Every January of our adult lives we’ve been bombarded with hype about setting goals, accomplishing, winning. There’s nothing wrong with goal setting, planning, and wanting to succeed. It’s healthy to evaluate the past year with an eye to improving. In fact, God has something to say about all this. So let’s compare two very different mindsets in approaching the new year.

Driven career lady: “I made a graph for each quarter with my profit goal. I have three marketing campaigns all ready to spin into action. I’ve made a contact list, paid my dues for networking groups, and I’m gonna rock it this year! NOthing will stop me. I can do this!”
Career lady of faith: “Lord, you know the goals I’d like to meet. I made a graph for each quarter with my profit goal. I have three marketing campaigns all ready to spin into action. I’ve made a contact list, paid my dues for networking groups, and I’m gonna rock it this year! But only if you bless me, guide me, and strengthen me. I’m trusting for your will in my career. I don’t know what tomorrow will bring. I have limited resources of knowledge, strength, and control. My plans are always subject to your plan. You are in charge. You control. I cooperate with you.”

“Now listen, you who say, “Today or tomorrow we will go to this or that city, spend a year there, carry on business and make money.” Why, you do not even know what will happen tomorrow. What is your life? You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes. Instead, you ought to say, “If it is the Lord’s will, we will live and do this or that.” As it is, you boast in your arrogance. All such boasting is evil.” James 4:13-16.

Typical Baby Boomer: “Yep, I know the Lord’s Prayer. I memorized it when I was little and have said it hundreds of times. It’s pretty prose and I like the rhythm. Never really thought it had much practical use, though. Don’t really get that part about ‘your kingdom come’. I guess it means at the judgment day. I’m hoping that won’t be for a long time.”
Earnest person of faith: “Lord, I truly do want your kingdom to come and your will be done on earth. What can I do today to help your kingdom be experienced by those in my life? I ask you to help me bring your kindess, love, and mercy to my family today. Help me give my time, affection, skills, and resources generously and unselfishly to family, my church, and others.”

“Your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.” Matthew 6:10

Modern teenager: “I’m young. I like to have a good time. There’s plenty of time later to get serious and buckle down. This is the time to have fun with friends, do crazy things, enjoy ourselves.”
Grandmother: “I think about the legacy I’m leaving for my kids and grandkids. I want them to have memories of a woman who loved them and God. I want to coach anyone who will listen on how to become the best person they can be for God and their family. I want to pass down any skills I have. I want to be a good example of caring for others.”

“Teach us to realize the brevity of life,
so that we may grow in wisdom.” Psalm 90:12

I got to thinking about some ways we can spend our day living ‘If it’s the Lord’s will,’ ‘Your kingdom come,’ and ‘a heart of wisdom’.

I want to live with a heart of wisdom that values people above things.  So I try to take care of relational things first thing at the beginning of my day.  Time talking and praying with dear Husband, and reading God’s Word together.  After breakfast, since I’m retired, I text or call those I love who need to know I love them.  Then I spend time preparing this blog, a children’s Bible class, or a ladies’ Bible class.  I know young moms don’t have this luxury of time, and I didn’t either when we had six kids in the house!  There is a season for everything.  Then I do my household chores.

I want to be intentional about doing what I can to bring God’s kingdom to earth and his will to be done.  I know he wants everyone to know that he loves us so much he sent his Son to earth to make a way for us to be reconciled to God, the Good News that Jesus died for us to pay for our sins.  I know it’s his will that we love each other, the way God loves us, treating them as we want to be treated.  This makes Heaven on earth!  This is also the hardest to do, so I need God’s help constantly.  Part of loving is serving.  Giving my money, time, and skills to meet the needs of others…  family, church, neighbors.

I want to always have the humble words, ‘Your will ‘ uppermost in my thinking.  I have some health issues right now, and navigating the health system is discouraging.  I face a Time Warp at every turn.  But every time I hear another, ‘Wait’, I wrestle with it till I can honestly say, ‘Your will, Lord.’  What do you need to turn over to the Lord?

A Prayer for 2026

A prayer of Moses, the man of God.
“Lord, through all generations you have been our home!
Before the mountains were born,
 before you gave birth to the earth and the world, from beginning to end, you are God.

You turn people back to dust, saying,
“Return to dust, you mortals!”
For you,  a thousand years are as a passing day, as brief as a few night hours.
You sweep people away like dreams that disappear.
 They are like grass that springs up in the morning.
In the morning it blooms and flourishes, but by evening it is dry and withered. [Sounds like us old ladies- dry skin and wrinkles!]

Satisfy us each morning with your unfailing love,
so we may sing for joy to the end of our lives.
Let the pleasantness, favor, and beauty of the Lord rest on us.  May you make our efforts successful, may our work prosper.” Psalm 90:1-6,12,14,17