It’s here. The beginning of a brand new year. We are officially in 2018! I hope you were able to take some time to look back last week because this week we are looking forward. The beginning of a new year brings with it all sorts of emotions. Whether you battle fear or embrace the expectancy of new hope, one thing remains—it’s all about focus.

So herein lies our big question of the week: What is your focus for 2018?

Go ahead, dream a little or a lot! Let your thoughts soar, and the rational part of your mind fall behind. Try to catch that one thing the Spirit is whispering to your heart that God wants for you this week, this season, or this year.

As you take account, ponder the possibilities of deeper relationships, a stronger family unit, more financial stability, making wiser decisions, or breaking a bad habit and replacing it with a better one. If none of those fit the bill, keep asking for discernment. Whatever it is, keep it simple.

The word pilgrimage from our scripture verse means a long journey or quest for purpose. This is a telling picture of how God has designed us to approach our life with Him—a heart set on pilgrimage. A heart, and therefore a life set on pilgrimage, is a daring, unique, and beautiful thing to behold.

And similar to a tightrope walker, it takes focus, balance, and intention. The marvel is that our relationship with Christ equips us with a balance pole—the bible—to steady us from the gravitational pull of the culture. But also provides a safety net—forgiveness—to soften our fall when we misstep and waffle off course.

These endowments are essential for our time here on earth because we all have a story to tell. A pilgrimage to navigate. Each one, full of adventure, twists and turns, ups and downs. The path is often paved with good intentions and fraught with bad decisions. Hence, our need for the Word of God to focus us, and Redemption to catch us when we fall.

While we are all wading in different waters of life, our needs and desires and dreams probably look quite different. Even so, today, January 1, is a great time to take inventory on a global scale as it relates to all things, You!

If you had to hone in on one area or one unfinished assignment God has placed on your heart, what would it be? Peel away all the reasons you can’t, and the excuses why you shouldn’t, and make a plan. Making a plan takes a little spiritual elbow grease in that you need to put some prayer time on the clock. Listen to God’s voice so you can heed His direction.

God’s plan is always simple: Hear me. Follow me. Trust me.

Keep in mind, quite often even our best intentions fail, and sometimes Plan B becomes the new Plan A. Just go with it! Resist the temptation to abort the plan if it doesn’t fall into place exactly like you thought it would. My life is the quintessential Plan B if there ever was one. I bet you can relate.

Life is too short to be defeated, right? So in this brand new year with our hearts set on pilgrimage, let’s agree to focus on the following together…

Embrace our worth. Celebrate our Creator. Honor Him with our gifts.

Reflect and Respond:

You are so valuable to God’s kingdom. What is it He is asking you to focus on for Him this season? Search it out. Discover your gift or talent. Learn how to apply it. And do it.

Like Paul admonishes in 1 Corinthians 9:26: run with purpose in every step! Choose to take one step on purpose today. What will it be?

Hugs for a great week and remember, you are not alone. Be blessed, be intentional, and set your heart on pilgrimage.