Reluctant Retiree

We know the benefits of hard work and persevering through trials in may areas of life. Muscles are built through the struggle of exercise and resistance. Job skills are learned through training and trial and error. Trade skills are obtained through dedication to working through designs and application.

James 1:2-4 says, “Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.” Trials will surely come our way in this new year. The one who steadfastly trusts God can have joy in the midst of trials, knowing that the end result will be that God is making them perfect and complete, lacking nothing.

Are you the type of person that people respond to your presence with unbounded joy. Frankly, I am not one of these people and I really don’t know anyone who is. People do not cheer when I enter the room, like they used to when Norm entered the bar on the TV program, “Cheers”. I generally receive polite acknowledge and handshakes, but no unbounded joy when I come into the room.

Zephaniah 3:17 says, “The Lord your God is in your midst, a mighty one who will save; he will rejoice over you with gladness; he will quiet you by his love; he will exult over you with loud singing.” What an extreme joy it is to know that God rejoices over His children with gladness and exults with loud singing when He sees us! Rest comfortably in His love. Be still and know that God is cheering you on.

Have you ever had an intrusive thought that bothered you throughout the day, only to wonder why you wasted so much time thinking about that concern? Sometimes we can’t get certain ideas out of our heads but thinking about these ideas adds no benefit to our lives. In fact, certain thoughts can derail us from where we want to go and what we want to become.

Romans 8:6-8 says, “For to set the mind on the flesh is death, but to set the mind on the Spirit is life and peace. For the mind that is set on the flesh is hostile to God, for it does not submit to God’s law; indeed, it cannot. Those who are in the flesh cannot please God.” If we set our minds only on what the world offers, we cannot gain anything good or lasting. But when we set our minds on godliness, we gain life, peace and joy everlasting. Pursuing godly thinking leads us to living godly lives. Pursuing thoughts of love and compassion leads us to living compassionate and loving lives.

Can you recall a time when you were at perfect peace and in a place that you really enjoyed? For me it is the beach. I love the serenity and peacefulness of the waves and the sand and the stretch of the ocean into the horizon. I am relaxed and at peace everytime I have the opportunity to go to a beach. My heart and mind is at rest there.

Psalm 16:5-6 says, “The Lord is my chosen portion and my cup; you hold my lot. The lines have fallen for me in pleasant places; indeed, I have a beautiful inheritance.” Believers in Jesus Christ have the sweetest of all possessions, the Lord. He puts our lives and our hearts in pleasant places and ensures that we have a beautiful and wonderful inheritance in Jesus Christ. Troubles will come, but we can still find peace and joy when we rest in the pleasant places and beautiful inheritance that the Lord provides our souls.

It is the tradition of some people to make New Year’s resolutions. Some are decisions to make certain parts of their lives better and some resolutions are to do something new in the coming year. Many times these resolutions fall apart early in the year. It is admirable to commit to making ourselves better, but the follow through is often lacking the dedication needed.

Isaiah 43:19 says, “Behold, I am doing a new thing; now it springs forth, do you not perceive it? I will make a way in the wilderness and rivers in the desert.” As the new year approaches, let’s look for God to do something new and glorious in our lives. He will make a straight path for us even when we feel like we are lost in the wilderness. He will refresh us and make the changes in our lives that will be good for us.