I’ve been
thinking about the New Year we’re all about to face. I know for many of us 2014
was a difficult year.Some faced the loss of work or the loss of a loved one, or major sickness. From a personal standpoint in my life and
ministry it has been a year of transition and many questions. Some questions answered but still have
many. If it were not for the strength of
the Lord, my family, friends and my church family I don’t know what I would
have done.
Well, that is all
behind me now and I am looking forward to 2015!
My husband and I always do the 21 Day Daniel Fast at the beginning of
the year. I am believing to get greater
understanding of several things during this fast. As we face going into a new
year I’d like to encourage you to allow the Lord to do some new things in your
life. It's time to move forward! Some of you might be comfortable with you life. To that I say, the Lord
loves us too much to allow us to remain as we are. We need to always be growing
in some area of our life. Others of you may be fed up with life, disillusioned,
even fearful. For some of you there’s
been a dream that you’ve held in your heart for years but you just don’t see it
happening. Hold on, you might be delayed, but you are still destined!
Now let’s look at
some new possibilities for 2015.
New Pursuits
“There are many plans in a man's heart, nevertheless the
LORD'S counsel-- that will stand.”
Proverbs 19:21
God might lead you to a new job position.
He might send you back to school for some more training. Ask the Lord what he
wants to do with your life. If you’re a
Christian maybe he’s calling you into ministry or to go on a mission trip. Be
open to new ideas in the New Year. Get your steel-toed shoes ready…. It might
be that you need to change some of your relationships that are leading you down
a wrong path. In the bible it says, “Don't be
fooled by those who say such things, for "bad company corrupts good character." 1
Corinthians 15:33 NLT - You have more worth than you realize. Don’t let yourself
be dragged down by those who are on a destructive path in life.
New Reputation
"Do not fear, for you will not be ashamed; neither
be disgraced, for you will not be put to shame; for you will forget the shame
of your youth, and will not remember the reproach of your widowhood anymore.”
Isaiah 54:4
Perhaps you’ve
failed in some area of your life. Have
you done something that brought you shame?
It can all be made new when you call upon the Lord. I could share some
stories with you about how God has turned some things around in my life! To my brothers and sisters in prison-
Continue to seek the Lord he will give you a fresh start!
New Heart
He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds.
Psalm 147:3
Has your heart
been wounded, broken and shattered? Maybe your heart has been so hardened that
you feel you just can’t reach out to others or allow people to reach out to
you. If you will ask the Lord, he will give you a new heart. Look at this scripture – “I will give you
a new heart and put a new spirit within you; I will take the heart of stone out
of your flesh and give you a heart of flesh.” - Ezekiel 36:26
New Beginnings
“And have put on
the new man, which is renewed in knowledge after the image of him that created
him.” Col 3:10
If you life has
been full of rejection, pain, abuse, addictions and failure, whatever – God wants to give
you a new life, a new beginning. I can testify to the reality of having my life
taken out of the gutter and being made brand new. My life was such a mess at
one time that I am in awe that the Lord has changed my life as He has.
Friend, if you
have tried everything else and it hasn’t worked, perhaps it’s time to give
things over to the Lord. I know he will help you live in a new way. He
will give you hope. If you will just surrender to him, he has a good plan for
your life. “For I know the thoughts
that I think toward you, says the LORD, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to
give you a future and a hope.” Jeremiah 29:11
Once again I must
share with you one of my favorite scriptures –
“Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things
have passed away; behold, all things have become new.” 2 Corinthians 5:17
In our next blog post we will take a deeper look into the idea of moving forward and what might hinder us from doing so.
Until next time,
have a most Blessed New Year!
