A Personal Word for You from Ararat Church as We Face 2023: The right time is NOW!

I wanted to offer you a little encouragement as we look to closing the book on 2022 and opening the book on 2023. First, I want to begin with a personal story.

From the time I was about 12 or 13 until I completed high school, I would determine—going into each summer that came—that during that summer, I would lose a lot of weight and shock everyone when I went back to school in the Fall. Now, the fact is, it never happened. I would keep putting off the beginning of whatever starvation program I had in mind until there was no time left. Additionally, because I was always looking to that time when I was going to “hit it hard,” I probably put on a few pounds in the interim. So, each year I would go back to school feeling defeated and wishing that I had been able to carry through with my plan to make myself over.

Now, why am I sharing this with you? I want you to understand that making changes for the better shouldn’t have to wait for the beginning of a new year, or for that matter, shouldn’t have to wait for anything.

Of course, we all know about New Year’s resolutions. Sadly, we also all know how self-defeating most of those resolutions turn out to be. Whether it’s losing weight, reading more books, cleaning out your junk, whatever the case, putting off positive change to some arbitrary point in time is probably a recipe for failure.

Now, the best change anybody could ever make is to submit their life to the Lord Jesus Christ. I mean, REALLY submit yourself to the Lord. And, the time for that, is always NOW. We should not wait to make things right with the Lord. Tomorrow is promised to no one. So, why would we want to spend one more moment betting that we will have time to make it right before we have to face the Lord?

With that being said, I will tell you that any self-improvement you would like to accomplish should begin with submitting that desire to the Lord (if God isn’t in it, forget it) asking for His help. Then, honestly do your very best, trusting Him to put His super on your natural.

With that, we should determine to live joyfully every day, not putting off our sense of well-being until we reach some self-improvement goal. Now, this doesn’t mean that we just give in/up, abandoning the thoughts of making needed changes. But, it does mean that we don’t put off claiming our peace and the joy of well-being until we meet some personal goal. If the Lord is your source of joy and peace, no circumstance can take away either.

In order to make the changes needed to live healthier, more productive, or in any other way that adds to our personal satisfaction or well being, we must do so joyfully, doing each day the best we can in the strength that the Lord gives us to do it. Sometimes we will do great, other times, not so much. But every day can be lived to the glory of God.

I can’t begin to tell you how important it is to live each and every day thankfully and joyfully while standing in peace. No matter where you are (in terms of your “better-self” projects) on a particular day, if Jesus is your Savior and Lord, if you have fully turned over your life to Him, trusting Him to shepherd you to where you need to be, then every day can be a glorious day.

Remember, you can start your process toward positive change by making sure you get a daily dose of the word and meditation on the same.

Additionally, bring your concerns to the Lord with thanksgiving, never allowing one day’s challenges or setbacks to steal your peace for that day or any other day to come.

I haven’t offered you here a certain number of steps toward some sort of success. What I have offered you here is the truth that will set you free. God the Holy Spirit is the only source for permanent positive change. Ask Him to help you and He will.

In terms of practicality: break down seemingly unattainable goals into smaller chunks so that you have more opportunities for success.

But—whatever you do—don’t put off making things right with the Lord to any future date. And, don’t put off walking in His joy and peace until any other point in time.

When it comes to being time to truly walk in all the Lord has provided for you, the time is always NOW!

Peace to you NOW and in the New Year!