Reset Your Rhythms By Gary G. Hoag

Seven Ways to Reset Your Rhythms in 2021

I want to invite you to join me in resetting your rhythms in 2021. Let me explain.

God often gives diligent stewards bigger roles with greater responsibilities. Perhaps you can relate? And, I don’t know about you, but with COVID it seemed like everything multiplied exponentially. My big plate got bigger. The scope of duties swelled. The challenges became more complex. Often urgent items pushed the important to the side.

As a result, I felt like I was running in crisis mode for much of the year (because I was). Sound familiar?

It’s a new year, and because I don’t want to survive this new year but thrive, I am giving myself a taste of my own medicine. I am revisiting seven rhythms from a 30-day devotional book I co-authored two years ago, entitled, Thrive.

Here are the seven rhythms, sample practices I plan to pursue, and a link to download the devotional freely.

(1) Rest

Christian workers tend to be so focused on ministry that they do not take care of themselves. Are you getting enough rest? As exhaustion is a hindrance to spiritual growth, we cannot minister effectively if we are running on empty. Practice: I plan to take two naps a week and target seven hours of sleep per night. How will you rest?

(2) Study

When we run hard it is common to snack on Scripture rather than feast on it due to limited time. But that’s like living on granola bars; it’s good for a meal but not as a diet. Practice: This year I plan to feast on 12 books: Matthew, Mark, Luke, John, Ezra, Nehemiah, Esther, Psalms, Isaiah, Jeremiah, Ezekiel, and Daniel. What will you study?

(3) Work

If you are like me, you enjoy work so much it can be all-consuming. Good workers pace themselves for the long haul by having boundaries to avoid overworking. Practice: Set limits to work. Only be available in the case of emergencies beyond work hours and try not to access messages or emails outside work hours. When will you work?

(4) Money

January is a great time to revisit the allocations in your personal budget. Or, if you don’t have a budget, it’s time to make one. Practice: Shortly, I have my annual review, and my salary is likely to rise. Once I know my income, I plan to assess giving and spending with my wife so we steward well all God supplies. What if you revisited your budget?

(5) Service

Service is about using the gifts that God has given each of us to make known God’s love. However, like the ministry blokes in the Good Samaritan story, we can often be too busy to see and serve the needy around us. Practice: I will try to love my neighbors well by serving on my homeowner’s association board. Where will you serve?

(6) Relationships

Nurturing relationships is like caring for plants. If we don’t give them the right attention, they wither. They can be built up with thoughtful activities. Practice: I am learning to pursue people and get more exercise. My aim is to try to combine the two with some kind of monthly outing. What activities might you plan? With whom

(7) Gratitude

Giving thanks often is key to experiencing contentment and finding joy. We can give thanks for small things as well as big ones. Practice: On dates with my wife we have often played the alphabet game. I think we need to have a monthly gratitude date, thinking of things we are thankful for from A-Z. How will you grow in gratitude?

Will you join me in resetting your rhythms?

You don’t have to choose the same practices, but if you don’t chart a course for rest, study, work, money, service, relationships, and gratitude, you will likely flounder instead of flourish.

To help you and those you serve, visit this link to download Thrive. Share the link with others, so they too can download it freely. Perhaps go through it with your small group.

May God help us not just survive but thrive for His glory.

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Gary G. Hoag, Ph.D., serves as President & CEO of Global Trust Partners or GTP, the international entity birthed by ECFA. In obedient service to Jesus Christ, GTP multiplies faithful stewards and mobilizes peer accountability groups to build trust and to grow local generous giving to God’s work. Visit GTP.org to learn more and to download other free resources.

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