MAKE LIFE BETTER IN 2025
Proverbs 22:17 NLT
Listen to the words of the wise; apply your heart to my instruction.
I’d like to offer some simple, wise, instructive ideas that will make your life better in 2025. Apply these simple ideas, and experience for yourself, the wonderful benefits.
Get better sleep this year. Go to bed at the same time each night, and get up the same time each morning, 7 days a week. Don’t stay up late. Don’t short change your sleep. You need at least 8 hours! Get a white noise machine for your bedroom. Keep your bedroom a bit cooler. Don’t keep your phone in your bedroom at night. You’ll be far more productive and energized.
Take a 20 minute nap every day. You’ll be much more refreshed. Do it as part of your lunch hour. Whether you go to your car and recline in the seat for 20 minutes, or find an empty room at work to lay on your back and close your eyes. For those working from home, lay down on your bed. It will recharge you for the rest of the day.
Build an emergency fund this year. Start by saving $100 per month. Cut back on any non-essential items or things in your budget to achieve this savings amount. Prepare for the unexpected as it will surely happen.
Add 5 minutes of HIIT training to your daily routine. This will greatly improve your heart health, blood pressure, help you lose weight, and sharpen your mental focus. There are very easy ways to do this. Walk up and down your basement stairs or stairs at work for 5 minutes. If you own a bike, purchase the Costway Magnetic Indoor Bike Trainer. I use this trainer each day for 5 minutes, several times a day. Super easy to set up, and just leave up. I alternate between 30 seconds at normal speed, then 30 seconds fast, for 5 minutes. If you’re just starting this type of exercise, go 1 minute at a normal pace, 30 seconds fast, and repeat for 5 minutes.
Read a chapter in Proverbs each day that corresponds to the day of the month. You’ll be blessed by what you learn.
Start an IRA for yourself and one for your wife. Start by contributing at least $50 per month to each of them. Do more if you possibly can. The next 4 years should be very good for the economy, and you will be very thankful you started one when you’re older.
Make some simple, beneficial changes to your diet. Such as eating 2 apples a day. Add some walnuts as a snack. Add black beans to your scrambled eggs. Cut out candy, pop, chips, highly processed foods. Your body will thank you AND you’ll get to keep more of your hard earned money!!
Make time to pray, and to thank God every single morning at the start of your day. Do this for at least 15 minutes. You’ll be amazed how it impacts your attitude, and your spirit. The more you involve God in your life, the more you will see God work and prayers answered!
Spend less time on your smartphone when you’re home. Stop the doom scrolling. Set it down away from you during certain periods of your day. This will allow you to be more present with your wife and children. People in your life need to know they’re more important to you than the phone you’re always looking down at.
Start wearing a digital watch. This will keep you from looking at your phone for the clock. It will allow you to conveniently time your prayer, your exercise, your cooking, your nap and anything else you need a stopwatch for. I’ve used one for 47 years, and it’s a fantastic tool. Get one at WalMart for $12!
Dejunk your house. Start one room at a time. Try a room a month strategy. This is achievable, and will bring a greater sense of peace and order to your life. Or go in with a neighbor on a large dumpster placed in your driveway for several weeks, and dump, dump, dump.
Stay off your phone when you drive! You’ll be more alert to what’s around you. You’ll be safer, your family will be safer, and you’ll have time for quiet, productive thinking.
Say thank you to your spouse, or children, everytime they help you or serve you in some way. Express your gratitude to any and all who help you throughout your day.
Go out of your way to encourage other people this year. Might be a short email of encouragement, or a kind word when you see them. When you make a point to refresh others, it will refresh you!
Serve your wife more this year. Might be sweeping the floor, or vacuuming the house, or loading the dishwasher, or filling her car with gas, or getting the groceries for her, or cleaning the bathroom, or watching the little ones, giving her extra time to sleep. There are so many ways. When you lay your life down for others you’ll experience a richer, more satisfying life!!
Take more walks outside in God’s creation. Drive to a park and walk there, or on trails near your house. Try to get away from all the concrete, cars and houses to take your walks. This will improve your mental, physical and emotional health and well-being.
Spend some extra time with your children this year. Time flies! My oldest just celebrated 22 years of marriage!! They leave home before you know it. Find little ways to spend more time with your kids now, while they’re still at home!
Determine this year to pray with your wife every single day. Make it happen. Your marriage will be better because of it. And God answers prayers!!
Get better organized this year. Declutter your schedule of things that are not the most important. Create some space in your time. Do the things that matter the most and let the rest fall by the wayside.
Rekindle your spiritual fire as the first thing this new year. Many of you have been dealing with overwhelming trials and trouble. Some have been dealing with great discouragement. Others of you had great intentions last year, but ended the year feeling lukewarm and disheartened. Others find their faith weakened and anemic. I ask and encourage each of you to start this new year by hearing this series—Rekindle Your Spiritual Fire. It will bless you and help you immensely. I guarantee it! There are 4 parts, each will encourage you tremendously, and fire your spirit! Our spiritual fire is not automatic, we must keep adding logs to the fire, and fan it into flame!
https://strongdisciple.com/
Helping you become a Strong Disciple,
Because of Jesus,
Pastor Mark Darling
