motivated to make a thoughtful list of things I would like to accomplish if the Lord wills it. The items on the list are not made in vain or flippantly. These goals are also things that I have already been doing or need to do despite a mind to resolve. They are models of Kingdom living that I would like to set up for my children and others that I influence to reflect upon in their own lives.

1 Corinthians contains the key Bible verse that I would like to focus  my main motivational point:

15:58 ESV Therefore, my beloved brothers, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that in the Lord your labor is not in vain.

Our labors will not be in vain nor will our accomplishments be made for vanity if we remain Gospel and Kingdom minded.  We need to set tasks and talking-points according to the Lord’s will.

Our labors will not be in vain nor will our accomplishments be made for vanity if we remain Gospel and Kingdom minded. Click To Tweet

I have a short list that I am motivated to accomplish for the first few months of the year. Settings goals in chunks seems to be a lot less daunting to me.  This gives room to make changes and to allow the Lord to guide me through.  I had some down time over the holidays and it helped me to reset and think through some of the things that are typically written on my daily agenda.

My Short List:

  • Be Intentional
  • Read the Bible every day
    • The Lord has placed it on my heart to study the minor prophets first
  • Daily Devotional reading
  • Continue to blog or guest blog two to three times a week
  • Start writing a book
  • Get a grip on my eating habits
  • Start planning a future event for women’s ministry at church
  • Start the planning phase of VBS
  • Continue in the most important mission field that God has placed me in: homeschooling

While you think through your resolutions, goals, or just the everyday tasks, I would like to give you some verses to reflect upon as you move forward with renewed hope for the new year.

Proverbs 3:5 ESV 

Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding.

Jeremiah 29:11 ESV 

For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope.

Romans 12:11 ESV

Do not be slothful in zeal, be fervent in spirit, serve the Lord.

2 Corinthians 12:9 ESV

But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me.

Philippians 4:13 ESV 

I can do all things through him who strengthens me.

Philippians 4:19 ESV

And my God will supply every need of yours according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus.

Ephesians 2:10 ESV

For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.

Colossians 3:23 ESV

Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men,

2 Peter 1:10 ESV 

Therefore, brothers, be all the more diligent to make your calling and election sure, for if you practice these qualities you will never fall.

8 thoughts on “New Year’s Motto: Motivation”

  1. Great post! I like the idea of the goals, etc. in short chunks. It IS much easier to accomplish! Thanks for all the great scriptures to motivate us!!

  2. I like your list and feel like it’s doable. I’ve made resolutions in the past and end up quitting them shortly into January, this list seems reasonable and I could be successful doing it!

  3. Thanks for sharing! I also get discouraged at resolutions that I never keep. I think we’re onto the same idea- smaller chunks of time with manageable goals and keeping the WORD in high priority! Thanks for sharing! Your neighbor today at 5 Minute Friday!

  4. Surely I don’t want my labors to be in vain…thanks for the reminder and the verses to meditate on!

  5. I love your list! I have one going too with writing being moved to a higher priority than it was last year! Definitely reading His Word everyday! That is my lifeline! Happy New Year to you sweet sister! 🙂

  6. That’s a great list, and writing two to three times a week for a blog is huge. I’m just managing fortnightly, and then occasionally weekly when FMF inspires like it did this week. I read on another lady’s blog this week how she hadn’t made resolutions last year but a prayer list of things she wanted to do or breakthroughs in her life and how amazed she was at the end of the year when they were all answered. Coming over from FMF.

    1. I like the idea of a prayer list or breakthroughs. I might use that for my older children. Thanks for visiting.

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