“Examine yourselves to see whether you are in the faith; test yourselves. Do you not realize that Christ Jesus is in you—unless, of course, you fail the test?”  II Corinthians 13:5

 

2016 was witness to some big moments in our family which included Reed and Brighton getting married and moving to Nashville, Cole graduating high school, Mia getting to ditch her headgear permanently and all of us filming our last and final episode of Duck Dynasty.  Some of these instances may seem wonderful while others seem, well, not-so-wonderful.  It’s all about perspective.  Unlike 2015, this past year did NOT include any surgeries or major physical ailments, of which I continue to be grateful!  Every year is filled with good and bad situations, and each January 1st we have the opportunity to look back over the last year and evaluate our lives.  In fact, Paul recommended the people of Corinth do just that in the title scripture.

 

Over my 45 years of life on earth, I’ve learned that my life on earth isn’t about my life on earth.  Did I lose you?  Here’s what I mean: God did not put me on this earth to live for myself or please myself.  I can’t find anywhere in the Scriptures where God says He wants me to be happy.  Paul says we should have “joy”, but true joy is how you live within your circumstances, not your circumstances themselves.  Paul should know better than anyone, as he wrote this theme multiple times from his prison cell while he was singing songs of praise to God.

 

In today’s world, especially in light of social media, we find ourselves comparing our lives to the lives in simple Instagram posts.  When we look at perfect people with perfect complexions and perfect bodies with perfect outfits and perfect husbands and children, we can immediately feel inadequate.  Our brains instantly compare ourselves to that person (whether we admit it or not), and the devil is loving it!  Those people look happy, and it’s only fair that I am as happy as they are.  Of course we can’t live up to that (especially with all the filters available now).  So why do we keep doing it? 

 

In the 26 years that Jase and I have been married, we can honestly say that we have tried to make life-decisions based on spiritual reasons and not financial reasons.  in other words, we would ask ourselves, “is this how we can best serve God, grow spiritually in our personal life and show our children that we are putting God first?”  This pertained to which school our children attended, which house to live in and which jobs to take.  Even when we thought it would be the best thing for our family, sometimes God would say no.  And we had to trust that He had the right answer.  However, it’s those little day-to-day decisions that creep up on us and cause us to lose focus and become discouraged or negative, even for a short time. 

 

Therefore, we do not lose heart.  Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day.”  II Corinthians 4:6

 

Notice Paul didn’t say “year by year”.  Thank goodness!  What if we messed up and then had to wait until the New Year came around to start over?  Because of Jesus’ blood that covers us 24/7, we can actually be renewed every minute of every day, if we have chosen to put Jesus on as our Lord!

 

Proverbs 3:5-10 is a great "New Year's Resolution" verse:

 

Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight.  Do not be wise in your own eyes; fear the Lord and shun evil. This will bring health to your body and nourishment to your bones. 

Honor the Lord with your wealth, with the firstfruits of all your crops; then your barns will be filled to overflowing, and your vats will brim over with new wine.”

 

Let’s break it down:

 

Trusting God with ALL your heart:  sometimes it doesn’t make sense to our brain when God is pushing us in a certain direction.  When Mia was born with an unforeseen cleft lip and cleft palate, my brain took a long time in catching up with my heart.  I knew in my head that this wasn’t supposed to happen, that we didn’t have this in our genetic history, that there was no reason for my baby to have to live like this.  But my heart kept telling me that my Father had her.  My heart knew that He would never leave Mia or me—ever.  I had to trust Him with all my heart, even though I did not understand why.  And 13 years, 8 surgeries, multiple procedures and thousands of dollars (much debt in the early years) later, that same little baby is now speaking and singing of the blessings of her Savior. Our family acknowledges Him for all of those blessings.

 

Wise in our own eyes: don’t you wish you were right about everything?  Do you know someone who always is? Is it you? Ha! Most of that is pride.  We don’t want anyone telling us what we don’t want to hear, so we just don’t ask.  Is there a big decision coming up in your life? Pray; then ask someone older or wiser in the Faith what their opinion is.  Sometimes we don’t ask because we don’t want someone to disagree with us.  Forgiveness is easier than permission, right?  At the time, yes.  But it usually damages a relationship, no matter how you justify your motives.  Sure, you get what you want at the time, but at the expense of something greater.  The pride grows even bigger as you can’t bring yourself to ask for that forgiveness but you expect it unequivocally.  Wisdom comes from humility, having an open mind to listen to all reasons and lots of prayer.  Not prayng that God will give you want you want, but praying that God will do what needs to be done to glorify Him and Him alone.  That’s a tough one. 

 

And this brings health to our bodies!  Less stress, less anxiety, clearer head, positive outlook.  Those attributes alone can be a healthier lifestyle.

 

Honor the Lord with my money: I’m a simple and practical person.  If we didn’t have the income coming in, we didn’t spend it.  That meant no credit cards when I didn’t have it in the bank. Jase and I have always budgeted 10% of our income to tithing.  It used to all go to our local congregation, but these days we have been blessed to add many charitable groups to our list, and we seek out those who honor God as their Lord.  With or without extra money in our household, we were blessed and taken care of, never needing for anything. 

 

I’ve decided to make this above-scripture my personal scripture for the year 2017.  It includes a plan to stay fit and healthy, a plan for financial success and, best of all, tells me how to keep on the right path to Him.  The things in these verses are practical, spiritual goals for my family and for myself.

 

Will you join me?  Choose a scripture that you would like to strive for this year.  Share with me in the comments which scripture you chose.  Pray about it each day.  Set your alarm to remind you to pray for God’s help in the strength and humility you need to follow through and attain the goal, always looking ahead to Jesus at the forefront. And if you falter, actually when you falter, don’t give up.  Keep striving! Tomorrow is a brand new day!

 

Here’s to a blessed 2017!

 

                                                                                                                                                                                    

 

 

Comments

Alice L. Givens:

Hey Missy,
Thanks so much for sharing your life with others!! May God continue to bless your journey!!?
My scripture this year is 1 Corinthians 9:25 NIV
25 Everyone who competes in the games goes into strict training. They do it to get a crown that will not last, but we do it to get a crown that will last forever!!

Jan 02, 2017

Wendi Sopher:

My scripture for the year is Phillipians 4:6-7. I have always had a terrible time with anxiety and worry for as long as I can remember. I pray about situations and think that I am giving it to God, but the reality is I didn’t fully give the situation over to Him. If I did, I don’t believe I would have the worry and anxiety that I do. My mom is going through some tests in the next week and the results could be bad. I’m an only child and have two young children that adore her and I am trying to pray and not worry. It’s hard but I know God is in this. He was not surprised by the initial results. He already knows what next week, next month, and the next year holds. I have to learn to trust Him and release the worry.

Jan 02, 2017

Shirley Hawkins:

Missy, you are a blessing and an inspiration! And Mia is amazing! Proverbs 3:5-6 was my sister’s life verses. She clung to these verses in her three year illness and up until January 20, 2016, when the Lord called her home. Now she is living out the faith she had in the presence of her Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. My life verse is Jeremiah 29:11. “For I know the plans I have for you, saith the Lord, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.”

Jan 02, 2017

Theresa Mason:

Missy,

Thank you for your words of wisdom! God lead me to my verse on the 31st when I was dealing with an issue. 1 Peter 2:1: So put away all malice and all deceit and hypocrisy and envy and all slander. (ESV)

I lost my mother very unexpectedly on the 22nd of December and while I am her only child, she married again and there are step-children involved. I found myself drowning in hurt for my mother and being manipulated from the other side for what a particular person wanted/needed to allow them to feel good about themselves-no matter the pain it caused me.

God took this experience and showed me that I can be bitter or better. The verse in 1 Peter reminds me that when I remove my focus from Jesus to “fight” the problem, I am also sinning and grieving the Holy Spirit.

I have determined to keep my eyes focused on the Lord and celebrate that my mother is now worshiping in Heaven!

God Bless You & Your Family!

Jan 02, 2017

Christina Crowe:

This is a wonderful and inspiring idea that I want to embrace wholeheartedly. For 2017 I have chosen the scripture Matthew 6:8 “Be ye not therefore like unto them; for your Father knoweth what things ye have need of, before ye ask him.” I need to remember that God knows the needs of my life, that I should thank Him for my blessings and know he will care for the needs of my family. Always. Thank you Missy for the inspiration!

Jan 02, 2017

Sara Barcarse:

I am reading your blog for the first time this morning. I have followed you on social media and on your show. I really appreciate your honesty in sharing your heart about your daughters surgery etc. Sometimes I wondered if anything was hard for you and your family. I just finished my quiet time and praying about a word or scripture for my family for 2017. As I prayed I was reminded of something I wrote about in early 2016. Leviticus 26:3-8 Msg (I know…who reads Leviticus? LOL) The words “If you follow my commands and are careful to obey my commands….you will pursue your enemies and they will fall by the sword before you.” I doesn’t say they will fall ON you or AFTER you. It says they will fall before you. You will be faced with adversity and with struggle. But as long as you are walking with Jesus and letting the Holy Spirit guide you then you will not be harmed. Not that we won’t actually walk thru struggles. Of course we will. That’s the fallen world we live in. I actually wrote down in my journal your words this morning “True joy is how you live w/in your circumstances, not your circumstances themselves”. What a great reminder! I am still praying about my word and confirmation about my scripture for me and my family this year. Thank you so much Missy for sharing from your heart and sharing the truth of Jesus! Praying you and your family are blessed this year!!

Jan 02, 2017

Jenna Miller:

This year my family (my 11 year old daughter and I ) have chosen Luke 10:27 as our Bible verse. I am saving to send my daughter to Kanakuk, a Christian sports camp in the Ozarks where I worked as a counselor in college, and their theme this year is “I’m Third” which completely embodies that verse and Jesus’ command to love God, our neighbor, and ourselves. There is really no greater joy in life than to live with this focus. It’s not always easy, and sometimes the sacrifices are difficult, but when you put your head on the pillow at night knowing you had a successful “I’m Third” kind of day, there’s nothing more satisfying. My daughter and I plan to try for 365 I’m Third Days in 2017, and to recite Luke 10:27 each morning as a reminder of that commitment.

Thank you for sharing about you verse, we will pray for your family.

Jan 02, 2017

Kathleen owens :

Missy, I loved reading this. You are a blessing to me, and so is mia, she gave me inspiration and I’m 65 years old, I had to have my teeth pulled and had dentures made, but I’m allergic to all the deal cream. And the 4 inplants they want to put in my gums to hold MY dentures in is $2,400 and I can afford it, I lost my husband one year ago, and my life hadn’t been the same, but when I read and watch what little Mia went through mine problem is nothing compared to hers, she makes my heart happy, I love you missy, than you for blessing my life,

Jan 02, 2017

Risa Ratliff:

I’m going to borrow yours, because it covers so much! ? I’m also adding Phillippians 4:6-7. I’m bad about handing things to God, then taking them back. And I wonder why worry and anxiety over situations that I cannot control then overwhelm me. Hard to do when it involves decisions a child is making, but something I must do-let God do what He does, and I need to step out of the way. Thank you for another great blog, Missy. Happy New Year to you and yours. Looking forward to seeing you at Heartfelt in a couple of weeks.

Jan 02, 2017

Jackie:

Thank you for taking the time to do the Lords work. I needed this message today. I have been given many blessing and I sometimes feel I am so inadequate and just for the reasons you mentioned in this blog. I am unhealthy, overweight, and I even feel my time with our Lord is inadequate maybe because I cannot study or note take like a certain pic I have seen on social media. Thank you this has given me so much inspiration. May God continue to pour His blessings down on you and your family.

Jan 02, 2017

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