10 Thoughts for the New Year — K.P. Yohannan

Welcome to the year 2022, and I wish you all the best and God's blessings. I want to remind you of 10 important words I think would help you to live a life with meaning and purpose. One, influence. There's nothing more dangerous and destructive than negative influence on social media or from friends and whatever.

Choosing Influences That Shape the Christian Life

Philippians chapter 4 says we should think and consider always things that are wholesome. Avoid negative influence. Number two, why. Ask the question, why we do what we do? Why we decide certain things the way we decide?

Asking Why in Light of Eternity

And then, why am I living and doing things like this, especially in the light of eternity? Keep asking the question, why? Number three, passion. That which makes us to live a significant life and contribute significantly for people in need, their lives can be transformed, it is our passion.

Living With Passion to Transform Lives

Not by force, not by demand, but this is part of our inner being. That's what Jesus does. Number four, witness. The sun up there in the sky is not striving to give out warmth and light. It is. Jesus said, you are my witnesses.

Becoming a Witness Through Actions and Kindness

It is our responsibility to live out what he said we are. For example, wherever you go, carry a few gospel tracts with you and as your heart prompts you, give that to someone. You'll be surprised how many thousands will turn to the Lord just by reading a simple gospel tract.

Be kind to strangers and represent him through your life, conversation and behavior. You are Christ now in our generation. That's what he asked us. Number five, simplify. Minimalism is a word that is now becoming popular.

Simplifying Life to Help Those in Need

Tiny houses. Half of the world go to bed with empty stomach and naked bodies and we should be careful and concerned how much stuff we must acquire. And all those things crowd in and kill the peace, the quietness and simple life which Jesus lived that we must follow.

No one should put you on a guilt trip as to what you should have or what car you should drive, but it's your choice to live with less. Why? So that others who have nothing will have a chance to find hope and life.

Embracing Suffering and the Way of Discipleship

And number six, suffering. Nobody liked that. Jesus said, unless you choose your cross, the inconvenience, the difficulties and follow me, you cannot be my disciple. No, it's a choice to embrace whatever the Lord tells you, which yourself, your ego will not like it.

Asking forgiveness or humbling yourself. But suffering is the only way to become like Christ. Philippians chapter three, you can read that. Number seven, prayer. Why don't you come to yourself just one day or the week for fasting and prayer?

Prayer, Fasting, and Standing in the Gap

See the crisis, the tragedy, the need, the opportunity in our world, everywhere. You and I are called to pray and stand in the gap. Number eight, gossip. There's nothing more destructive and dangerous, both in the family and among friends and church everywhere than gossip.

Guarding the Heart Against Gossip

No, all days you had to go somewhere to talk to someone, but now you pick up the cell phone and talk to people. Be cautious what you say about others and what you hear. Keep your heart, your mind clean from gossip.

Daily Surrender to Christ

Number nine, surrender. There's no way we can make one commitment to Christ and succeed for the rest of their life. No, it's a daily surrender. And learn more and more of abandoning ourselves continually.

Make it a daily habit early morning when you get up and say, Lord, here I am. My soul. My spirit. My body. It's yours and everything with it. Number 10, missions. Some three billion people in our world still wait to hear Jesus died on the cross, was buried on the cross again, that he is the Lord and Savior.

Returning to the Heart of Missions

How can we close our eyes and pretend that is not true? Our churches are losing its grip on missions and walking away and then canceling out, raising up end people to serve the Lord or spend money. Let us come back to the heart of following Christ.

That is, he said, go to the whole world and send others to go. Let us be Christ now in our generation, both for our life and for actions. May the Lord bless you and may this year be a year of great blessing as you continue this pilgrimage.