Colossians 3:2 NIV — Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things.

Later this week we begin the last 90 days of the year. How is 2025 going for you? Are you finishing the year strong? Often we start the year with a list of goals and intentions but quickly lose resolve. Rachel Hollis, author and motivational speaker, chooses to look at the last 90 days of the year as a time to reflect, refocus, and reset in order to end the year the best way possible. Years ago Hollis created a Last 90 Days Challenge and suggests habits to help the last of the year be successful. She calls these habits “5 to Thrive.” Below is the list of the 5 to Thrive habits. Which of these habits are you willing to commit to as you finish out 2025 strong?

• Wake up earlier
• Practice gratitude
• Drink water
• Exercise
• Release something (such as a bad habit)

Let’s pray. Dear God, open my eyes, ears, mind, and heart to Your presence today. Help me to begin the process of reflecting, refocusing, and resetting as I approach the last 90 days of 2025. May reflecting Your light be my primary goal. In Jesus’ name I pray, Amen.

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This week we will focus on the last 90 days of 2025. As you prepare for our week ahead, take some time to read and meditate on this week’s featured scripture.

Colossians 3:2 NIV — Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things.

1 Corinthians 9:24-27 MSG — You’ve all been to the stadium and seen the athletes race. Everyone runs; one wins. Run to win. All good athletes train hard. They do it for a gold medal that tarnishes and fades. You’re after one that’s gold eternally. I don’t know about you, but I’m running hard for the finish line. I’m giving it everything I’ve got. No lazy living for me! I’m staying alert and in top condition. I’m not going to get caught napping, telling everyone else all about it and then missing out myself.

Philippians 2:3 NIV — Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others.

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We are nearing the last 90 days of 2025. How will you finish strong? Take a moment to listen to Finish Strong by Danny Gokey and His Strength Is Perfect by Steven Curtis Chapman. Begin our week together by praying for God to open your eyes to the ways you can finish 2025 being the best you can be.

‭‭Isaiah‬ ‭26‬:‭3‬ ‭NIV‬‬ — You will keep in perfect peace those whose minds are steadfast, because they trust in you.

Looking at this photo I see strong sea shells that have been shaped over time by the ocean. We too are strong and overtime have been shaped by our faith. We can stand taller and stronger knowing the God of all peace is in control. I also see a pair of sunglasses. Those glasses can change our perception of the sun. We have the choice to put them on or take them off. Perception is a choice. 

Martin Luther King Jr. has written, “Peace is not merely a distant goal that we seek, but a means by which we arrive at the goal.”

I pray each of us will choose to walk in God’s peace and rely on His strength with each new day. We know that only God can give us that strength to accomplish our goals as we read in ‭‭Psalms‬ ‭29‬:‭11‬ ‭NIV‬‬ — The Lord gives strength to his people; the Lord blesses his people with peace.

Will you choose to seek God through the process of reaching your goals?

Let’s pray. Dear God, thank You for the process of reaching my goals through Your strength and for Your glory. I desire to seek You in all that I do. In Jesus’ name I pray, Amen.

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‭‭Romans‬ ‭15‬:‭13‬ ‭NIV‬‬ — May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.

A tree can be a symbol of hope. Not only are trees made by God but they are also designed to transform over the years to become big and strong. I want us to reflect on four key words from this verse in Romans.

Hope: A feeling of expectation and desire for a certain thing to happen.

Joy: A feeling of great pleasure.

Peace: Freedom from disturbance; tranquility.

Trust: Firm belief in the reliability, truth, ability, or strength of someone or something.

I encourage us all to pick a word to focus on today. When we start to feel discouraged, sad, or worried may this verse transform our feelings to bring us joy, to place our trust in God so that we can experience peace and hope.

What do the coming days look like for you? Maybe you have a long to-do list. Maybe your calendar is full of appointments. Perhaps not much is planned, either way, looking at a full week can be exhausting. Good news, each day has been given its own date with 24 hours. We can take it one day, one hour at a time. Treat each day as a gift. 

Let’s pray. Dear God, thank You for the gift of today. I desire to trust in You and what You have planned for me today so that I can experience Your peace and hope. In Jesus’ name I pray, Amen.

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‭‭Philippians‬ ‭4‬:‭12‬-‭13‬ ‭NIV‬‬ — I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. I can do all this through him who gives me strength.

One of my favorite promises to stand on is from Philippians 4:13. We tend to overlook the verse that it follows, Philippians 4:12 NIV — I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want.

The definition of contentment; a state of happiness and satisfaction. Contentment and the gift of peace could look different for so many. It may be free of addiction, or financial freedom, or a wayward child comes home, or a marriage mended, or a loved one saved, or a cancer patient healed. As humans, we think we know what contentment looks like, so we continually strive for more. We tend to become unsettled and are no longer at peace with ourselves when our idea of contentment changes. 

I encourage you this week to evaluate what contentment looks like for you. Ask God to settle your heart and give you His perfect peace. There are days when your Journey to peace is longer than others, remember that you can do all things through Christ who strengthens you.

Let’s pray. Dear God, thank You that I can do all things through You who strengthens me. Settle my heart and give me peace that only You can offer. In Jesus’ name I pray, Amen.

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