A New Year is here filled with God's Promises of hope, love and blessings from above!
As the new year unfolds take time to PRESS in and keep your eyes on the Lord. As 2024 begins this is the ideal time to remember to LEAN into the Lord and TRUST in him in all things, in the world around as as well as your personal life because he loves us. As scripture reminds us, "Trust in the Lord with all your heart
and lean not on your own understanding;
6 in all your ways submit to him,
and he will make your paths straight". from Proverbs 3:5-6 LISTEN to what the Lord is telling you in this season and how he is directing you through the Holy Spirit this year.
"To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven"...
from Ecclesiastes 3
REMEMBER to Pray and ask the Lord, what does he want from you in this new year?
Is it time to better CONNECT with him ?
It is time to READ more from the Holy Bible ?
Is it time to ASK for forgiveness or forgive someone else?
Is it time to LEARN how to PRAY ?
Is it time to PRAY or PRAISE more ?
Is it time to better TRUST in what God is doing in your life or in your nation ?
Is it time to LEARN deeper truths from the Bible ?
Is it time to SHARE your FAITH more ?
Is it time to better CONNECT to the Lord to be his hands & feet to help SERVE those around you ?
Is it time to SOW a seed?
Perhaps it is time to TEACH & PASS ON what you have learned about the Lord Jesus and the Gospel to the next generation ?
God knows the answers, don't be afraid to seek him and ask him to reveal them to you.
Scripture from the book of Jeremiah reminds us of God's Love ...
11 ..."For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future"...
from Jeremiah 29:11
That promise was meant for the captives back in the days of Babylon as well as for us, God's children, just like those exiled back then he loves us, see The Lord has GREAT plans for our lives, as Jesus died for each and every one of us because he LOVES us. Does someone YOU know need to hear that? Or maybe there's someone you need to pray for to be reminded of that or for a seed to be planted in their heart.
You can read the full chapter here
In 2 Peter 3:9 - The apostle Peter reminds us of God's love & patience...
"The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. Instead he is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance." Another reminder of God's love for us also comes from the book of Jeremiah... In Jeremiah 1: 5 we are reminded how the Lord knew each of us before we were even born.
“...Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, before you were born I set you apart"...
Yet another reminder of God's love comes from the apostle John...
"We love because HE first loved us." from 1 John 4:19
The Good news from the New Testament also known as the Gospel of Jesus Christ tells us how God made the ultimate sacrifice for LOVE for us by sending Jesus Christ his son to die for us. It further reveals how thru the trinity of the Father , Son and the Holy Spirit, God himself took on human form and came to this world to live among us thru Jesus Christ and he took on the sins of the world ( including yours). He was crucified and died for us, he was resurrected by the Holy Spirit and conquered ALL sin, infirmity and death. So we could all be washed clean, renewed by his blood and become children of God and live with God for all eternity. But it further reminds us of the importance of our need to repent and turn from our sin and become better people discerning sin and right from wrong and live our lives keeping all this in mind.
"Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect." from Romans 12:2
If you are still doubting, more scriptural proof of God's love comes from the Apostle Paul...
This next truth is from the Book of Romans 8:28-30 where we are reminded by the apostle Paul about how God through our Lord Jesus Christ set us apart as his children and how He works ALL things for the good of those who love him.
28 "And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose. 29 For those God foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brothers and sisters. 30 And those he predestined, he also called; those he called, he also justified; those he justified, he also glorified."
You can read the full chapter here
So as this new year starts PAUSE, thank the Lord and ask the Lord what is he saying to you this season? What does he want from you this year? START the year off right & allow him to make your path straight for you, your loved ones and those around you.
Remember, as God's love letters to us from scripture remind us, YOU are loved and he is listening.
14 "If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land." from 2 Chronicles 7:14
*If you are confused or don't yet know if you have a personal relationship with the Lord Jesus Christ, contrary to a lot of religious teachings it's actually a personal spiritual connection to God thru Jesus and the Holy Spirit and it starts off through prayer. So start the year off right, and ask him right now into your heart and he will direct your path.
Pray this sinner's prayer out loud - see below "Lord Jesus,
I know You died for my sins. I believe it with all my heart and today I put my trust in You. Forgive my sins, wash me clean in Your precious blood. I give my life to You. I give You my dreams, my hopes, failures, and pain. I place my life into Your hands. Make me a brand-new person as You have promised, and in return I promise to follow You with my whole heart.
In Your Name I pray, amen."
If you prayed that prayer then Praise God and thank him for all he is doing for you and go here
Have a blessed New Year!
Excerpts courtesy of https://www.biblegateway.com/
