It's that time again, a new year, a clean slate....there is something about starting afresh that fills us with excitement, and hope, but also fear and wonder. Will this year be better than last? Can I make positive changes? Will things get harder or will blessings seem more abundant? We know that whatever happens, our heavenly Father holds us in His hands. Of that we can be sure.
I always have goals for the new year. Eating healthy and getting more exercise are always on the list...especially after the eating frenzy of the holiday season. Ugh! I think my insides will sing the Hallelujah Chorus when I start putting some fruits and vegetables back into my daily diet. I'd like to say getting more organized is on there as well, but that one never really pans out so I think I'll pass and just enjoy it as an added bonus if it happens. LOL
But it's the spiritual goals I always love the most, because for me, they come straight from the Lord. He always have a few things He wants worked on in my life and I love hearing what they are, and to getting started on a new adventure with Jesus.
It seems the Lord has two goals for me in this upcoming year. The first one is to pray over any offering, tithe, or gift I give. Whether it's my biweekly tithe, or 50 cents in the cup of a homeless person...I am to pray for the receiver. Pray the gift will be a blessing, and will accomplish God's purpose. Pray that God will use it in a mighty way to bless others, glorify His Name, and do the work of His kingdom. How often do we just write a check, drop a few coins or bills in a bucket or collection plate, and never really give it much thought? You come out of the grocery store and see an older gentleman collecting for veterans, put you change in his bin and walk away....Do we even think about the good that money will do? I wonder how much the blessing would increase if we took a minute to pray for the receiver...pray God's blessing and salvation and help for them. Pray for God to send them people to share the Gospel, keep them company, help them in their daily life.
What about the check we send for the charities we choose to support? Let's pray over it before it leaves our hands and goes out to do God's work. I feel like we can be so much more apart of that work if we add prayer to of giving! And of course, the tithe to our local church....whose church doesn't need prayer each and every day? I'm thinking prayer will multiply the blessings!
The second goal is a little more difficult in that it requires a lot of change on my part....I am stubborn. Stubborn in my disbelief. Stubborn in wanting my own way. The Bible calls it stiff-necked and the Lord says this needs to stop in my life. Boy that's a tough one. This one really calls for nailing my will, my feelings, my plans, my wants and my thoughts on how things should go to the altar. I've been led to pray over that last few months that my heart would become soft and open to the Lord, this is an extension of that work. If anyone is so inclined, please pray for me in this...it is a very difficult area for me. Stiff-necked unbelief is a hard prison to live in, but yet I seem to step back into way too much.
What are your goals for the shiny new year? It's scary to make them...we fear failure, we fear change. But God's love casts out fear. And we only need to make progress...not strive for perfection.
Lord, open our hearts to Your leading for the upcoming year. Bless us with Your Presence, Your indwelling Holy Spirit. Give us soft hearts, hearing hearts. Help us to grow, to achieve the things You desire in our lives. Let our walk be worthy of Your calling. In Jesus Name, amen.
Don't be afraid to ask the Lord for new year's resolutions!
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