Beginning a New Year is invariably a time to reassess and set new priorities. It's an opportunity to stop and examine in a deeper way experiences in our lives.
The challenge we face today is truly following God. God will empower us if we can genuinely trust Him. To trust God means we stop leaning on ourselves and lean on Him. Trust in Him means we realize that we are not God.
Looking back in honest reflection can be the first step in making a fresh start, a new beginning. Pray that this year will be a year filled with God's blessings and challenging opportunities for ministry and giving.
Lord, we praise You for the beauty of Christmas. We praise You for our world around us -- and for another New Year, a chance to try again. We want to continue to give good gifts as the year progresses. To our enemies, we would offer tolerance; to our friends, our service and loyalty; to our children, our patience and a fine example; to our parents, the kind of conduct that will make them proud; to ourselves, confidence and respect; to our mates, our loved renewed; and to You, Lord, our hearts. Amen.
"Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will direct your path.." Proverbs 3:5-6