Guest: Gabe Boyd
Resolutions and Advice to Young Converts by Jonathan Edwards
Luke 2:52 - Jesus grew in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and with man.
How do we set goals that challenge us, but are also something that we can accomplish in the upcoming year?! As you evaluate life and areas for growth, ask some friends and family for recommendations on areas where you can improve - trust me, they’ll have a few suggestions for you!
Gabe - it’s about progress, not perfection!
Building a better life includes building a strong community, surrounding yourself with godly men who can model the way for you, older guys to mentor you and younger guys you can pour life into - building that strong community is vital.
Goals aren’t just about you getting better, but getting better for the purpose of doing all that God has called for you to do - it’s not about you, but about you actively being engaged to make the world a better place!
Areas for growth:
- Wisdom
- Reading - this year, set a goal to read at least one book a month! Start somewhere!
- Various categories to consider:
- Stature
- What are your goals to be the best version of yourself in terms of your physical stature - but also in terms of your mind, emotions, how you carry yourself, your attitude…
- Difference between your job - vocation and calling - check out The Call by Os Guinness
- Favor with God
- Learning how to rest in His grace and love - battling against the “performance culture” that tries to mold believers into the world’s idea of “success” - Scripture tells us that we’re working from victory (in Christ) and not to victory
- We learn to live in obedience not for our own glory, but to bring the proper attention and give the proper weight to who God is - He is worthy of our lives - our “worth-ship”
- Favor with man
- Colossians 3:12-14 Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity.
- The Bait of Satan by John Bevere and When People are Big and God is Small by Ed Welch deal with the power and importance of forgiveness
- Galatians 5:16-23 So I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh. For the flesh desires what is contrary to the Spirit, and the Spirit what is contrary to the flesh. They are in conflict with each other, so that you are not to do whatever you want. But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law. The acts of the flesh are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity and debauchery; idolatry and witchcraft; hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions and envy; drunkenness, orgies, and the like. I warn you, as I did before, that those who live like this will not inherit the kingdom of God. But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law.
T4M guys - just a reminder that Training4Manhood is a non-profit, 501(c)(3) ministry and you can make donations either via Zelle (info@training4manhood.com) or by visiting the Training4Manhood website.
Huge thank you to Jared Wood for allowing T4M to use his music in our intro and outro selections.
