^” Not that I have already obtained this or am already perfect, but I press on to make it my own, because Christ Jesus has made me his own. Brothers, I do not consider that I have made it my own. But one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead, I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus. Let those of us who are mature think this way, and if in anything you think otherwise, God will reveal that also to you. “- Philippians 3:12 – 15

A new year has begun and I am full of hope. Not because everything is easy or all is perfectly tranquil in my life. In fact, it is quite the contrary. Never have I been so fully spent at the end of each day, fully “used up” for The Lord by serving my family. Never have I had so much placed upon my shoulders. And yet, my hope is here – in this one thing – that Jesus said to come to Him when I, when we His children are burdened and heavy laden and that He, He alone, can and will provide us with the rest and peace that we need from the strain of our labors. He said that His yoke is easy and His burden is light and that when we come to Him, we will find certain rest for our souls. I relish in this truth today.

Never before have I been so aware of the need to “cut the fat” from my life. I am unable to do much more these days than simply take care of our family of five and keep the household running properly – and it is enough for me. The “extra burdens” I had readily heaped on my shoulders enthusiastically now seem to reveal themselves just for what they are – unnecessary weight on my journey.

I don’t know about you, but I feel strongly that this is a year to travel lightly, friends. To lay down unnecessary burdens, cares, and responsibilities that God has not given to us and to focus on the ones that we know for sure that He has. It all becomes pretty black and white when we do.

I don’t know about you, but when I am physically carrying too much (car seat containing 12 lb child, diaper bag containing all but the kitchen sink, and often a 32 lb toddler with the other hand) I move much more slowly and snap more easily. The same goes with our spiritual lives. A man (or woman) whose life is weighed down with cares cannot run joyfully the race that God has marked out for him.

Our society, our workplaces, our families, our friends, our communities may all seek to hand us these extra burdens but we are our worst enemy when it comes to taking on unnecessary weight. We simply need to learn a very easy, two letter word that is most toddlers first: “No.” Why is it so hard to turn down tasks, offers, assignments, even opportunities when they come if we know deep down we shouldn’t be doing them? Lots of reasons – fear, worry, regret, feeling we might miss out on something, and all sorts of others, but none of them good.

For me, I have found some very good reasons to say “no” to some very good things that come my way these days that are not God things.

1. The “good” is always the enemy of the best – we are not often tempted to exchange our time and attention for that which is useless and unprofitable. It is something good, something worthwhile that draws us away. So I ask myself, “Is this a good thing or a God thing?”

2. The days are long but the years are short – a friend of mine told me that these “little years” with the kids go by in a flash, in the blink of an eye they are grown and independent and needing us so much less. While it is hard for me to imagine during the long days that I face now, full of diapers, messes, play dough, cookies, dress ups, and loads and loads of laundry, I know that these times will not last forever. Which brings me to the topic of this blog post – foresight.

3. If we can foresee the outcome of investing our time, money, and attention in the areas and ways God is calling us to today, we will reap the rewards of a happy harvest when the time of realization comes.

Dream with me here. I have a 3 month old, a 2 year old, and a 4 year old daughter. My number one job is caring for them and loving them. As I said before, right now I expend every ounce of energy I have in training and caring for them. Teaching them why not to touch hot things, why they really shouldn’t eat sugar all day, why it is good to learn to put their clothes away, wash their hands before eating, and hold my hand when we cross the street. Why they should choose their friends wisely, invest their time in that which matters for eternity, spend long hours (but now, for them, minutes) gazing into the face of Jesus worshipping Him and meditating on His Word. I am sowing seeds. I expect a harvest. I have faith.

I have faith and I foresee with hope:

1. Three little girls brimming with hearts of love and jealousy for the Lord to be their all and everything in this life and the one to come.

2. Three little girls who will love and forgive each other and be each others friends and companions through even the hardest times.

3. Three little girls who will love the unlovable, the despised of society, those who are different in every way from them.

4. Three little girls who will pick up litter on the road, pay for a ruined library book out of their own money, or give away their allowance to someone in need.

5. Three little girls who will care so much more about soul image than body image.

6. Three little girls who, when grown, will enter into this dark world drenched in light,  wisdom, and discernment; covered in our prayers, love and grace, and guided by their Master’s hands.

7. Three little girls who will value giving more than receiving and will store up their treasures in heaven.

8. Three little girls who will be a voice for the voiceless and will be strong and firm in their convictions and beliefs.

9. Three little girls who will become three older girls who will become three ladies – who will become my very best friends in the world – who will know without a shadow of a doubt that in our imperfect, flawed home, they were loved tremendously and lavishly and unconditionally – and always will be.

10. Three little girls who will shake the nations of the world for Christ.

What is your dream, what is your vision? What is the field you are plowing in today, my friend? Laboring and sweating and toiling in? Take some time at the start of this year to assess – is this the ground I ought to be sweating for, toiling in? If it isn’t, change your field or prune where needed. If it is, take some time to foresee in faith where all this sowing and plowing and investing is going to take you – because it is taking you somewhere, dear one. We are all on a race, we are all on a journey – lets run for One alone – looking at One alone – the face of the One who saved us for His Kingdom.