It’s a new year where we have new resolutions, new goals, and new dreams for the year. No doubt, an integral part to act and live out the things that will help us become who we want to be in 2019. If we don’t join that gym or have those exercise goals, how will we lose weight? If we don’t spend diligent time budgeting, how will we reach our financial goals? While this is true, and yet while there is great inspiration in the new year, I would add, there is also great caution. We could potentially end up accomplishing more things for ourselves and for God than we do sitting in the presence of God. We could end up doing more “by power” and less “by Spirit.” We think God can do more with our “more,” when in reality, He can do far more with our “less”.
In this season of a new year, I wonder how many of our Small Group Point People need to be reminded to sit in the presence of God, to take care of themselves, before they lead a small group or recruit new leaders? While we are in resolution season, I pray we are also in a soul care season. See my previous blog on Soul Care for more tips.
So, here are a few things I’m doing myself and for my SGPP to remind them that in order to be who God wants them to be, it may require more sitting, waiting and praying than it does doing, activating, or initiating.
1- Sleep- establish a regular rhythm of what a healthy set number of hours looks like for you. If you find yourself frustrated at people (beyond the typical frustrations of waiting on hold with customer service), maybe you need to revisit where this is coming from. What is the source? My mentor once told me, “Sometimes, the best thing you can do for God is to take a nap.”
2- Eat well- What do your eating habits look like? Assess how you feel on a daily basis. Tired? Maybe it has more to do with what you are eating than how much you are sleeping.
3- Exercise- The more I discipline myself to exercise, the more the discipline in every area of my life soars. It helps me grow in my relationship with God and with others. Sometimes, it even just forces me to listen to the voice of God for a 30 minute run.
4- Press In- Challenge yourself this new year to do what you’ve been doing to grow spiritually, but do it a little bit longer. Press in a little harder. Then, watch the fruit the Lord develops through that. If your goal is reading more Scripture, maybe read a few more chapters than you planned and see what God does in you.
5- Give Permission to Take a Break- Maybe you even need to give yourself permission. It’s so easy to push through signs and symptoms that may be telling you to push pause and rest. I’ve made it a priority that when I hear a SGPP say they are worn out, have x,y, and z going on in their life, I pause and ask them, “Have you considered taking some time off from leading a small group?” More times than not, people just need to be reminded they have permission and it’s healthy.
These aren’t new resolutions, but they can do a new thing in us and through us. Encourage your SGPP with these resolutions as you continue to be who you were created to be in 2019!
