Giving Resolutions a Rest
Research shows that around 60% of us make new year resolutions.
The most popular choices are usually exercising more, eating more healthily, reading more, sleeping more, saving more, drinking less or spending more time with family and friends. While we are all so keen to move one rung up on the self-improvement ladder, the research shows that by the end of January only about 8% of us will have stuck to our new year resolutions.
The global wellness industry is booming – it currently representing 5.3% of the global economic output. Pair this with the ever growing self-help industry and we land in a culture where we are painfully aware of our shortcomings and flaws, painfully aware of those who are flawless (thanks Instagram) and painfully aware that we could do something about this.
As Christians we walk a line of knowing that we shouldn’t get caught up in the hype of this culture but we also do need to take care of ourselves. Mental illness is on the rise and Christians are not immune to that. We live in the same frantic world as everyone else and experience the same information overload in this politically turbulent world.
In John 14:25, Jesus says ‘Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.’
Jesus gives us a peace that the world does not possess. The Bible outlines a radical approach to rest – Sabbath.
So instead of buying that new gym membership you’ll only use three times, booking that facial or downloading a meditation app, try one of these ideas instead and watch the impact on your leadership as you rest like Jesus rested:
Sabbath
Look at your calendar over the next year (hopefully you got one in your stocking at Christmas) and try to realistically map out where you will take days off. Commit to planning nothing on those days apart from resting and refuelling. Try and stick to not saying yes to plans on those days.
Get a blank piece of paper and write down what a dream sabbath would look like. Perhaps try writing down what you feel would ‘fill your tank’ and plan to do some of those with your days off.
Silence and Reflection
Put a time in your diary (try 15 minutes if you’re new to this or feel free to go for longer) to have a time in silence and refection.
Use this time to be before God without an agenda and ask him to speak to you. If it’s helpful, use this structure for your time…
5 minutes: Find a quiet place, set a timer and try to sit in silence and clear your mind. Have a notebook by you to write down all the thoughts of things you need to do that suddenly come to your head so you can remember them later!
10 minutes: Write down one or more of these questions and prayerfully answer them, noting anything you feel God is highlighting:
What have you learnt about the character of God over the last year?
What have you learnt about yourself over the last year?
What was joyful about this year?
What was hard about this year?
How has your relationship with God grown this year?
How have your relationships within your local church community grown this year?
How have your relationships with non-Christians grown this year?
What have you learnt about your own leadership this year?
What would you like to grow in next year?
How are you going to invest in your relationship with God this year?
Meditation
Find a quiet space with no distractions and make sure you have a Bible with you. Reflect on a passage from scripture and invite God to speak to you about it.
If it’s helpful, use this model called Lectio Divina:
Step one: Invite the Holy Spirit to come and speak to you. Wait a few minutes in silence to still any thoughts and become aware of the presence of God.
Step two: Read the passage you’ve chosen aloud slowly, allowing the words to resonate and become familiar. After a pause, read the passage aloud again. During these two readings, pay attention for a word or phrase that catches your attention.
Step three: Take the phrase or word that has been highlighted to you and reread the passage with that in mind. Try and use your imagination to really imagine the passage – who is speaking? What images does it conjure in your head?
Step four: Pray and ask God what the word or phrase means for you. It might be helpful to have a journal with you to write down what you feel that might be. Ask God to implant this word in your life as a reality and pray for your response.