What will matter in 2022?

Many years ago, a former boss said something that really made an impression on me: "When you value something, you take good care of it."

Our problem, sadly, is that we tend to value the wrong things. We singles are often unaware of the influences of society and of an Enemy who tries to take our eyes off what really matters.

The visible, the here-and-now, command our attention. Especially during the Christmas season, we scurry around like hamsters on speed, only to come down after the holidays and ask, "What was that about?"

December's feature article examines what really matters. I hope it will help you rethink your priorities for 2022 and beyond. Take a look…

You can't pray

Your life's full of problems
that won't go away.
You sit and wonder
why you can't pray.

You can't concentrate
when you're all alone.
So instead of praying
you check your phone.

Our heads are bowed
in a permanent nod.
We're worshipping something
but it's not God.
He tries to get through
but we're in the zone.
No you can't pray
when you're on your phone.

It would be kind of funny
if it wasn't so sad,
ignoring the best friend
we've ever had.

All day and night
we're on our cell.
No time for the one
who saved us from hell.

Our heads are bowed
in a permanent nod.
We're worshipping something
but it's not God.
He tries to get through
but we're in the zone.
When God wants to talk,
put down your phone!

~ Jack Zavada, www.inspiration-for-singles.com, 2021 ~

What are you telling yourself about yourself?

How you view yourself and the world around you are keys to your happiness and success. But how do you know whether your interpretations are accurate?

You compare your judgment against the only reliable standard: the Bible.

That's what Hope for Hurting Singles shows you how to do. It helps you identify the flaws in your thinking and shows you how to correct them.

Right thinking leads to right action, which leads to right living.

Hope for Hurting Singles is the culmination of decades of trial-and-error by author Jack Zavada. In addition to the Bible, it leans on the scientifically proven methods of Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), a way to point out faulty thinking and correct it.

What if your self-talk is all wrong about any of these problems:

Loneliness
 Depression 
Disappointment 
Bitterness
 Low self-esteem 
Anger
 Grief

There's a sane way out of the rut, and Hope for Hurting Singles is it. The next time you're mentally beating yourself up, stop and think: "Hey! If I had read Zavada's book, I wouldn't be doing this!"

Time to go beyond thinking about it, single friend. Time to do something about it!

QOTM: What is a Kingdom single?

All believers in Jesus Christ are members of the Kingdom of God. But what does that mean? Here's December's Quote of the Month from one of my favorite preachers, author and pastor Tony Evans:

A kingdom single is defined as an unmarried Christian who is committed to fully and freely maximizing his or her completeness under the rule of God and the lordship of Jesus Christ.
~ Tony Evans (1949- ) ~

The Kingdom of Heaven, or the Kingdom of God as it's also called in the Bible, is God's sovereign reign. It started during the ministry of Jesus, continues today, and will reach its fulfillment at the Second Coming.

The serious follower of Jesus obeys his commands out of love and gratitude. Christ is Lord over his or her life. Yes, we still sin because of our sinful nature, but with the help of the Holy Spirit, we are always moving toward holiness (sanctification) as we get closer to the end of our earthly life.

I think it's exciting. Obeying Jesus brings freedom from the slavery of sin, and that's a terrific feeling. It's the only way to live!

If Christmas feels like a trip to the dentist…

Christmas, for me, is not what it used to be. Or maybe it's never been what I wanted it to be. Unfortunately, millions of singles would agree, if they could figure out what I'm talking about.

Here's something we can all understand: Christmas is a difficult time for unmarried people. In the past I wrote a few articles aimed at making the winter holidays more tolerable. I think they're still relevant, so check them out if your Humbugmeter is tilting into the danger zone:

Getting through Christmas

Having a Better Christmas

Appreciating Christmas

Christmas romance and 2022 preview

Here's a quick reminder you can find three absolutely F*R*EE Christmas romance novellas in ebook form on our FR*E*E Stuff page.

Mary's Christmas Gift, A Cowboy's Christmas Prayer, and Appalachian Christmas Dream are stories about single women (and men) finding love. To my surprise, they've been one of the most popular downloads on the entire site. Thousands of visitors have read them over the past ten years.

On another topic, I've been doing a lot of research in the past year on how our thought-life affects our choices and actions. We all live in our heads, meaning we create our own little world by how we interpret our circumstances.

We singles, who spend hours replaying conversations and events, need to have an accurate, reality-based way of responding to life, neither the "rose-colored glasses" of the Prosperity Gospel preachers nor the "gloom-and-doom" outlook of political pundits.

In 2022, Inspire-O-Gram will explore tools we can use to ensure Christ-centered thinking. I'm looking forward to an exciting adventure with you.

Thanks for choosing to subscribe and read this newsletter. My goal is to make it as practical and down-to-earth as I can. Your comments, suggestions, and yes, criticism, are always welcome. Our hack-proof contact form forwards your email directly to my personal inbox, and since this is a one-person effort, you'll get a personal reply from me, not a secretary bot.

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year, single friend. May God send a dump truck of blessings to you in the coming year!

Jack Zavada
PS: Not a Christian? Find out how to become one!

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