A New Year, A New Way to Live Abundantly
Are you ready to leave the messes of 2022 behind as we start this New Year? So am I.
My blog posts have been MIA because I have struggled with various things. Circumstances aside, I have found myself feeling depressed, drained, anxious, emotional, and barely hanging on at times. I have let myself have my mourning period about my situation. Now, as the new year starts, I feel the Lord prodding me to release and press into what abundant living requires of me as I learn what it means to be whole in Jesus. This is going to drastically shape the posts I make as I move forward with these truths I carry with me into 2023:
Abundant living requires abiding in the Lord daily. (John 15:1-8)—There were too many dark days spent this past year that started with wallowing, crying, pity-partying it up, exercising, watching TV, self-deprecation, scrolling on social media, and complaining about my situation. My situation is not easy and the Lord is everything I need to make it through. I have nothing good besides Him. I will continue making posts about the ways God has been speaking to me through His word, which I hope to do more consistently and reverently.
Abundant living requires taking care of my body. (3 John 2)—While I don’t believe exercise is the end all, be all, I do believe that active living is important for the mind, body, and soul. We were not made to sit for hours and hours. I will be making posts about creative ideas for how to develop good, healthy habits to help take care of the body the Lord has lent us. The phrase used when John said he prayed for “good health” in John 3:2 means both physical health, but also of sound mind and pure thought. Again, I do not think that exercise is the ultimate key to peace, absolute healing, or to being whole (Klussman, K., Langer, J., & Nichols, A., 2021); however, exercise has been proven by countless studies to benefit not only physical health but a person’s well-being, including people with physical diseases (Christie, M., Cole, F., & Miller P.K., 2020), college students (Huang, Y., Guo, C., Ouyang, R., Wang, H., Liu, D., 2022), and those with mental illnesses (Bernard P., Romain, A-J., Caudroit, J., Chevance, G., Marion C., Gourlen, M., Needham Dancause, K., & Moullec, G., 2018).
Abundant living requires spending time with my friends and family. (Hebrews 10:24-25)—There were many days this past year the enemy spoke lies into my heart, telling me that all I do is ruin relationships, that no one loves me, and that all I am is a burden to others. With the Holy Spirit and the loved ones I confided in, truth rang in my ears. I do not ruin relationships. I am loved by God and by the community He has blessed me with. I am not a burden to others. I was made by God to dwell with Him and others. We were not made to do life alone. I will write posts about blissful moments I have spent with family, friends, and loved ones, and talk about how God has used those moments to remind me and encourage me I was made to dwell in a community that way the Holy Trinity dwells.
Abundant living requires curiosity and adventure.—The entire biblical narrative showcases the people of God traveling, meeting new people, and experiencing new things as they lived life for God to spread His gospel. As I went through my first semester of school and was writing the Advent study I became increasingly aware of a gift God has given me. I got to fly to Florida, buy goggles, swim in the ocean, and go kayaking down a crystal blue river (a blog post will be made about that trip). I have been able to challenge my brain with writing, research, and reading. This has awakened a curious and adventurous hunger within me to leave my comfort zone physically and mentally; to learn; to be curious about various different things; to see what this beautiful world God made has to offer. I hope to inspire this in you all with future blog posts.
More than anything I hope to inspire this abundant community to live a life wholly for God. A relationship with God isn’t just for morning services and devotionals. A relationship with God is meant to affect, influence, and change every aspect of our lives. Not only is this how life is supposed to be lived, but it’s better this way. God is better. There is none more beautiful, powerful, selfless, kind, faithful, or true. Join me on this journey through 2023 as we dive head-first into abundant living with Christ!
QUESTION OF THE WEEK: Which one of these areas are you hoping to improve for 2023?
