Start the New Year Right
Wednesday, December 30th, 2009The audio portion of this broadcast is no longer available on-line.
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PROGRAM D-5913
It’s December 30th, and we’re just about ready to celebrate the beginning of a new year. My message is “Start the New Year Right!” I know, it’s not very original, but it’s still a good idea. So, I’ve decided to become very intentional about starting the New Year right by some specific changes and commitments I’m going to make. I thought maybe it might inspire you to do so as well.
The first one I talked about was to try some new approaches to my daily time in the Word of God and in prayer. Then I talked about working harder at keeping my attitude in joyful and thankful territory.
Here’s my third idea for starting the New Year right: I want to do a better job of encouraging other people. In 1 Thessalonians 5:11, we read: “Therefore encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing.” And in verse 14 Paul specifically says to “encourage the timid.”
You know, it’s so easy to become so involved in your own life, your own problems, your own challenges, that you simply forget that others are going through tough times and need encouragement. I find that is often true in my life—I get so busy with my schedule that I just overlook the little things I could do which would encourage others.
There are so many ways to encourage people, and many take no time, cost no money, and require little effort. We just have to remember to do them. For example, I have to remember to simply ask other people how things are in their lives when we meet. I can just say, “Hi, how’re you doing?” and breeze right on by, but I want to be more tuned into to their needs so that I simply stop for a few short minutes and inquire about the other person.
And then I want to do a better job of writing notes or emails when appropriate, praying with and for others as requested, and simply putting the needs of others in the front of my mind. Paul tells us in Philippians 2 to “look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others.” I want to start this year right by becoming a better encourager, how about you?
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