Ah, the New Year in full swing, fresh with the scent of anticipated change in the air. I love the buzz of conversation about what each of our plans to become healthier or more efficient are. What is your New Year’s Resolution? Many responses are typical: I want to eat healthier. I am going to start a workout routine. I am going to wake up an hour earlier. But among dozens of these resolutions, one stood out to me this year: I want to put God #1 in my life. It’s not like I haven’t heard the statement before; it just hit me from a different angle this time. You can often feel the tired strain of struggle mingled in these words. As if we are asking a question rather than making a proclamation: How does one put God first in their life? We have all made the attempt to try and prioritize 1. God, 2. Family, 3. Work, 4. Ministry, 5. Hobbies, etc. How do we categorize God as a number within a list? Many in spiritual leadership will encourage putting God at the top of our list then reprimand when observing a different lifestyle shown on Sunday vs. Monday. Could it be that we perpetuate this thinking of categorizing and compartmentalizing “the spiritual” in our lives? Can we live a more complete and consistent lifestyle? Is He evident in all that we do? What if God…becomes our list? What if He transforms, inspires, and motivates all that forms our values? What if His ways are so integrated into who we are that we become a continual manifestation, or even carry an ethos, of Him? Should we resolve to unpack some unnecessary heaviness and focus more on Whom we are walking with rather then what number they are on our list of “so called” priorities?
“Are you tired? Worn out? Burned out on religion? Come to me. Get away with me and you’ll recover your life. I’ll show you how to take a real rest. Walk with me and work with me—watch how I do it. Learn the unforced rhythms of grace. I won’t lay anything heavy or ill-fitting on you. Keep company with me and you’ll learn to live freely and lightly.” – Jesus
ē’thŏs’: The characteristic spirit of a culture, era, or community as manifested in its beliefs and aspirations.
