Get off the porch

New Years is probably one of my favorite holidays or times of the year. The reason I have this bromance with the New Year is well, who doesn’t like “new.” New year, new car, new job, new surfboard, new pair of running shoes. New is always good, right?! How about a new attitude? Would that be helpful in 2023?

We have “friends” that are always busier than us, smarter than us, been more places than us. They love to micro-manage their own family, then as a hobby they overthink your life by giving advice that was never asked for and then they wonder why they don’t have any friends, and nobody really likes them. Over here! I can tell you. Nothing is ever right for these people and my heart breaks that not even Jesus is enough for them. No doubt they are prime candidates for a new attitude, but me too.

How many of us are suffering with things like jealousy, unresolved conflict, chronic anger issues? We are bitter, we have not forgiven others who have hurt us and we complain all the time. How many of us like playing the victim? Do we have excuses for the way we live? It’s always somebody else’s fault. Does this sound familiar?

They say if you never leave the porch the view never changes. Here are my words of encouragement for you in 2023. Leave the porch! Don’t be the victim and stop making excuses. I’m not a fan of cliches but, maybe life is 10% of what happens to you and 90% of how you react to what has happened to you. Therefore, respond to life the way God wants you to respond to life. The Apostle Paul tells us, “Whatever is true, honorable, just, pure, lovely, commendable, excellent, anything worthy of praise, think about these things.” (Philippians 4:8). Stop dwelling on the negative, replace the blues with a faithful optimism that God is working everything out for your good if you love Him (Romans 8:28).

In James 1:2 we are told that we should be full of “joy, … when you meet trials of various kinds,” These trials always have a verdict. The testing of our faith validates if our so-called “faith” is real or fake. Do we only have a Facebook faith, a Facebook kind of love for God? Do we accept the 10% with joy and a confidence that the Lord is near and that He is at work? Not only that but everything filters through His hands so if God has allowed it, let’s trust Him in it. Does that make sense?

Listen, can we talk? We all have problems: physical sickness, spiritual sickness, family issues, addictions, financial challenges, bad neighbors and broken- down cars that seem to never run for very long. We all know what it’s like to have a bad job, maybe a bad marriage, very few friends and what it’s like to always be the bridesmaid and never the bride. My point is we can all relate but this does not justify your faithless and bad attitude. There is nothing about a bummed-out Christian that brings God glory.

Did I say, get off the porch because I meant to say, get off the porch in this new year. Get a fresh perspective, let God invade your depression, your anxiety and let His mercies that are new every morning (Lamentations 3:22 & 23) become something very real in your life. He told me to tell you that.

Happy New Year!