Gò0dNews for Everyone
Checklists And New Year’s Resolutions
W
by Janise Copeman
e all fall to this. As a recovering perfectionist,
allowed those things to take top priority in my life instead
I can’t tell you enough how my life was so
of allowing the Lord to show me what is a priority and what
controlled by endless lists and letting my
is not. We are called to seek first the Kingdom of God, but if
confidence be ruled by obsessive actions. Now, don’t get me
we are so busy trying to fulfill our own checklists, how can
wrong: I am still an organized person, and I have checklists
we win souls for God’s Kingdom?
here and there, but the Lord balanced some things in my life.
Every day that we have been given is an opportunity
He has now taken control and turned those obsessive habits
for us to spread seeds for the Kingdom of God. We must be
into gifts for me to use in a constructive and healthy way.
about the Father’s business versus fulfilling temporal things.
When it comes to the New Year’s resolutions on people’s
Sometimes, the Lord has me be quiet and sit, rest, and enjoy
minds, people often want to do a do-over with past failures
His creation because I am so busy running and doing. It is
or lessons. And let’s face it: this past year has been a crazy
in those quiet, still moments that He whispers some new
one, filled with many things that we can learn from.
revelation and allows me to truly rest in Him. So I challenge all of us, including myself, to not make another endless list of resolutions this New Year’s. Instead, sit down with the Lord and have Him prioritize things in your life. Ask the Lord to remove things from your list that are not healthy or those things that really are not that important. Allow the Lord to rewrite your life and goals with Him at the center of them all. If you feel like your life is out of sorts or if your past resolutions have fallen to the wayside, I encourage you to simply reach out to the One who gives you each breath to live and each day to live out what He has for you.
I now look at my lists from a more eternal perspective
He has a great plan and purpose for your life, and He
versus a temporal one. We all have cares of this life and
may just blow your mind because the goals/dreams you
responsibilities that must be taken care of. But we must
had for yourself are nothing compared to what He has in
learn how to balance the cares of this life and the important
store for you.
things that truly matter. For instance, if I don’t pray first or
If you have never experienced a personal relationship
talk to God first about my day, things tend to fall behind, or
with the One who created you and formed you, then it is
unimportant/wasteful things are done first, and I don’t have
never too late to start over. So why not start this year?
In the past, my goals were that of work, my health/ weight, cleaning and chores, or endless hours of errands. I
18 // January 2021
About The Author
time left to do the important things. Janise Copeman lives in Trion,Georgia, is 49 years old, and she is blessed to be married to her soulmate for 26 years. She enjoys reading, writing, and encouraging others by spreading joy and love in the Lord.
