This week we not only approach the beginning of a new year but the birth of a new decade. Our family feels it especially, as my oldest daughter prepares to deliver her second child and we celebrate my second daughter’s twentieth birthday. I still remember the fear and uncertainty of expecting a child in the days before Y2K, when the world wondered whether we would experience widespread computer malfunctions that would send our banking and power systems into chaos since many computer programs used double digit dates for the year and we entered the year 2000, not 1900.
I think we typically approach milestone dates with unease and uncertainty. Am I where I thought I would be personally or professionally by this time? If not, why not? What are my goals and resolutions for the year? Do we typically set higher expectations for ourselves at the start of a new decade?
My hopes for my children, as they grow into adults, have shifted with time. In our early parenting days, I wanted to raise smart, accomplished children (and of course, I still do). The grades I made and the schools I attended were very important to me. Now what I want most is for them to be good, kind people, to make a difference in the world (even on the smallest of scales), to hold fast to faith, to live joyful lives. Although these expectations seem simple, look around and you’ll see they aren’t easily attained.
When our Heavenly Father looks down on us — His children — what does He hope to see? I imagine He’s more concerned with our character than our resume.
He has shown you, O man, what is good; And what does the Lord require of you
but to do justly, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God?
Micah 6:8 (NKJV)
How would our lives change if we began 2020 shifting the focus from what we want to accomplish to what He wants to accomplish within us and through us?
I consistently fail at dieting, scheduling Bible study time, exercise goals, and a host of other resolutions, but I’ll always succeed when the goal is more of Jesus and less of me. The Bible reveals how God delights in working through simple men and women who are willing to be used for His glory — He spoke to us in the Bible through the writings of shepherds and fishermen. We don’t need eloquence or education to declare Him now.
God is unchangeable and so is His message. What He asks of us won’t empty our pockets, but it will fill our hearts. He simply wants us to love one another so well that we are known for it.
By this all will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another.
John 13:35 (NKJV)
How do we have love for one another in our marriages?
How do we have love for one another on social media?
How do we have love for one another in an election year?
How do we have love for one another when someone else gets the job or the promotion?
How do we have love for one another when our kids are on our last nerve?
How do we have love for one another when our bank accounts and our gas tanks are empty?
How do we have love for one another when we just plain disagree?
How do we have love for one another when we’re short on hope?
How do we have love for one another when we don’t understand each other culturally?
In a country that in many ways is divided, how do we have love for one another with the unity and mindset of Christ?
These things can be just plain hard, but with God, all things are possible. Friends, please join me in prayer today:
Lord, let us enter this new year and new decade with our hearts turned to You. Let us clothe ourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, patience, forgiveness, and above all love, as we are commanded (Colossians 3:12-14 NIV). Help us treat those around us, both the stranger and those we know best, with dignity. Help us love others so well that they are drawn closer to us, and let all we say and do point others towards You. In Your sweet name, Lord Jesus, we pray. Amen.
God simply wants us to love one another so well that we are known for it. -@DawnMHSH: Click To Tweet Leave a Comment
AMEN. Thank you for sharing, Dawn! Amen.
You are welcome, Bomi! Happy new year to you!
Hey, just a heads up. 2021 is the start of new decade. This is confirmed by the farmers alamnac
There was no year zero.
Love from Gods never ending grace. I read this early morning
Please Lord let me always have eyes that see the best in others a heart that forgives the worst a mind that forgets the bad and a soul that never looses faith in God.
God bless
Diane
“Eyes that see the best in others a heart that forgives the worst”—what a beautiful prayer, Diane!
Well said. What a kinder more gentle world we would live in! I have always believed it is important to lead by example. Thank you.
We can choose to be that example, can’t we? Thank you, Cinnamon!
Dawn,
Your words were very uplifting to me!
Thank you, Ruth Ann!
Beautiful words of wisdom. God, please let this message be my heartbeat this new year! Thank you Dawn for your wise words to live by. Happy New Year to you!
Happy new year to you too, Joan! I pray it can be my heartbeat too.
Thank you Dawn for your challenging and uplifting words on loving others well. I wish it always flowed out of me easily and naturally but there are times when the effort truly is a choice and one I can make or walk away. I hope this is a year of making the choice to find more ways to show love in all situations.
Happy New Year!
I have a short devotion for the New Year called Endure on my author site:
https://www.kathycheek.com/2019/12/endure.html
I agree Kathy: showing love is a choice, and not always an easy one. Let’s try to choose it more often than we don’t.
Hear! Hear! Wise words! May you be blessed in the new year, Dawn!
Blessings to you too, Irene! Happy new year!
So ture Dawn what you have wrote. So beautifully wrote. Another way we can have love for either. Is in the way this kids song says it so beautifully. You can get it on Youtube. It is Jesus Loves all the Chilidren of the world Red and Yellow Black and White. We are his Children. This song says it so well. Plus this song also says it so well. Jesus hands were kinds hands doing good to all. Healing pain and sickness. You also get that one on Youtube too. They maybe Children songs. But at the end of the day we are all Gods Children. I was taught them as Child at Sunday School. I have never forgot them. The words of them are so true for us his Children today. If saved and even if we are Adults. Because they are two songs that Jesus would want us as his Children even when small and when we grow up into big Adult Children who are saved. To live as life for Jesus. The way Jesus would want us to do loving everyone the way he does. No matter what skin color we are. Plus being kind to one another. Yes at times we might not agree with one another. But as God Children we are to always love either. I say Amem too those two simple little Children songs. I was taugt at Sunday school now 48. When about 7 or 8 years old. They have taught me so much about loving people of of skin colors and being kind as Jesus would want me to do that as his Child. Love Dawn Ferguson-Little xxx
We can learn a lot from these simple children’t lyrics, can’t we?!
Dawn,
Your post is spot on. Society makes it hard to show love to one another with all l the disunity,& infighting. It is time we as Christians showed some of God’s love to this world. You asked some poignant questions. How do we have love for one another in our marriages? We show love in our marriage by doing for others without wanting anything in return. Wait for a spouse to come home from work & have a nice meal cooked for them. Get up with them early & help them get ready for work. Make sure they have what they need for the long day. This year I cooked a nice big Thanksgiving meal for hubby & I on Monday.
How do we have love for one another on social media? Use the golden rule. If you can’t say something nice don’t say anything at all. Compliment people. Pray for them. If you don’t like a post then just pass it by.
How do we have love for one another in an election year? One simple method I use is to not talk politics. Just agree to disagree & let it go. Know that everyone has their opinions. Right or wrong.
How do we have love for one another when someone else gets the job or the promotion? Try to look at the situation in light of God’s view. He may have something even better in store for you. That job may come with to much responsibility & take up the time you need to be with your family now. Pray about it. Asking God what He wants you to learn. Also congratulate the other person.
How do we have love for one another when our kids are on our last nerve? I don’t have any kids. I would nicely tell them they are wearing on my last nerve. Say that you love them, but you are getting to the point of no return.
How do we have love for one another when our bank accounts and our gas tanks are empty? That can be hard. Just take a deep breath & ask God to help you deal with the situations.
How do we have love for one another when we just plain disagree? Be polite & tell them that you like them, but you disagree with their opinions. Don’t bring that subject up with them again.
How do we have love for one another when we’re short on hope? Pray about it. Ask God to give you the hope & fill you with the love you need for others.
How do we have love for one another when we don’t understand each other culturally? Difficult one. Just love them as Jesus would. I
In a country that in many ways is divided, how do we have love for one another with the unity and mindset of Christ? Super difficult. Try to get Jesus’s mindset & love the heck out of them regardless of their opinions or how they act.
Basically just do life as Jesus would. Overlook the differences like Jesus did when He talked to the Samaritan woman. Take time to find out about the other person. If it seems impossible, then just pray about it.
Blessings 🙂
What a thoughtful comment, Beth. You answered these questions so well!
What a wonderful start for a new year Dawn! Thank you for the reminder!
Thank you, friend! I’m so excited we’re going to have some time together this weekend. 🙂
Loving others well, seems so easy, until we are in the moment and we need to choose our actions. Choose our words. Choose to honor God, or do what we want. May we make good choices. More of Him and less of me.