299 Faithfulness Over Resolutions: Embracing God’s Path for You Right Now

Episode Summary: 

As a new year approaches, many of us feel pressured to make big changes and set ambitious resolutions. But what if God is calling us to be faithful in the work we’re already doing? In this episode, we explore how faithfulness in our current season can bring deeper fulfillment, peace, and a stronger sense of purpose than constantly striving for the next goal.

Quotables from the episode:

• Today we're going to be talking about faithfulness over resolutions, embracing God's path for you right now. As we enter into this new year, many of us feel pressured to make big changes and set ambitious resolutions. But what if God is calling us to be faithful in the work we're already doing?
• Think about this, just because the calendar changes doesn't mean that God's ready for us to move on a previous assignment or an area in our heart that he's working on. So in this episode, we're going to explore how faithfulness in our current season can bring deeper fulfillment, peace, and a stronger sense of purpose than constantly striving for the next goal.
• According to the US News and World Report, over 80% of people failed to keep their New Year’s resolutions.
• Society pushes us to aim higher at the start of each year, in the form of New Year’s resolutions, yet faithfulness in our existing roles can be just as impactful.
• You can go to the grocery store and stand in line and see on every single magazine that's there at the checkout lane about how to set the best New Year's resolutions and what the in vogue resolutions are. But that leaves out the very distinct possibility that maybe God is calling us to be faithful where we are instead of feeling the pressure by resolutions and change.
• Society may pressure us to “do more,” but God values consistency, dedication, and a heart of gratitude.
• There are unexpected blessings and growth that come from sticking to what God has already entrusted to us.
• Actionable steps to focus on faithfulness include:
  • Practicing gratitude for current blessings.
  • Setting intentions to honor God in daily tasks.
  • Asking God for strength and wisdom to serve well where you are.
  • Make a list of current responsibilities and consider how you can serve God more fully in each or let something go for a season.
• One of the problems with New Year’s resolutions is that they often tend to be grand and often unrealistic and unattainable, whereas I want to set people up for success, which takes time, faithfulness, and intentionality.
• Faithfulness is representative of consistency, but not perfection.
• Society always pressures us to do more, or be more. Do more or be more. And yet I don’t hear that from God in scripture. He values dedication to him and what he’s asked us to be obedient to.

Scripture References:

• Luke 16:10 "Whoever is faithful with little will also be faithful with much."
• Colossians 3:23 "Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord."

Recommended Resources: 

• Reframing Rejection: How Looking Through a Different Lens Changes Everything By Jessica Van Roekel
• Sacred Scars: Resting in God’s Promise That Your Past Is Not Wasted by Dr. Michelle Bengtson 
• The Hem of His Garment: Reaching Out to God When Pain Overwhelms by Dr. Michelle Bengtson
• YouVersion 5-Day Devotional Reaching Out To God When Pain Overwhelms  
• Today is Going to be a Good Day: 90 Promises to Start Your Day Off Right by Dr. Michelle Bengtson, winner of the AWSA 2023 Inspirational Gift Book of the Year Award, the Christian Literary Awards Reader’s Choice Award in four categories, and the Christian Literary Awards Henri Award for Devotionals
• YouVersion 7-Day Devotional, Today is Going to be a Good Day
• YouVersion 7-Day Devotional, Today is Going to be Another Good Day
• Breaking Anxiety’s Grip: How to Reclaim the Peace God Promises by Dr. Michelle Bengtson
• Breaking Anxiety’s Grip Free Study Guide
• Free 7-Day YouVersion Bible Reading Plan for Breaking Anxiety’s Grip
• Hope Prevails: Insights from a Docto