A brand-new year is here and I’m excited to see what the Lord has for us! Keeping Christ at the center of our thoughts takes a great deal of discipline and determination, but so does everything else we really care about. It comes down to how serious we are about knowing God and how willing we are to give him total control of our lives. Whatever we become involved with, He simply wants us to listen and obey His instructions, which is why we are here. If we abide under the shadow of his wings, we will walk in the peace and joy of his Spirit but if we choose to live our own way, we will remain frustrated, miserable, and disappointed.
Matthew chapter 22 gives us the meaning and purpose of life, “Jesus said unto him, thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. This is the first and greatest commandment.” Actually, the Bible contains many passages where God declares how much he loves us and wants to save us but most of the time we’re so busy making our own decisions we rarely consider how the distractions are preventing us from serving him. In the book of Revelation, chapter two, He’s disappointed with why the Ephesians had left their “first love” and today is a perfect time for us to examine our hearts and consider our decisions. The incarnation, crucifixion, and resurrection reveal God’s passion to have a constant and personal relationship with us.
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At this time of year, we are focused on our resolutions as it’s the perfect occasion to start developing spiritual lifestyle changes. You notice I used the word “developing” because drawing closer to God is a consistent process of patience and faith much like losing weight, exercising or any other vision where we are working toward a goal. For example, eating a salad today is not going to automatically solve our weight problem but it’s a positive first step and the same is true with learning how to become a follower of Christ. There have been many adaptations from the original Al-anon credo that warns everyone to be realistic about trying to change everything all at once because personal transformation is a lifestyle decision that will require serious concentration and perseverance.
It’s great to have long-term goals and we should release our enthusiasm and hope into accomplishing our destiny, but it’s also important to focus on our mission one day at a time. It would be much better to go slow with permanent results than to rush and become overwhelmed with discouragement and sadness. Philippians 3:14 says, “I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling in Christ Jesus” and this reveals a critical truth that no one else can do this for us. Personal change is always between us and God! A great place to begin would be to dedicate a few minutes each day simply talking with God. Daily Bible reading is essential and another excellent resource to give our attention because His words are nourishment to our spirit and will help fill our mind, and heart with strength and confidence.
You cannot go back and change the past, but God can forgive you. Life is a continuous school of learning. Never underestimate the determination God has given to become what He knew you could be. A new way of thinking will require courage and a fierce tenacity as our old nature hates to be disciplined and surrender control. Also, as many of you know, the Christian life is a serious challenge because of the intense resistance from the dark side. Long story short; it’s not easy but absolutely worth it! I’ve recorded an 80-minute CD where I narrate over 100 encouraging Bible passages that are filled with hope, joy, and faith. It also includes prayers, and original music.
Email me at [email protected] and I would be glad to send you a free copy. This is an encouraging resource for those who would like to meditate and fill their mind and soul with God’s promises. We spend a lot of time waiting on the Lord for answers, but often He waits on us to become what He died for us to be. There is no substitute for obedience, and today is a perfect time to ask Jesus what He wants you to do this coming year.
Dr. Billy Holland lives in central Kentucky, where he is a Christian minister, outreach chaplain, worship leader, and author. To learn more about the Christian life visit: billyhollandministries.com
The Trust Project
