It’s a new year! And as I dive into 2013 I’m really challenging myself to approach this year with some new views on things.
A new view is changing the way I look at something. For example, if I were to close off the windows in my house and break through some different places to put windows, I’d have a new view. A new way to look at my yard.
Or in a bigger sense, I’d be looking at what I’m used to seeing, but from a different angle.
This allows me to see things I haven’t seen before which is healthy and helpful. I could see dead things that need to be replaced. I could see neglected things that need some attention. I could see thriving things that should be enjoyed more. Having a new view of my yard would facilitate this process.
Look at the common theme in each of these verses and watch how the word “new” is central to each:
Obviously, I can’t change the windows in my house, but I can change the windows in my soul. Take my eyes and look at some things about myself from different angles and really challenge myself to grow. Change. Develop.
See things about myself that need to be replaced, need some attention, or need to be enjoyed more.
During this next month I’ll be writing about some new views and maybe you’ll find some ways you want to challenge yourself as well.
Here’s the one I’ll be tackling in tomorrow’s blog:
What kind of problem responder am I?
The old view- focusing on the obstacle
The new view- focusing on the opportunity
I think this “new view” is going to be fun and enlightening. And of course I’ll throw in a few surprises as well. So, who’s in? Leave a comment below about one new view you’d be willing to attempt this year and I’ll pick a few of your topics to tackle as well.
Happy New Year! Happy New View!
As I was walking to work this morning, it was quite chilly out with a mild breeze…as I looked ahead at my destination, it seemed to be so very far away, and felt as if I wasn’t making any progress…then, I looked down at my feet walking on the pavement….they were moving so quickly! Or, how many times do we ride in a vehicle, and watch the clouds above, and they seem to be motionless…and then look out the window and are so surprised by how fast the car is really moving! And suddenly I thought, “So many times I feel as if I am not making any progress, prayers aren’t being answered, nothing is changing regarding a certain situation. But in reality, GOD is so, so busy, working in our favour”. This brought such a calmness over me…GOD is always in control. I just wanted to share this experience with you, as Proverbs 31 is such a blessing to me. I will also begin to have new views/perspectives on 2013, and look forward to the coming year with much joy and anticipation!!
I sure would like to see my self in a different way. I am tired of feeling like a worthless loser. When I comment on that or how ugly I am…my little girl overheard once and told me I was beautiful. My boys tell me I am an awesome mom. I sure would like to see what they see. I wish I had their “window”. I am looking forward to following you on your journey. You are so inspiring!
Wendy so true we do have to realize that god isvalways in control but sometimes we forget and this new year i letting god take full control i may not like it but i think u get in to place thst u have to let god be god and not control everything i think people try to and then wonder whynthingsvare not going like they should..
I want to change the way I view my time. As a single full-time working mom with two kids, I always feel like I have no time for anything. But instead of always feeling rushed and strapped for time, I’m going to make time for the more important things. I’m going to try to streamline my life a little bit more and get things more organized so that I can spend time doing what matters most.
I’m about to become a mother…seven weeks to go! I’m very excited about the new view I will have as a mother, especially since my husband and I waited nearly 8 years to start our family.
This year I would like to develop a godly control over my spending.
In the midst if God blessing Abraham he asked Abraham to do one thing. Gen 2:12 “and you are to be blessing”. When I read that this morning I realized that with everything God has blessed us with we are asked by God to turn it around bless someone. I want to look at everything I say, do or own and bless somebody with it.
I like that Lysa-focusing on the opportunity not on the problem!! Great way to start the new year-I am with you!!
Pamela
I found myself thinking about your homeschooling adventure this year…How is it going with your daughter? I am excited about a new view, and in this year of “FINALLY” for me, getting things that I have procrastinated about out of the way so that I can see His light more clearly!!
Happy New Year Lysa ! Love, Love, Love your message !!!! Today is my 54th Birthday and so i can wrap my “new view” in with my Birthday “ripe age view” and that would be: HEALTH, HAPPY and HOPE! Claiming Psalm 146
oopps…..think you said one view…. “HAPPY is she who has the God of Jacob for her help, whose HOPE is in the LORD her GOD.” Psalm 146:5
HAPPY in MN
I like the “problem responder” new view as well. As much as I would like to focus on the opportunity, I have a tendency to focus on the problem. I would love to hear what you have to say, Lysa!
My year is starting off 60 pounds thinner, I will be 62 in a week, its amazing to me how much the world has changed since I was a child….. I like your ideas look at the opportunity not the problem. My prayer is that God would give me eyes and compassion like he has, to be able to help others,in ways to show them His love.
I guess its like our upcoming Bible Study, “How To Be a Mary in a Martha World” that we are starting on Monday. Happy New Year,Lysa!!
Congrats Sheila, I’m cheering for you and all the hard work you invested to get to this place. It’s not easy changing our eating habits but so well worth the healthy results.
Cheering! Lysa
I’m in!
The Old View: trying to make my life like the picture in my head
The New View: enjoying the life God gives me each day
Wow! Kelly, that’s a great one for sure. Thanks for sharing.
This is exactly where I am right now myself. So excited to change my view and look at some things in my life differently. I love the one you have that so many of us should add, we just don’t seem to allow ourselves to enjoy the one thing or few things that are thriving.
Thanks Lysa for your blog it is such an encouragement!
Timely post for me! My word of the year is new and my verses of the year are Isaiah 43:18-19. I am tired of being stuck in a sad rut in life. I am ready to have hope and see God do lots of new things in me, my family and my life!
There will be many new things in my life this year as my son marries the love of his life and I gain a daughter-in-law, and my daughter gets engaged to the love of her life. These are all positive changes and I pray God walks with me every step as he has done so far. I am excited beyond words.
Great article Lisa!!
My old view- altering myself, my attitude, my speech, pretending to be someone Im not to gain acceptance from others.
New view-learning and embracing who I am in Christ while striving to improve my imperfections and accepting the differences between myself and others realizing we all are unique in so many ways!
Well, I have stuttered for 30+ years and I have let it define who I am. And I have allowed fear, worry and shame (to name a few) do the same. I am in counseling and God has really been showing me truths and the lies that I have been believing. My eyes are being opened and I praise Him for that so I can change! My new view will be seeing myself as God made me…wonderful and BELIEVE IT TO MY CORE..
I have a lot of changes going on in my life. I have no control over any of it, the only thing I can do is change the way I view it all. My sister has a very rare terminal illness and we started the year with a hospitalization and minor surgery, she is going down hill quite rapidly. I am her care giver and power of attorney so all decisions are on me. It is also looking as if my family and I may be changing to a new church and my heart is breaking. Also looking into possibly furthering my education at 34. Scared but following God’s lead so……..focusing on the opportunity is a great thing for me. I am with you in this New Year. Excited to see what is to come.
my new view is “It’s all about me 2013″:. Time to refocus on me and my relationship with God, and focus less on the daily struggles. My life has been centered around my children or taking care of others to the point I have “lost me”
What a great post! A new view is exactly what I need, sadly in many areas. Parenting, responding, volunteering, blessing my home. I can’t wait to see more on this idea. I think it will really help me.
my “new view” is focusing on a word – one word…..the idea from a blogger in Proverbs 31 mag this month
my new view is FAITH. All year long I will apply this word to my ‘various’ views. I think it will lead to exciting new places as well as get me through some dark days. I need a single focus in my busy existence. This was a perfect idea for this scattered brain girl!!
A new view of my body and focusing on what I put in it. Am I honoring or dishonoring it by consuming foods that are not good for my body, soul, and ultimately my spirit.
Lysa going to not focus on the failures of last year!
going to read made to crave again but looking through God’s eyes and not my own.
I can do it with God’s help. Thanks for your inspiration and for being so real!!
Lysa, Happy New Year to you and all that you do. I am turning 51 tomorrow and I too am starting a new year with a new attitude and a new way of looking at things. I am remembering to look to God first, last and all the moments in between. Thank you for your words of encouragement, support and prayers. I love reading the devotionals as well as all your books. It’s like talking to a friend everyday in some small way. Thank you! Thank you! Thank you! God bless you and your family this new year with peace, joy and happiness:)
James 1:2 Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds,
My new view will be to concentrate on listening and then talking. I want my words to be uplifting, caring and compassionate at ALL times — not just when it is convenient for me. Others first! Me last !! Listen to God. He is ALWAYS there for me. I have to remember “be still and know I am God”
My new view will to let go of the past and to think more positively. Often times my mind reminds me of the wrong others have done to me and has me to believe that everyone is out for my detriment. I am looking forward to being challenged in this area in my life so that I may grow, move forward, and become the Woman God has called me to be. Thank you, Lysa for allowing GOD to use you that you may be a blessing to other women!
My Old View: I am not good enough
My New Desired View: I am good enough. He makes me good
I know that one of my struggles has always been a negative attitude of myself but my desire is to walk in the goodness in who Christ has made me to be.
Wow! I received chills as I read this because I realized that God was confirming to me that my seeking something “New” is exactly where He wants me to be. I just emailed my associate pastor early Thursday morning after a night of sleeplessness. I think Starbucks gave me a caffeinated pepperment mocha that night instead of the decaf I asked for, but I know God also needed my attention while everyone else was asleep. I told my AP I was tired of struggling with the juggling of my life as it is now, and I have felt for a long time a tugging in my heart that God has a bigger plan for me that involves reaching out to others. Reaching out is not new to me, but due to going back to work full time and now having the typical hectic schedule of a teen and pre-teen in the home, I have moved far away from where I felt that I was in His will in serving using the gifts and talents He gave me. Now my seeking of a New view will be to find out exactly what that is, and how can it be used to serve Him either where I’m at now or if a real change is to come. Praise Him for those heart tugs! Thank you, Lysa, for being His instrument.
Carol
Thanks you for sharing those words Lysa! That is exactly where I’m at. I’m resigning my job today at a public school (a job that I’ve had for 24 years) in order to follow God’s call. I have been praying for God to direct my life (and guide my career) and to give me a willing spirit to follow where ever that call may lead me. God has opened a new door for me and I was offered a position at my church (at a much lower pay) but I have peace knowing that this is God’s will for my life!
For 2013, I have determined to complain less or not at all and be thankful to God in all things. For example, God showed me that I could be thankful despite a broken water pipe and spending a half day of vacation at the laundromat cleaning wet clothes. I am thankful that two of us were at home when the flood happened and got the water main shut off fairly quickly, started the shop vac, and got stuff up off the floor. I am thankful that the flood didn’t happen when we were all asleep or on the weekend Bahamas cruise and that everything was not ruined in my sister in law’s house. It’s a miracle that our pasports were not ruined. Oh my!
I am looking forward to future blogs/devotions. I recently sent about four “replys” to your devotionals….I didn’t notice the view comments section. I don’t know if you received them or not….but I basically shared my life experience (briefly) in regards to your devotional…..and a thank you for sharing your faith and life experience on your blogs too.
Kathy Stowik
The Old View: Knowing that God is in control and makes no mistakes (in my head)
The New View: Knowing that God is in control and makes no mistakes (showing that belief in my daily actions, reactions, and interactions) . . . it’s a long way from the head to the heart
I’ll like to change my way of praying studying God’s word. I would like to to pray long and study more. in the 2013 year.
I am in with this New Year Viewing.. I am asking for a New mindset and to look at things with a positive approach.To speak the word of God into my life and any situation that arises…His word is full of promises and they are mine and I want to be completely in agreement with my Father in heaven….Knowing his word is a lamp unto my feet and a light unto my path…i shall never walk in darkness as his light always shines for me to find my way…To believe what he has said I am and to shut up the enemy;s mouth…
It seems trivial, but I hate not finishing my to do lists. When I don’t finish them, I feel like I’ve totally failed at my entire day, even if my to do list was thirty items long and I finished twenty of them. Even if my day was productive and my family goes to bed warm and fed and happy, I feel shame at not doing everything that I set out to do. It goes back to the need for finishing what I start. But shame is a strange thing to feel over unbaked cookies and a ceiling fan that went undusted. I feel like it’s not as simple as saying ‘don’t be so hard on yourself.’ But maybe it really is that simple. I’m struggling with changing my perspective to turn to joy rather than dwelling in despair.
I just discovered your blog today and must say, I am encouraged! I have been such a negative, angry person, and really wanting and striving to make a change-working to become more disciplined in the Word and really inviting the Holy Spirit into each and every moment in my life. I have struggled with this immensely in the past. That is my “new view” for the New Year. I appreciate your words so much already and look forward to keeping up with your blog from now on.
My new view is looking at God in my surroundings, personifying him (spelled wrongly? oh well). One day, when i was on the train, as i looked out the window (i have looked through that countless of times), i watched the orange glow in the sky with streaks of blue and white. I suddenly thought “God is showing that to me”, and I felt touched. Then when this really big sized guy almost lost his balance and could have made me a pancake before i said “Oh no”, he regained his balance and i was still in my normal clothes size, i saw it as an act by God in preventing that, i was grateful. Previously, although i tried attributing moments to God in thanks, but never did i see God in my situations, daily mundane moments such as taking the train or doing something. God is like a knight in everyday moments, when i think about it, seeing Him in everything, it makes the moment amazingly beautiful/ wowed.
I recently discovered your blog and am encouraged by the humble words of so many women who obviously LOVE the Lord. It is my hearts desire to grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ…….just as so many of you ladies have. To put away the old, and let God bring in the new. To stop having an angry and critical spirit. To be rid of this root of bitterness, resentment and unforgiveness that has poisoned my life…..and others. To desire to hunger and thirst for God each and every day. To allow Him to search the depths of my heart….. in order to become the women of God, HE created me to be. To totally surrender the outcome of my marriage break-up to Him and leave it at the foot of the cross. To begin to truly know that God is my refuge and my strength. That HE Loves me with an unconditional love. And trust that He will do a MIRACLE in both my husband’s and my heart…..in order to heal and restore our marriage…….if indeed, that is God’s plan for us.. THANK YOU for sharing your heart cries. God sees our every tear and loves us with an everlasting love. He will NEVER leave or forsake us. God Bless You All.