New Opportunities
“Then you will call, and the Lord will answer; you will cry for help, and he will say: Here am I.”
~ Isaiah 58:9 (NIV)
There are many “news” in a lifetime. To name a few, there is the first new bicycle; a new car; a new outfit to wear for a special occasion; a new home; and a new job. People spend millions of dollars on transforming their physical appearance hoping to become a new person.
We are coming upon the beginning of a new year. A time for starting over. A time to cast aside unwanted habits. How many of you made and kept the New Year's resolutions from last year? How many of you can even remember the ones you made and vowed you would keep...and didn't?
It is the time of year when many people stop to evaluate their personal goals and spiritual life in hopefulness that they can make positive changes to advance them. As a person looks over the past year they recognize there were valuable lessons learned. That person can possibly be given a new understanding of just how valuable those lessons may have been. The lesson may have been a blessing from God that was unrecognizable at the time it happened.
Paul's life can be examined to learn how he became a new person when he had a personal encounter with Jesus Christ. Paul described his transformation in 2 Corinthians 5:17. He said: “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here!”
As Paul stated, a Christian has become a new person inside, and they are not the same anymore. So, while we anticipate the New Year we should give prayerful thought on how we can begin fresh and new, especially in our spiritual life. The fact is, there are areas in all of our lives that can stand some improvement.
A few examples to ponder to deepen your spiritual life this New Year are: analyze your quiet time; spend more time reading the Bible; examine your God given spiritual gift(s) so you will use it to glorify Him through your daily life; pray daily for others; and ask the Lord to open your eyes to see those who ought to know Him.
We are all entering into an unknown path in the New Year of 2018. There will be ups and downs in our personal and spiritual life. There will be blessings, healings, and joys. There will be warm greetings with friends and laughter. However there will also be great disappointments, trials, and sickness. As Christians, when we walk with Him, we can hold onto all of the promises of God. Keep remembering when we call out to Him; He will answer quickly and say: “Yes, I am here!”
“May the Lord bless you and protect you. May the Lord smile on you, and be gracious to you. May the Lord show you His favor and give you His peace,” in 2018. AmenIn Jesus,
Cap'n Kenny
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relationship with Jesus Christ.
Scripture taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
We are coming upon the beginning of a new year. A time for...
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