Reorienting for the New Year

Every year my kids have tried to go to a camp that has a pretty intense spiritual emphasis. My oldest went first and the others have followed suit as age allowed. Last year was the first year all four got to attend at one time. One sultry afternoon, my oldest ran into my youngest on campus. She could tell he was little disoriented but not perplexed. She asked him, “What are you doing?” He very confidently replied, “I’m looking for the chapel. I don’t know where I am, but I know if I find the chapel, I’ll know where to go from there.”

Life is so much the same. When Colossians 3:2 tells us to “Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth,” it’s to keep you on track or to reorient you. With busy lives, it’s so easy to let the busyness rule the day and the urgent things rule the moment. You and I both are apt to wake up in a hurry, leave in a hurry, interact with our family in a hurry, pass people in a hurry, and think about Christ in a hurry—with no compass to determine where we are. To set your mind on things above is to have your spiritual compass guiding you.

How do you have a spiritual compass or set your mind on things above? It’s simple (but it isn’t easy). It means to be in God’s Word every day. Memorize it. Look to Christ for wisdom; watching for Him; waiting for Him (Prov. 8:24). It means being in regular fellowship with others in your church body (Heb. 10:24-25).

As you enter into a New Year, take time to reorient your mind and heart (priorities). Where is Jesus in your life? Where is your church family in your life? Start off your day with Christ. Pray over the details of your day and family. Pray throughout the day for wisdom. Intentionally meditate on Scripture. Then, more and more, your mind will be set on things above and not on things of this earth.

Like my son who didn’t let himself get lost in a place that was not his home but rather reoriented himself by the chapel, don’t let yourself get lost in a world that is not your home. Instead of feeling lost in and ruled by our hurried, seductive culture—find your Bible each day, look to Christ in it, and keep your mind focused on Him and His priorities. Happy Re-Oriented New Year, friends!