When I take a longer backpacking trip I plot the course and plan approximately how miles I want to do each day. This helps plan for small details like water needs, space for a campsite, and how much energy/food I’ll need for each day. You know, so I don’t get stranded in the backcountry. You know. Small details.
These stops aren’t interruptions, they are planned and ann actually an integral part of the journey if I want to continue to stay healthy and make it the entirety of the trip. Without them- you hit a certain point when you start to digress and the journey loses all sense of wonder and amazement and becomes about just making it through.
In the discipleship journey you’ve been over the last year, I want to invite you to take one of those planned stops over the next week. Take off the proverbial boots from the journey and reflect back on the last year as you’ve been following Jesus. These sorts of stops are integral to long term health as disciples of Jesus. They help to refocus the wonder and amazement even if it felt like you were just trying to make it through 2023
Fun fact a friend turned STOP into an acronym after we posted in instagram. It may be a stretch, but I think it’s worth adding it to this post.
S set aside some time (at least two hours)
T take an inventory of the last few months.
O open your heart to the correction or encouragement being offered to you
P prayerfully consider what the Spirit is inviting you into next
We’d encourage all of our MC members and friends to plan some time to Stop and reflect before the new year. Whether it’s a day or a 2 hour block of time. Stop to reflect on 2023.
8 Prompts
1- Where were you surprised by God this year?
2- What are you grieving from the last year?
3- Who did God use in your life this year?
4- Who did God bring into your life for you to disciple / encourage this year?
5- What changes could God be inviting you into this year? (Decreased spending? Increased solitude? Starting a new work? More simplicity and generosity? Etc…)
6- Are there any specific conversations or invitations Jesus has for you as you start the new year?
7- is there any known 2023 sin or patterns you want to repent from?
8- what practices and pace do you need to sustain you on this next part of your journey following Jesus?