“In conclusion, my friends, fill your minds with those things that are good and that deserve praise: things that are true, noble, right, pure, lovely, and honorable”—Philippians 4:8 (GNT)

Rather than have a New Year’s Resolution, every year I pick one word along with a scripture. For 2025, my word is Focus and my verse is Philippians 4:8. Our church’s word for the year is, Faith.

When the church word and my word go hand-in-hand, it is a confirmation That it was divinely given to me. In fact, after the church sang, Worthy of it All, the pastor said, He is worthy of our focus.

Yes, He is worthy of our focus. Last year, I had many days where I let my mother’s disturbing behavior consume my thoughts. Rather than let God fill me with His peace and calm, I would let my mother’s declining mind and behavior detract from God’s purpose for me.

As I listened to a podcast by Dr. Josh Axe that talked about tips on how to set and follow through with your goals, he suggested to reflect on the past year and write down things you want to keep, stop and start doing. He said by writing them down, you are more likely to follow through with them as well.

After doing that, I realized that my nighttime ritual for thanking God as I went to bed had started to be replaced with listening to a podcast. Falling to sleep listening to a Christian podcaster rather than talking to God, was happening more and more. It is hard to hear God talk to me with headphones in my ears.

Instead of watching TV, I have now chosen to listen to those podcasts during the day while I knit rather than bedtime. The enemy knows our weak spots. Numbing my mind with mindless TV and listening to those shows to fall asleep were not going to help me to grow spiritually.

Since I was falling asleep listening to these Christian podcasters, it wasn’t helping my faith walk. The only true way to learn from them is for me to hear them during my waking hours. Falling asleep praising God for all He has done and provided for me that day is how I have been able to refocus.

I turn my worry to Him by submitting whatever problems I may have encountered that day and thank Him that He has and is with me during them. I find joy when I stay connected to my source. He enables me to see things from His perspective.

And let me tell you, the enemy has done his best this week to throw me off.  On January 2nd, my mom was acting more confused than normal. I took her to urgent care to get her tested for a urinary tract infection. Turns out she had one. Unfortunately for her age, it takes 3-4 days for the medications to really take affect. It has been a rough 3 days for us.

In addition to my one-word goal and yearly scripture, reflecting on things to keep, stop and start doing will help me in my faith walk for 2025. Seriously, I had gotten into some bad habits the last few months of 2024. More often than not, rather than go in person, I found myself watching church online.

Like I said, the enemy knows my weak spots and another behavior I had on my stop list was to wait to check my mother’s room camera in the morning until I had spent some quiet time with the Lord.

Had I done that on January 2nd, it would have kept me from that precious time devoted to Him. When I looked at the camera later that day, at first, I felt guilt as I saw her wandering around her apartment crying, “help me, help me, I need help” on and off for 30 minutes.

However, the Holy Spirit pricked my heart. I felt Him say, Lisa, there is nothing you could have done about it. Spending time with Me is what kept you grounded and focused today. Only God can give me the needed peace and joy to keep me centered and FOCUSED on who He is and all the blessings I am given by Him each and every day.

Father God,

May I willingly go where You Guide me for 2025. I ask for Your divine direction. As Your Word tells me in Philippians 4:8, I ask for You to fill my mind with those things that are good and deserve praise: things that are true, noble right, pure lovely and honorable. Redirect my thoughts when my mind turns inward rather than upward. Give me a heart of gratefulness. You are worthy of my praise every day I wake up and at night as my head hits the pillow. I pray these things in the mighty name of Jesus. Amen.

January Verse

“In conclusion, my friends, fill your minds with those things that are good and that deserve praise: things that are true, noble, right, pure, lovely, and honorable”—Philippians 4:8 (GNT)

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