The Kind of Person I want to be in 2022

I didn’t set a specific New Years Resolution, or even a list of goals this year. Instead, I’ve been reflecting on the kind of person I want to be (or be more like) at the end of 2022. And I’ve been making a list of people I know who reflect these character qualities so that I can prioritize spending time with them and learn from them.

What kind of person do I want to be at the end of 2022?

I know a man who is continually focused on God’s goodness. Every word out of his mouth is praise to God for the way that He is working and for the goodness and grace that He displays every moment. There is a radiant joy that emanates from this man. He basks in the goodness of God and he invites others around him to do the same.

I want to bask in the goodness of God like this man does.

I know a woman who is persistent in joy no matter what comes her way. She has lived with pain and sickness for many, many years. She feels the brokenness of our fallen world in every moment of her day. Yet she never complains. I see in her a joy that faces all the trials of her human body with a sweet and quiet joy in the Lord. The joy of the Lord is indeed her strength.

I want to display joy, not grumbling, like this woman does.

I have a dear friend who I wish I was not separated from by several states. Every time we are together she encourages me to look to Christ. To me she displays a deep dependence on God. And yet she longs for that dependence to grow deeper. She reminds me that I too need to be utterly dependent on Christ.

I want to be constantly aware of my utter dependence on God as she is.

I know a young mom who is so grateful to God for saving her that she longs to serve him in whatever way she can. I see her jumping in to serve where she can. She wants to be a part of his kingdom going forward. She is always willing to serve.

I want to be a willing and eager servant like this woman is.

I know a man who has been a faithful and steadfast servant of Christ for many years in many different capacities. He encourages and exhorts others who are doing the work of the kingdom. He is himself doing kingdom work as he has for many, many years.

I want to be a steadfast servant like this man is.

I know a man who is faithful in prayer. As Colossians 4:2 says, he “continue[s] steadfastly in prayer.” I learn from him every time we are in a prayer meeting together. He faithfully prays for the kingdom work to go forward.

I want to be a faithful prayer warrior like this man is.

I know a woman who is sweet and gentle. She displays a dependence on God, joy in him, a knack for seeing his goodness, a willing, eager, steadfast heart of service, and is a deeply faithful woman of prayer. She radiates a gentle joy and grace, a love for God and for people that surpasses what I’ve seen in most women I know.

I want to be a godly woman like she is.

This is the kind of person I want to be (or be more like) at the end of 2022. And, thankfully, these are not people of church history. These are not even famous teachers of our day. These are ordinary people who love Jesus, whom I know personally and can spend time with, either in-person or online meetings. These are people I want to learn from and people I can learn from.

I am thankful for their examples. I will remember each of them in prayer as I try to imitate them this year.