Happy New Year!
It is hard to believe that another year has past but I've learned in my advanced age of 46 that time just keeps moving faster and faster each year. Long gone are those days of being a child when Christmas and my birthday seemed like forever to come.
I'm not one for making resolutions when the new year begins. Why? Mainly for self preservation. You see when I say I'll do something I get very tough on myself when I don't follow through. Yes, I do think about what I'd like to work on or change in the year to come but I've learned life can throw curve balls that take me away from my original plans. And sometimes those curve balls are more of a benefit to my life than sticking to what I thought I should be doing.
This year God has been working on me in the weeks before the new year to reflect on what is truly important as 2014 begins. Nothing solidified this more than the message my Pastor, Eric Dammann, preached this past Sunday.
You see this is the year my focus needs to be on bringing my spiritual life "up a notch". Yes, I am a Christian. I believe that God sent His Son to die on the cross for me, a sinner, and that through Him, and only Him, I have eternal life. I also believe that He has a purpose for my life that will bring Him all glory and honor and praise. My life is not my own, it is His.
As a believer in order to know God more, know what He has for me and "understand" and weather the storms that may come my way, I need to be in constant communion with Him reading His Word and praying. God has given us the Bible as an instruction book for life and through salvation I have the power of God within me. I just need to draw upon what He has freely given.
So as I start 2014, I'm focusing on these 4 things to move into a more mature/closer relationship with my God and in closer unity with my brothers and sisters in Christ.
1.) Read God's Word - not only for individual devotions but reading through the Bible in one year
2.) Joining a Bible Study - being open and transparent so that I can be encouraged and held accountable
3.) Memorizing Scripture - so when those curve balls start coming, I can draw upon God's power through the Word I have hidden in my heart
4.) Praying without ceasing - calling out to God at any time, anywhere
What I love about God is how He reveals to me what I need to be doing and how He gives me confirmation of the path He wants me to take.
You see last night God had me at the home of a fellow brother and sister in Christ where we had a devotional in the hour before the year was drawing upon us and at the stroke of midnight we were praying in small groups. God in His wisdom knew that I needed to start my year in this fashion so that I could rise this morning with a new song in my heart, one that before anything else drew me to His Word and time with Him.
Now, I know that each day there will be obstacles sent my way to deter me from my focus on my relationship with God, but I know I can draw upon His power for strength and I praise Him for placing in my life sisters who stand along side me in faith encouraging me daily to continue in my walk with Him.
You see this year I choose to be bold in my faith, to speak what God speaks to me and I pray that in what He is teaching me I can be a testimony of my Father's love and grace!
As always, thanks for stopping by!
