4 Things You Can Do Now to Prepare for January

Why do we do this? Why do we over schedule ourselves during December to the point that when December 25^th finally arrives we’re exhausted mentally, emotionally, and physically? There are the church staff parties, kidmin leadership parties, preschool and children’s ministry parties, church-wide events requiring child care, school programs, and extended family gatherings. And, good luck trying to decorate your house and go Christmas shopping!

 Do you ever wonder what God thinks about all this busyness? I think Solomon provides a glimpse of God’s view through this statement: “When I considered all that I had accomplished and what I had labored to achieve, I found everything to be futile and a pursuit of the wind.” (Ecclesiastes 2:11) Taken in context of the entire Bible we know that this teaching does not condemn hard work, because elsewhere in the Scriptures God speaks against laziness.

 However, I don’t believe busyness and productive hard work are synonymous. I do think that when we are unnecessarily busy, we sometimes fail to follow God’s plan and are prone to miss His will. So, here are four things we can do now to be more effective kidmin leaders in January:

Review. Spend time listing major ministry accomplishments this year. Also, write down your biggest challenges and disappointments related to kids ministry.

Reflect. Think through both lists. What led to the kids ministry successes? Why did some of your ministry efforts fail? What is God teaching you about ministry success and failure? Whom did your ministry positively impact this year?

Renew. Thank God for what He accomplished through you in ministry this year. Ask God’s forgiveness for the times you strayed from His plan. Take extended time to meditate on God’s Word. (Note: don’t try to cram your annual Bible reading plan into the next 24 hours!) Rest physically. Turn off your mobile devices and the TV. Take a walk. Say, “No,” to some of the Christmas parties.

Refocus. Ask God to show you what is important and what is His desire for your church’s kids ministry in 2020. Write down one or two ministry goals for the new year. Write down one or two personal aspirations. These are not resolutions. They are what you believe God wants you to focus on in the next 12 months.

Confession: I’m terrible at reviewing, reflecting, renewing, and refocusing. I’m better at reminiscing, ruminating, regretting, and reliving. But that’s not God’s will for you and me in 2020. Instead, let’s join the Apostle Paul in saying, “But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and reaching forward to what is ahead, I pursue as my goal the prize promised by God’s heavenly call in Christ Jesus.” (Philippians 3:13-14)