I’ve been thinking about the New Year we’re all about to face. I know for most of us, the past two years have been difficult. I can relate as I went through some battles of my own. If it were not for the strength of the Lord, my family, and friends, I don’t know what I would have done.
Well, that is
all behind us now and we can forward to 2023. 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. Some of you might be comfortable with your 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 2023.
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? Or maybe it wasn’t something of your own doing, but the
false words of others against you. 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!
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 your life has
been full of 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
Until next time,
keep your eyes on Jesus because He never fails!
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