"And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near."

— Hebrews 10:24-25

Recently I had the opportunity to speak with one of our local community leaders. The conversation didn’t consist of gossip, drama or a fruitless exchange of idle information, but we asked questions and built each other up as we complimented the various activities we were involved in.

No matter how passionate you are about the work that you do, the consistent attacks from our spiritual enemy can have an affect on the quality of your work, if you’re not careful. You see nonprofit organizations start out with good leaders and good intentions, but they fizzle out dealing with the constant attacks of the enemy. You see pastors filled with fire and spiritual creativity, burn out because of the weight of the burdens of everyday living. You see elected officials sincerely desiring to make their communities better, give up and go through the motions, because they’ve hit so many roadblocks to change.

But let us consider to stir each other up to remember our first love or why we started in the first place and the good works of us keeping our hands to the plow. It’s amazing to see the results of lives that you affect, simply by doing what you know you’ve been called to do.

Serving others rarely comes with earthly rewards, but the Bible tells us that God himself is keeping record of your good works. Galatians 6:9 says, "Let us not grow weary or become discouraged in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap, if we do not give in."

In 2017, be thankful for your small circle of friends and family that encourage you. Sit down with them. Make time for them and enjoy their company. We need people in our lives who will inspire us to continue the good work and support us through the process.

This is our year of fresh starts and new beginnings. Remember, "Iron sharpeneth iron; so a man sharpeneth the countenance of his friend" Proverbs 27:17.

Hayes is the pastor of New Day Community Church and president of the United Ministerial Alliance.