SCRIPTURE: “But by the grace of God I am what I am, and his grace to me was not without effect. No, I worked harder than all of them—yet not I, but the grace of God that was with me.” (1Cor. 15:10 NIV)
QUOTE: “Use me, God. Show me how to take who I am, who I want to be, and what I can do, and use it for a purpose greater than myself.” – Martin Luther King, Jr.
NOTE:
Reflect on all you’ve accomplished in the last 12 months. Think broadly about your work, your family, your volunteer contributions, your network and your wellbeing. Define your achievements in more than just traditional terms. Success anytime, but especially in 2022, doesn’t have to mean you wrote a best-seller, received three promotions or won the Nobel Prize. Give yourself credit for the ordinary. You may have maintained your sanity, kept up your job, business, career, academic or personal development program. In 2022, even the easy things became hard—so give yourself credit for staying in the ring, and give God glory for standing by you. It’s not about taking credit for others’ deeds, but it is about reminding yourself about your role in the community.
ILLUSTRATION:
Mary Kay Ash sold books door to door while her husband served in the military. When her husband returned from duty, they divorced. Ash was left with three children at a time when divorce wasn’t acceptable. Ash was frustrated when passed over for a promotion because she was a woman. So, she and her second husband planned a business, Mary Kay Cosmetics. One month prior to launch her husband died. With a $5,000 investment from her oldest son, Ash launched her business. Forbes reported 2014 revenue as over $3.5 billion.
REFLECTION:
What’s next after a fall or defeat for you?
TWO YEAR BIBLE READING: Genesis 25.19 – 26.35, Psalm 17