An English proverb which dates back to 1742 states “THERE ARE TWO SIDES TO EVERY STORY.” The context of this expression is when you pick up a coin to see how much it’s worth. The same can be said about turning the page from one year to the next. While 2023 is fresh in the minds of people today, you still have to deal with any lingering consequences from your past. If your heart is still broken when the ball dropped on New Year’s Eve, there are still pieces to pick up in this calendar year.
The Lord is close to those who are of a broken heart and saves such as are crushed with sorrow for sin and are humbly and thoroughly penitent, Psalm 34:18.
In their song Broken Heart, Falling Up turns to heaven in prayer to mend their emotion pain. Just as David was in need of healing in the passage above, countless individuals are struggling with their lives entering 2023. While many turn to alcohol and drugs to numb their pain, the lyrics of Broken Heart reach out to Jesus for healing. May the words of Matthew 11:28-30 encourage you take all those things in life weighing you down and place them at the foot of Jesus’ cross to find rest for your soul.
A top priority refers to something of greatest importance. While attending Seminary, one of my professors introduced me to the Triangle Theory. Based upon time management, a triangle diagram is used as an aide to analyze how you spend your time outside of sleeping. When you do an honest assessment of your day-to-day activities, the average hours you invest in this or that will highlight what your top priority is at this moment in time.
And in the morning, long before daylight, He got up and went out to a [u]deserted place, and there He prayed. 36 And Simon [Peter] and those who were with him followed Him [[v]pursuing Him eagerly and hunting Him out], 37 And they found Him and said to Him, Everybody is looking for You. 38 And He said to them, Let us be going on into the neighboring country towns, that I may preach there also; for that is why I came out, Mark 1:35-38.
One of Paul’s missionary helpers, John Mark, recalls a story told to him by one of Jesus’ disciples. While the disciples slept in, Jesus got up early in the morning to go walking in the wilderness. After finding a quiet place, Jesus prays to his heavenly Father. Based upon the words above, Jesus top priority to begin each day was seeking guidance from God to determine where He wanted Jesus to go and what God wanted Him to do.
But seek ([z]aim at and strive after) first of all His kingdom and His righteousness ([aa]His way of doing and being right), and then all these things [ab]taken together will be given you besides. 34 So do not worry or be anxious about tomorrow, for tomorrow will have worries and anxieties of its own. Sufficient for each day is its own trouble, Matthew 6:33-34.
Perhaps, the Sermon on the Mount provides an introduction to Jesus’ prayer life. This insight begins with the Lord’s Prayer in Matthew 6:1-15. After fasting is touched upon, Jesus concludes this section of his message on what Christians should strive for: hunger and thirst for righteousness. When God becomes your top priority, your mindset changes from earth toward heaven. The apostle Paul lays this out in Colossians 3:1-17. May these passages of the Bible inspire you to make Jesus Lord of all in 2023.
One of the best ways to seize 2023 as your year to live the abundant life on earth, John 10:10, is to begin January by reading the Beatitudes. The portion of Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount sets the tone for those in attendance. Just like the words shared by Moses in Deuteronomy 28:1-3 to the nation of Israel, blessings follow anyone who is obedient to God’s command, decrees, and precepts. As you listen to Jospeh O’Brien’s song Blessed, may this promise in the Bible come to fruition in 2023.
Blessed (happy, [a]to be envied, and [b]spiritually prosperous—[c]with life-joy and satisfaction in God’s favor and salvation, regardless of their outward conditions) are the poor in spirit (the humble, who rate themselves insignificant), for theirs is the kingdom of heaven! 4 Blessed and enviably happy [with a [d]happiness produced by the experience of God’s favor and especially conditioned by the revelation of His matchless grace] are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted! 5 Blessed (happy, blithesome, joyous, [e]spiritually prosperous—[f]with life-joy and satisfaction in God’s favor and salvation, regardless of their outward conditions) are the meek (the mild, patient, long-suffering), for they shall inherit the earth! 6 Blessed and fortunate and happy and[g]spiritually prosperous (in that state in which the born-again child of God [h]enjoys His favor and salvation) are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness (uprightness and right standing with God), for they shall be [i]completely satisfied! 7 Blessed (happy, [j]to be envied, and [k]spiritually prosperous—[l]with life-joy and satisfaction in God’s favor and salvation, regardless of their outward conditions) are the merciful, for they shall obtain mercy! 8 Blessed (happy, [m]enviably fortunate, and [n]spiritually prosperous—possessing the [o]happiness produced by the experience of God’s favor and especially conditioned by the revelation of His grace, regardless of their outward conditions) are the pure in heart, for they shall see God! – Matthew 5:3-8
When you come to the conclusion that the people you interact with daily need to change, perhaps it’s you who needs an attitude adjustment? Just as cars receive oil changes every three to five thousand miles, Christian’s need a spiritual alignment on a weekly and monthly basis. While this painful truth may not be obvious to you, it’s glaring to those whom you live with. May the lyrics of Blessed be a starting point for you in 2023 so that the power of the Holy Spirit transforms you to become like Jesus this year.
As a parent, there are many things that I regret doing or saying. Yet, the fallen nature within me has caused me to overreact through the years. From a discipline standpoint, I lost my temper a few times as well as being a pushover in other areas, too soft when I needed to be firmer. While I’ve tried to do my best over the years, I’ve fallen short like everyone else on earth, Romans 3:23. This is nothing compared to what God the Father experienced from heaven as He watched His son die on a cross.
The Lord saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every imagination and intention of all human thinking was only evil continually. 6 And the Lord regretted that He had made man on the earth, and He was grieved at heart, Genesis 6:5-6.
From God the Creator’s perspective, his children didn’t get off to a great start. Adam and Eve broke the only rule God set in the Garden of Eden. This was quickly followed by the first murder due to a jealous heart. While godly individuals like Enoch came along every once in a while, to habitually walk with Him, human nature gradually perverted the inhabitants of the earth. Subsequently, as God watched from heaven, He regretted what had become of His grand design of earth.
So the Lord said, I will destroy, blot out, and wipe away mankind, whom I have created from the face of the ground—not only man, [but] the beasts and the creeping things and the birds of the air—for it grieves Me and makes Me regretful that I have made them, Genesis 6:7.
As an artist in the context of a writer, I know what it feels like what when you have to scrap everything you’ve been working on by starting over from scratch. Yet, the Lord was emotionally invested in the human beings He had created. It’s one thing to throw away pieces of paper. In God’s case, we’re talking about ending the lives of people. Before reaching a final decision, Noah followed in the footsteps of Enoch to curry favor with God. As you reflect upon 2022 as 2023 was ushered in on New Year’s Day, may you remember that you’re not the only one to experience regret.
Route 66 has a special place in my heart. Besides watching the movie Cars with my three children when they were young, traveling on Route 66 was part of my best and longest vacation with my family. During one of the summers, I was teaching at Red Lion, Leanne and I took James, Daniel, and Lydia on a trip of a lifetime. While the centerpiece of this trip was the Grand Canyon, Route 66 provided a slower pace of life, a chance to slow down and reflect upon God’s beautiful creation in the United States.
And in the morning, long before daylight, He got up and went out to a [u]deserted place, and there He prayed. 36 And Simon [Peter] and those who were with him followed Him [[v]pursuing Him eagerly and hunting Him out], Mark 1:35-36.
As I wind down 365 different songs in 365 days from 365 artists in February, I turned to my son Daniel to help me finish the final stretch. Daniel led me to Chris Renzema. While I had several songs to choose from, the song Right Things seems to be a good fit for people still trying to develop New Year resolutions for 2023. As you listen to the lyrics of Right Things, may the words of Psalm 46:10 inspire you to be still by reflecting upon God’s creation of this planet.
According to the words of Moses, sin is crouching at your door. Crouching is a position where the knees are bent, and the upper body is brought forward and down, sometimes to avoid detection or to defend oneself: If sin is still crouching at your door in 2023, you might as well get all the way down on your knees to start fighting back spiritually. The earthly brother of Jesus clarifies that this has nothing to do with God. Rather, unwholesome thoughts come from desires, enticement and lust, James 1:13-15.
But for [a]Cain and his offering He had no respect or regard. So Cain was exceedingly angry and indignant, and he looked sad and depressed. 6 And the Lord said to Cain, Why are you angry? And why do you look sad and depressed and dejected? 7 If you do well, will you not be accepted? And if you do not do well, sin crouches at your door; its desire is for you, but you must master it, Genesis 4:5-7.
According to the temptations of Adam and Eve in Genesis 3 and their son Cain in the passage above, the process of sin begins with an unwholesome thought that enters your mind, James 1:14-15. The serpent tried to convince Eve that God was holding her back by prohibiting access from the Tree of Knowledge. Meanwhile, envy and jealousy were putting thoughts into Cain’s head about eliminating the source of his frustration. Despite God’s warning in the passage above, Cain acted upon the unwholesome thought that remained in his mind.
For though we walk (live) in the flesh, we are not carrying on our warfare according to the flesh and using mere human weapons. 4 For the weapons of our warfare are not physical [weapons of flesh and blood], but they are mighty before God for the overthrow and destruction of strongholds, 5 [Inasmuch as we] refute arguments and theories and reasonings and every proud and lofty thing that sets itself up against the [true] knowledge of God; and we lead every thought and purpose away captive into the obedience of Christ (the Messiah, the Anointed One), 6 Being in readiness to punish every [insubordinate for his] disobedience, when your own submission and obedience [as a church] are fully secured and complete, 2 Corinthains 10:3-6.
The apostle Paul provides a solution to stopping unwholesome thoughts from polluting your soul in the passage above. If Lucifer is a fallen arch angel who is ruler over the air on earth, Ephesians 2:2, physical means of protection will only go so far. The best way to stop unwholesome thoughts from staying in your mind is by using the armor of God, Ephesians 6:10-20. When these spiritual weapons are exercised daily, God will shield you from the Devil’s attacks. As Christians use prayer as a vehicle to put on each piece of spiritual armor, your thought life will become obedient to Christ, causing unwholesome thoughts to flee.
As someone who has moved multiple times in life, true friends are hard to find. Whether it was moving from New Jersey to Delaware in Elementary School or from Delaware to Ohio in college, when you do finally relocate, you will find out who your real friends truly are. When none of them reach out to you after your departure, your friendship was more of an acquaintance than anything else. Perhaps, this is the inspiration behind Hawk Nelson’s song Friend Like That.
The man of many friends [a friend of all the world] will prove himself a bad friend, but there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother, Proverbs 18:24.
King Solomon wrote about what a true friend meant to him in the passage above. Through the years, Christian artists have reflected upon this topic with songs by Geoff Moore, Michael W. Smith, and Steven Curtis Chapman. When a friend does stick closer than a brother, this kind of relationship becomes a spiritual treasure. As a new year begins, may the Holy Spirit inspire you to find a friend like that in 2023.
At some point in my life, I was told that attitude is everything. I don’t recall where I was or who was talking, but attitude is a reflection of your mindset. When I’m in a bad mood, I tend to be sarcastic, magnifying the negative spirit within me. While it may feel good to be pessimistic from time to time, this never improved how I felt in my soul. One of the themes I heard in church on New Year’s Day was to develop a first-class attitude in 2023.
Therefore, my dear ones, as you have always obeyed [my suggestions], so now, not only [with the enthusiasm you would show] in my presence but much more because I am absent, work out (cultivate, carry out to the goal, and fully complete) your own salvation with reverence and awe and trembling (self-distrust, [i]with serious caution, tenderness of conscience, watchfulness against temptation, timidly shrinking from whatever might offend God and discredit the name of Christ). 13 [Not in your own strength] for it is God Who is all the while [j]effectually at work in you [energizing and creating in you the power and desire], both to will and to work for His good pleasure and satisfaction and[k]delight. 14 Do all things without grumbling and faultfinding and complaining [[l]against God] and [m]questioning and doubting [among yourselves], Philippians 2:12-14.
In a letter to the Church at Philippi, Paul urges this congregation to adopt and emulate the attitude of Christ Jesus, Philippians 2:5. Two chapters later, Paul reminds these believers that when you feel like you can’t do something, lean on the strength of Jesus, Philippians 4:13. Paul goes into specific details in 2 Corinthians 12:7-12 where he learned that the weaker you are, the strongest Jesus can become in your life. Following this advice will point you toward developing a first-class attitude.
That you may show yourselves to be blameless and guileless, innocent and uncontaminated, children of God without blemish (faultless, unrebukable) in the midst of a crooked and wicked generation [spiritually perverted and perverse], among whom you are seen as bright lights (stars or beacons shining out clearly) in the [dark] world, 16 Holding out [to it] and offering [to all men] the Word of Life, so that in the day of Christ I may have something of which exultantly to rejoice and glory in that I did not run my race in vain or spend my labor to no purpose, Philippians 2:15-16.
The passage above highlights what a first-class Christian attitude looks like. When you place Paul’s words side by side with the Beatitudes in Matthew 5:1-12, those who hunger and thirst after righteousness will be taken care of by God, Matthew 6:33-34. Despite the hardships, struggles, and tribulations that you may have to endure, you will be blessed at God’s perfect time, Ecclesiastes 3:11-12. If success is the process of arriving, may the power of the Holy Spirit transform your current attitude into a first class one by the end of 2023.
My last year that I was a single man, I lived with an attitude I have nothing else to lose. In 1993, I spent the first six months of this year living in six different states. I began the New Year in Delaware before spending 7 weeks at a Youth Ministry Trade School in Minnesota. While waiting for an interview in South Dakota, I spent some time in Ohio working odd jobs. After my job offer in Rapid City fell through, I worked a semester at a boarding school in West Virginia before being offered a full-time youth ministry position in Columbus, Indiana. This is the closest I’ve ever come to living the abundant life, John 10:10.
Not that I have now attained [this ideal], or have already been made perfect, but I press on to lay hold of (grasp) and make my own, that for which Christ Jesus (the Messiah) has laid hold of me and made me His own. 13 I do not consider, brethren, that I have captured and made it my own [yet]; but one thing I do [it is my one aspiration]: forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead, 14 I press on toward the goal to win the [supreme and heavenly] prize to which God in Christ Jesus is calling us upward, Philippians 3:12-14.
Perhaps Mat Kearney had a similar experience in his own life to inspire the lyrics to Nothing Left to Lose. Mat’s song reminds me of the words of the apostle Paul in the passage above. Paul didn’t want to be an idle or stale Christian. Therefore, his mindset on earth turned toward heaven, making sure his own motives aligned with God’s will for his life. As you listen to Nothing Left to Lose, may you become embolden to live 2023 with your eyes fixed upon Jesus, Hebrews 12:2.
One of the first Christian songs I was introduced to was Pass It On. This campfire begins with “it only takes a spark to get a fire going.” During the first retreat I ever attended in high school, I was told by the Youth Director to “come as you are.” The context surrounding this Saturday night message was that Jesus meets you were you currently are in life. While many outside the church believe religion is about following a set of rules, Jesus brings His light into dark places to reach lost and lonely people, Luke 19:10.
You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden. 15 Nor do men light a lamp and put it under a peck measure, but on a lampstand, and it gives light to all in the house. 16 Let your light so shine before men that they may see your [z]moral excellence and your praiseworthy, noble, and good deeds and [aa]recognize and honor and praise and glorify your Father Who is in heaven, Matthew 5:14-16
The Sermon on the Mount is the only uninterrupted message presented by Jesus in the Bible. While the gospels are full of parables which illustrate spiritual truths, these 3 chapters (Matthew 5-7) highlight the need for followers of Jesus to shine their own light within their hearts into dark places on earth. The lives of Christians should add spiritual flavor to conversations as well as point to the city of a hill, (the local church) where the Holy Spirit thrives.
[Not in your own strength] for it is God Who is all the while [j]effectually at work in you [energizing and creating in you the power and desire], both to will and to work for His good pleasure and satisfaction and[k]delight. 14 Do all things without grumbling and faultfinding and complaining [[l]against God] and [m]questioning and doubting [among yourselves], 15 That you may show yourselves to be blameless and guileless, innocent and uncontaminated, children of God without blemish (faultless, unrebukable) in the midst of a crooked and wicked generation [spiritually perverted and perverse], among whom you are seen as bright lights (stars or beacons shining out clearly) in the [dark] world, 16 Holding out [to it] and offering [to all men] the Word of Life, so that in the day of Christ I may have something of which exultantly to rejoice and glory in that I did not run my race in vain or spend my labor to no purpose, Philippians 2:13-16.
Hiding God’s light was not an option for the apostle Paul who spent his entire Christian life fulfilling the great commission, Acts 1:8. Paul personally experienced imprisonment and nearly died on a couple of occasions by brining Jesus’ light into dark places throughout the Middle East. Yet, despite the pain Paul endured, he called one congregation to become shinning spiritual stars by holding out the Bible to all nations. This is the model modern day Christians should emulate to shine God’s light into the darkness.
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