I can smell the cardboard boxes stacking up in the mudroom. I’m constantly brushing off pine needles from my feet that have been left behind from this year's tree. Last night, I watched the ball drop in New York while browsing homes for sale in Georgia. This is my in-between, there is so much to look forward to, so much I’m leaving behind. Somewhere along the way in creating a life that I love, I became a “Monday Lover.” I enjoy Monday as a fresh start to a new week, anticipating all the fulfilling things crammed in the 7 days to follow. January, to me, is like the “Monday” of all the months in the year. Exciting and full of opportunity.
In the clinical world, January is held delicately. There often is an increase in symptoms among clients and an actual diagnosable disorder called “SAD: Seasonal Affective Disorder”. Symptoms include; low energy, depressive mood, little interest in normal activities, sleeping too much or too little, and suicidal ideation. This cycle is unfortunate, but I also understand how it comes to be after the chaos of holidays, too many carbs not enough sun, and often a stirring of relational conflicts. It's no wonder we are left raw and burnt out.
I hope that we learn to be free from these “Monday blues” or rather, “January blues”. It isn’t a newsflash that many people commit to a laundry list of resolutions every end of December. Not that I believe this isn't good, as having goals is one of my favorite drivers in life and it is vital to helping my clients. Unfortunately, many who set out to make changes in 2025 will end up fruitless. It reminds me of Paul when he says “I do not understand what I do. For what I want to do I do not do, but what I hate I do…For I have the desire to do what is good, but I cannot carry it out.“ Romans 7:15-18. I can certainly relate to his experience, I desire to do what is good yet I find myself consistently falling short.
As much as I have often fallen short, I do have wins in life that produced the fruit I desired. After reflecting, I can name two keys that I am applying to my 2025 and I hope they will also help you in the new year to love Mondays, avoid getting SAD, and produce good fruit. Those two keys are: Operating Spirit-led and seeking His Kingdom first.
"Operating Spirit-led and seeking His Kingdom first"
Being “spirit-led” might sound mystical at first but I promise it is not only natural but simple. Scripture teaches that the fruit of the spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control (Galatians 5:22). In my own life, and what I've observed in my clients, is this vital mistake: attempting to BE this fruit not BEAR it. I'm able to mimic the fruit in my strength for a while; being gentle with my kids, or forgiving the lady who cut me off at Costco. But inevitably, I break and remember just how weak I am. I’ve approached this scripture just as I’ve created laundry lists of New Year resolutions bound to fail. It isn’t a surprise to Jesus that we are so weak in fact, He said “The spirit is willing yet the flesh is weak" (Matthew 26:41). He also comforted us by revealing His power is made perfect in our weakness (2 Corinthians 12:9).
The simple yet powerful catalyst to being Spirit-led is to pray without ceasing (1 Thessalonians 5:17). It is great to pray at night before bed, it is great to pray in the morning when you rise, and even better before each meal. I have to be honest though, it just isn’t enough. Pray without ceasing means exactly that, a continuous flow. When we flow in prayer throughout every detail of the day, we are abiding in Jesus-the true branch. He says that is the ONLY way to bear fruit (John 15:14). In the context Jesus said “The Spirit is willing yet the flesh is weak”, He was urging His disciples to pray- to pray despite how tired their flesh felt and yearned for sleep. That is the type of flow in prayer that produces fruit. Let's say I committed to walking more this year, I've learned that as I pray, I better prepare for the fruit of self-control to push me right out the door even when it's cold, I’m sick, or in a bad mood (especially if I’m in a bad mood in fact). Years ago I started operating in flowing prayer and did not see immediate results. Not to mention it has been a true challenge, but little by little I started to see the fruit in my life. Others began to comment that my house was peaceful. My children are joyous and gentle. The stewardship of my life was self-controlled as I supernaturally got my Masters Degree while having babies. It would be so wonderful to tell you I accomplished those things because I am so strong, but honestly, it was God who carried me through and His Spirit who produced the fruit. All I did was talk to my Father throughout the day. So I encourage you to check in with your New Year goals and pray and then pray some more so that the Spirit in you can accomplish things your flesh cannot.
The second point has been a life-changing revelation for me this month: Seeking first His Kingdom. I’ve had my fair share of anxiety in this life. I have woken up with a tight chest, gasping for breath, and a mind that won’t slow down. I’ve battled postpartum mental health struggles that drove me into OCD spirals I’m still healing from. So I understand the frustration when people quote Jesus’ words: “Therefore do not be anxious, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?…”(Matthew 6:31-32). The Bible says to “not be anxious” over 100 times from Genesis to Revelation. For me, it is almost physically painful when someone tells me during an anxiety attack to “stop being so anxious,” as if I hadn’t already tried that.
When the move to Georgia was confirmed, I brought this exact question from Matthew chapter 6 to The Lord. I’m sure I said something like, “Okay so Lord where are we going to live? How are we going to afford this? What will we do without friends and family around?” Quickly and clearly a revelation rested in my spirit. “But seek first the Kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.” These words followed His command to "not be anxious" from Matthew chapter 6. I repeated it aloud a few times “Seek first His Kingdom”. Looking around my living room, kitchen, and all my belongings, I knew this was not my home. It once was, but not anymore. California and all I have ever known, is not my home - this new place I know almost nothing about is. I only know that Jesus promised Georgia would be a good place for my family and our ministry. The revelation got deeper as I realized this world isn’t even my home, my life is a blip in existence and I will be in Heaven forever. This eternal mindset is a complex thought, but it is truly freeing. For me, being too comfortable in California is just like getting too comfortable in worldly ways without a constant eternal mindset. In that same prayer time that I was interrogating the Lord I also said, “I could leave this house behind, this city, all my belongings- but Lord, I’m not sure I can leave these people”. And again, quickly and clearly I knew that was the same for Heaven. I cannot take anything with me when I move on in death to my new life, but I can take other souls. I know this cross-country move is producing the fruit of radical faith. I believe God's promise that something is better on the other side, and the desire to be comfortable is a slow poison. In other words, seeking His Kingdom, the eternal one, is the antidote to all my fears.
So every time anxiety creeps in about this move, or my life in general, I ask “Lord am I seeking first Your Kingdom?” When my mind floods with love for the lost people He’s sending us to minister to, I have supernatural confidence that the new house will come. The finances will work out. Every detail will fall into place, as I seek His Kingdom. This doesn’t mean it is easy, but it means I have all I need to prosper this new year.
This is my current story and my “January Lover” anthem. My heart is also for you to love your Mondays, avoid SAD, and produce the fruit in your life you crave. I’m sure you have goals for the new year, changes you expect, or maybe things you are dreading. So I hope you join me in praying all day every day, spending time with God like He’s the love of your life not just a box to check. Feel freedom to let your New Year Resolutions and goals become a secondary fruit to the work He calls you to do. And seek first His Kingdom. Who are you supposed to love all the way to Heaven this year?
xoxo
Caylin
Disclaimer: This is not medical advice. In no way am I dismissing SAD, Postpartum Mood Disorders, or OCD. Please seek medical attention as needed and utilize the suicide hotline 988.