Ins and Outs for 2024

If I had to decide what to put on my IN and OUT list for 2024, it wouldn’t look that different from the year before. Every year in January, I make physical health a priority…out of necessity! Baking joins the out list and keeping a food log joins the in list. For a time, my resolve remains firm (Be still, my sweet cravings…) and I’m on a roll! But by January the next year, I have to start all over again because you know…the holidays have come like tsunami of never-ending treats. What about you? What usually makes your IN and OUT list?

This year I am taking a lesson from Jeremiah who said, “Ask for the ancient paths. Ask where the good way is and walk in it.” (Jeremiah 6:16) Yes, this is an ancient path I choose every year but is it good for me? I don’t think so.

Instead, I want to focus on what will give “rest for my soul.” Rather than making my body the focus, I want to ALIGN all of my life with God and His purposes. For clarity, I’ll be making a visual map with ALIGN as my center word for the year. That means in every area and decision, I will ask the question, “Does this activity, relationship, or opportunity ALIGN with what God is doing and help me partner with Him?” Am I keeping in step with His Spirit and doing those good things that God has already “prepared in advance for me to do?” (Ephesians 2:10)

For example, I know ALIGNING myself with God means listening to Him. So one habit I want to change is to talk to God and do my morning walk before I scroll my way through my phone. Rather than jumping into my day filled with every else’s thoughts, I want to listen first to God.

Clearly, prayer will take a more center stage as I talk to Him about everything before I do it. By praying first, I hope to better ALIGN myself with God. This ancient path I believe will be good for me, just like Jeremiah said.

What are you doing differently in 2024?