For the last few days I have asked you to spend some time on self-examination. I pray you have reflected, refocused, and reset so you may finish the last 90 days of 2024 strong.
Have you set a goal? Have you started some new routines? What will you do to keep growing closer to and more like Christ?
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.
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.
Julie and I usually refer to Thursdays as Thankful Thursday. Years ago, when my children were younger, we would take time on Thursdays to somehow thank someone for their presence in our lives. Sometimes we would simply write a thank you note. Other times we would take time to bake cookies or buy a small token of appreciation and deliver it on Thursday. This habit was a small gesture of thinking of others and practicing gratitude. Including today, there are 13 Thursdays left in 2025. What habit could you incorporate to show appreciation of others on Thankful Thursdays?
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.
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.
We have started the last 90 days of 2025. Are you on the path to finish the year strong? How are you improving your mental, emotional, and spiritual life? Are you stepping out of your boat of comfort and taking steps to move closer to Christ?
Take a few moments to read this article titled Self-improvement, 1 Percent At A Time by Duke Corporate Education. This article explains the “aggregate of marginal gains” theory.
Spend some time examining yourself. What are you doing for the final push of the year to improve yourself and become 1% better each day?
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.
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.
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.
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 40:28-31 ESV — Have you not known? Have you not heard? The Lord is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth. He does not faint or grow weary; his understanding is unsearchable. He gives power to the faint, and to him who has no might he increases strength. Even youths shall faint and be weary, and young men shall fall exhausted; but they who wait for the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles; they shall run and not be weary; they shall walk and not faint.
On this Savor Saturday, I encourage us to savor the times we rest in God and experience pockets of peace and hope. Deborah, Ray, and I have savored our time reading and sharing The Bible Recap with each other. Tara-Leigh Coble says, “The more we know God and His Word, the more hopeful we’ll be—not full of hope in our desired outcome, but hope in Him.”
Today’s key verse was written by one of the Major Prophets, Isaiah who instructs us that “the Lord is the Everlasting God.” We are instructed by the Apostle Paul that we can find hope in what is written in God’s word in Romans 15:4 ESV — For whatever was written in former days was written for our instruction, that through endurance and through the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope.
I challenge us to savor our time of rest with God as we go to our places of worship tomorrow.
