| New Year's Advice |
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But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, 14 I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus. Phillipians 3:13-14 NIV
Ah yes everyone, it is now 2009. Take a deep breath and count your blessing for you have made it through yet another year. It is at the New Year when our thoughts turn to making some resolutions and commitments for the coming year. I would like to guide you with some helpful information that will equip you to start off on the right foot and hopefully keep you on track through out this coming year.
I. Examination
Examine your life right now. Take a moment and reflect on where you are in life. Reflect on who you have become. Examine what you have become. Make some general observations about you condition. How old are you? What do you do? Are you happy? Are you depressed? Frustrated? Content? Fulfilled? Are you where you want to be? How is your spiritual life? Are you moving closer to God? Are you fulfilling your calling? Your body? Are you in the shape you need to be? Your attitude is it negative, and grumpy or are you optimistic and full of faith? Your relationships? Are you happy about them? Are they in shambles?
It is important that you are honest with yourself so that you can grow and improve your life and situations.
II. Evaluation
Now that you have done the hard part of honestly examining your station in life it is time for an even harder part of the process. Evaluate your situation. Are there things that need changing? Are there some things that have happened in the past that are preventing you from enjoying and being effective in the present? Don't let the things that are in the past ruin your future. I am sure in all of our lives there have been some traumatic events and failures that we would like to forget. Well, do it! The Apostle Paul wrote: "This one thing I do forgetting what is behind and straining forward." Many of us are or have been held captive by the events of the past. Forget it, learn from it yes, but don't dwell upon it. Failure and such does not define you, it becomes a defining moment for you. From failure you can either grow and become better or you can shrink back wither away and become bitter. Write down some of the things in the past that you would like to forget on and index card. Bring it before the Lord right now and ask Him to heal you and to help you overcome the events of the past so you can have a wonderful and glorious future. Evaluate you situation and life circumstances and ask yourself, what can I do to improve? What am I doing that is perpetuating these problem areas in my life? What can I do differently that will help me overcome? These are great questions to ponder and as you come to grips with what you need to forget and what you need to do you are ready to move to the 3rd step.
III. Expectation
Now, on the other side of that index card write what you would like to see happen this year. Write down and ask the Lord for what you want. For some of you it might be a job, or better job, a better marriage, or a better home to live in. Maybe it is to be closer to the LORD or to find a help-mate. Maybe you want to break free from some things that have you in bondage and are preventing you from being happy and fulfilled in life and in ministry. I encourage you to write down some things that you would like to see happen this year. What do you expect God to do? The Bible tells us that we have not because we ask not. If you don't expect it to happen it may not happen. There is something about our faith that triggers positive events in our life. It is kind of like this saying about success: "Success comes when preparation and opportunity meet." Many of us have heard the saying: "When my ship comes in I will probably be at the air port. That is a lot like what I am talking about right now. Our opportunity may come but because we are not expecting it to happen we miss it. Let me give you an example of what I am talking about. At Bible Study one of our ladies wrote down on her card "A better relationship with my boss." OK, so if she will start praying for her boss and about that situation then when he boss does something to aggravate her, rather than speaking her mind and saying something ugly or feeling exasperated and frustrated, she is now conscious of the situation and and the Lord will give her the grace to respond in a Christ-like manner and thus melting away the hardness and harshness of that relationship and in turn answering her prayer of giving her a better relationship with her boss. I hope that makes sense to you. For when we expect God to do something great He is more inclined to move on your behalf and you are more inclined to notice and to see His greatness at work in your life because of your attitude of prayer and expectation. So as you embark on this new year write down what you expect God to do in your life and believe Him for it. Watch what will happen in your life it will be awesome!
So the three "E's" of the New Year are as follows:
1. Examination
2. Evaluation
3. Expectation
Happy New Year and may this year be your best and greatest yet! May you prosper and be in health as your soul prospers! May you grow in the grace and in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ! May you become more than a conqueror and an over comer and a victorious Christian! May the Lord give you grace for when you fail, mercy for when you fall, reward you when you are obedient! Have a great and awesome New Year in the Lord! |
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