NOW WHAT?

Image result for clip art showing New YearI don't know how you begin planning your New Year spiritually,  so this my plan of action:  I choose to  begin to prepare for the New Year with a new journal, new prayer journal, decide on the plan I am going to use to read the Bible through, and almost every year, I settle on a Scripture thought that I want to allow the Spirit of God  to work through me.  For this New Year, I guess mainly influenced by the home-going of my eldest son, I am much more cognizant of  the brevity of life even though I have privileged to be alive for 74 years.  I have been influenced by my Bible study teacher to personalize Scripture.  This is my take on 2 Corinthians 5:6-10, I am always confident and I know as long as I am at home in the body that I am away from the Lord.  I live by faith, and not by sight.  I am confident and would prefer to be away from the body and at home with the Lord.  I make it my goal to please Him whether at home or away from it.  I will appear before the judgment seat of  Christ that I may receive what is due me for that which I have done in the body, whether good or bad.  I will try to memorize it for my focus this year.  

Presently, I lay it all before the Lord, and ask, "Lord, now what?"  I am learning to make myself available to His purpose and plan.  Am I willing to release what I delight in doing...the blog? Any ministry that I am involved and love?  My early morning time with the Lord, any changes, Lord?  Relationships?  How can I show  greater love and prayer concerns for husband,  mother, sons and wives, "a son and a daughter by another mother", extended family, and grands? What else do I need to release to You, Lord that pleases and honors You?   Oh yeal, I release two of my loves: prayer and discipleship...can You use me in these areas in the body of Christ?  Because I am so practical, black, and white in my thinking, all I know to do is to simply say, "Now what, Lord?"  I am available to You...knowing You will give me the grace and the ability to walk out and walk in what You purpose.  My thoughts, certainly not profound, but here is  my plan of action...You, Lord God, may interrupt or change any or all of it.  Forever learning.  In process.  #IHAVETHREESONS.  

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

THOSE SEEING CAN BECOME BLIND

Image
John 9 is the story of the healing of the blind beggar.  Not only is it a marvelous story of the miraculous healing of the man as he is given his sight, but a sad story of the religious of whom Jesus said, "For judgment, I have come into this world, so that the blind will see, and those who see will become blind ." The religious have seen the miracle, even though it has taken place on a Sabbath, and they interview the man and his parents for their stories and understanding. I find it so thrilling that the healed man speaks so articulately and logically with the religious in their "interview" with him.  His statement, " Now that is remarkable!  You don't know where HE comes from, yet HE opened my eyes.  We know that God does not listen to sinners.  He listens to the godly man who does His will.  Nobody has ever heard of opening the eyes of a man born blind. If this man were not from God, He could do nothing." What truth he has spoken to the religious wh...
Read more

REHEARSALS

Image
  I wonder how much time do I give to rehearsing God's goodness and how He has intervened in my life to "save" me from myself?  How alike the Israelites I can be, complaining about what goes wrong, how it affects me, and what I lack.  As a Christ follower, I have the Indwelling Holy Spirit to give me remembrance NOT of my complaining and grumbling, but of a recall of God's faithfulness to me.  It is recorded in Psalms 78 and 106 that " They forgot what He had done, the wonder He had shown them", "They did not remember His power--the day He redeemed them from the oppressor...", "They did not remember Your many kindnesses, and they rebelled by the sea, the Red Sea.", "But they soon forgot what He had done and did not wait for His counsel.", and "They forgot the God who saved them, who had done great things in Egypt...". Contrast with me, God's remembrance: Ps. 106:44-46, "But He took note of their distress...
Read more

SPENDING MONEY ON WHAT DOES NOT SATISFY

Image
    Have you ever noticed that the object you purchased which you thought would thrill your heart has instead been a great disappointment?  In reading Isaiah 55, a question is put forth by Isaiah: "Why spend money on what is not bread, and your labor on what does not satisfy?"  In contrast, Isaiah mentions several thoughts which will bring satisfaction:  Come to the Lord as Savior and Lord in salvation.  To make that choice requires no money, and the invitation is an open invite...ya'll come! It requires a willingness to receive the invitation. Coming to Him, we can experience our soul, (mind, will, and emotions) to be nourished and nurtured.  His thoughts and ways are the highest in quality for our spiritual welfare, and we can align our mindset to His purposes for us. His every spoken or written Word will accomplish what He has purposed.  Promise made; Promise kept!  Our obedience to His Word is encouraged.   The result of r...
Read more