New Year’s Reservations

I have some reservations going into the new year. This last year was a long one. When I think back over the months, I can’t quite fathom how I managed to fit so much in. To see my wife match that, and even surpass it, means that this might be our most productive year yet.

I also failed at both of my resolutions. Sort of. To be honest, I don’t remember making them. I know when I made them though, and I can see in hindsight how they affected the actions I did take. All because I reserved time to review them. I booked the time 365 days ago, and I hope you’ll join me in doing the same this year.

Reserve the Right to Change and to Change Your Mind

The first of my New Year’s resolutions I failed in 2024 was to memorize the Gospel of John. I say I failed, but that’s not quite the whole story. I studied some great resources, found a few fresh ideas, and started two different article series one about Malachi, and another on Jude’s epistle. Somewhere in the midst of those circumstances, my resolve changed, and it focused on the projects I had at hand. In 2024, I memorized Malachi and Jude, rather than John’s Gospel. There is nothing wrong with a goal, but that goal might need to change.

One of my wife’s goals this year was to start running, which she did. A few weeks in, her knee began to argue with her, asking her in a rather decisive tone to stop. She did. A couple of physical therapy sessions later and the issue was found. The goal shifted.

Give God Your First Fruits 

We turned up at 7 o’clock sharp, because that’s when we’d booked the table.

“Two for Ravenhill.”
“Celebrating anything?”
“Our five year wedding anniversary, thanks for asking.”

A platter of four steaks, bone marrow, and a bottle of wine later, we headed home, happy, and rather full. When we reserve time, we should keep it. The first fruits of our labor go to God, but the same should also go for our attention.

As you enter the new year, think about reserving your best time for the Lord. For you, that might be early in the morning before the kids arise. Others might find it better to wait until the afternoon when they are able to pick up a guitar and worship that way. When Jesus dwelled among us, he arose before the sun took to the skies and spent time with his Father. “And rising very early in the morning, while it was still dark, he departed and went out to a desolate place, and there he prayed” (Mark 1:35). When will you give God your attention this year? 

Preserve Time

God isn’t the only person we owe our time to. We attend weddings and funerals, we play with kids and share our lives with our friends. It is so easy to forget how important these things are though when work comes calling, when social media pesters us, or when we feel lethargy coming over us.

For me personally, preserving time has meant waging war against my mobile phone. One percentage point at a time, I have chipped away at my usage, from the scary number it was just a few years ago, to just under sixty minutes a day on average now. It wasn’t easy to get to that number, but it’ll be even harder to stay there. Preservation takes concentration.

Fill Your Reserves

 Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light. (Matt. 11:28-30, ESV)

At the end of 2023, I ended up in the hospital after four and half hours waiting for an ambulance. The pain was unfathomable. It still is. Speaking with the doctor afterwards, we talked about pain management. The waiting list for a specialist is so long that I’m still waiting to see someone now, so we needed options for the short term. “How much sleep do you get?” he asked. Looking back, I still don’t know how I got by on just three to four hours. He prescribed me a medicine that would help me relax at night and hopefully improve on that number. In actuality, it has more than doubled it. I’m not in any less pain than before, I’m actually in more, but I’m far better equipped to deal with it. That simple gift of rest was immense.

We all have aches and pains. Some are physical, some spiritual and mental. Sleep may elude us, but rest doesn’t have to. Jesus has invited us to come to him and unload our burdens onto his shoulders. Those shoulder have carried the weight of the universe; they can carry you.

 This year, fill your reserves by resting in his gentleness, his peace, and his love. He is no short-term fix (Heb. 13:8), but the one who called you into eternity (1 Pet. 5:10) and who will sustain you on your journey there (Ps. 55:22).