A Biblical Strategy for 2021

Happy New Year! I am so glad to see 2020 fade into history. The onset of this year is a reminder that we should set goals and create a biblical strategy to make 2021 the best that it can be. I am not talking about setting a new year’s resolution. I am referring to creating a strategy for how we can use the Bible and keep it as an active and important part of our life for all of 2021.

Why?

I have to admit, 2020 was not a good year for my best-motivated self. I was less active. I did not do stuff when I said I would– I procrastinated and set it aside. I gained a few pounds due to inactivity. I have had less energy and motivation. The only way to make a strategy work is to find things that will excite and invigorate – things that are meaningful and useful to my well being. I trust that we all want to be better, and improve over what we were before. The way to follow through requires that we be regular and conscientious about following through on routines.

I am not an expert on self-improvement, but I can easily find self-professed experts on the web. My steps today come from a website called sproutnodoubt.com, but the biblical support is from my own musings.

Strategy 1- Confidence

If you have ever been bullied, one thing that shines through is the feeling of being a victim. It is a feeling that does not need to be present. We can say ‘I am not willing to be a victim. I will not have an attitude of submission in this circumstance. Certainly, I may still feel hurt, but an attitude of confidence will keep me from being broken. In my relationships, the most important confidence I can have is in my relationship with God.

Ephesians 3:12 says¹²In him and through faith in him we may approach God with freedom and confidence. God enables us to have confidence as we keep our faith in and through Jesus Christ. Philippians 4:12-14 says ” ¹²I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or want. ¹³I can do all this through him who gives me strength.”

We gain confidence and strength through knowing Christ, and the power of his resurrection.

Strategy 2: Get started

This confidence thing is only the first step. We have to be willing to say “I can do this”. Once that is stated, I need to set up a plan. A list of goals — on what I want to accomplish, within the next day, week, month, and year. Start small with confidence builders. Set a schedule you know you can complete, and follow through on it. Goals are important. Write it down so you can monitor it. If I can take delight in accomplishing the goal, I am more likely to set it in motion. 2 Corinthians 8:11-12 says¹¹Now finish the work, so that your eager willingness to do it may be matched by your completion of it, according to your means. ¹²For if the willingness is there, the gift is acceptable according to what one has, not according to what one does not have.

Strategy 3 – Finances

This step can be difficult. To have a successful year, we cannot be constantly worrying about finances and paying bills. How can I get on track with accomplishing goals if there is this nagging trend where I cannot pay my bills? We can be tempted to cheat in small ways or big ways so that we can get a little more in the bank.

This is where I immediately think of the passage in Matthew 22:15-22, where the Pharisees tried to trap Jesus over his compliance with Imperial tax. He asked them – Who’s face is on the coin? — His answer is famous and very appropriate. The command from Jesus the savior to all of us– “So give back to Caesar what is Caesar’s, and to God what is God’s.”

Whatever happens this year, we need to maintain our integrity and do what is right to stay on task and pay our bills.

Strategy 4 – Be Healthy

The biggest chunk of being healthy is to be able to move and DO. It means eating right and having a plan for a moderate activity that causes the breathing rate to be higher than normal, a few times a day.

It is not a good idea to invoke a vigorous exercise routine when we are sedentary and inactive. We need to work up to it.

It is much smarter to invoke a program where we ramp up the activity in small bites. Quoting from the Harvard article Boost your activity level in small bites, this medical journal says “The goal is to help people who might otherwise not do any formal exercise at all to find a sustainable way to increase their daily movement and potentially boost their fitness. The ultimate goal should be to reach the recommended activity levels of at least 150 minutes per week of moderate-intensity activity or 75 minutes a week of vigorous activity.”

I am starting on this plan today. My biblical encouragement for this strategy comes from Daniel 1:18-20. When Daniel and his three peers decided not to eat the king’s food while in captivity, he took a risk. It was a good risk nevertheless. As a result of the food challenge, he ate good food such as fruits and vegetables and avoided the high-fat content/rich foods. He began looking better than the other peers in captivity. within 10 days. I do not need to set my mind on losing weight. I have to set my mind to boost activity levels in small bites. This is something we can all do. I will make it a point to report on my progress periodically over the coming year.

Step 5 – Deal with Stress

I have mentioned the health and wealth aspect, and the strategy of exercising confidence as I get started. My last consideration is concerning stress.

In sproutnodoubt.com, Wayne posted a blog article on stress entitled How to relieve stress with mindfulness. In effect, he encourages meditation to avoid stress. His idea of meditation is to empty your mind and just observe.

The Christian way of meditation is very different. The Christian way of meditation follows the guidance of Philippians 4:7-9: ⁷And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. ⁸Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things. ⁹Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me—put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you.

This peace of God is the end of stress. While we may not understand our stressors much of the time, as we follow Jesus, we are protected. Concerning the meditation, this verse shows that being an empty head is not the way to go. Instead, we should contemplate things that are true, noble, lovely, and admirable.

For some that may sound a little ineffective. Why should I think about the good, when the way before me is bad? Dealing with stress is similar to the bullied victim’s idea. If I focus on the bad, I confirm my lack of confidence and I become the victim of circumstance. As I follow Christ, I am not a victim. Jesus helps me to put myself in the role of a confident benefactor. ‘My big brother’ (Jesus) loves me and has my best interests. He will get me out of my situation as I put my trust in him. The peace of God will guard our hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.

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