1) I tend to grow out of self-assessment rather than asking God to examine our lives.
2) I tend to be pursued with self-determination and self-effort rather than trusting God to work in and through me.
Is it any wonder so many of my resolutions fail?
For me, I’ll survey my life this past year, praying as I’ll
ask the following questions.
How has my life affected those in my sphere of influence? Hopefully
I would be able to say that God used me to bless and build up other people
rather than criticize or tear them down.
What have I used to guide myself in serving and making
everyday decisions? Hopefully I would be able to say that I looked to God and
His Word for direction rather than leaning on your my understanding (which
often is the case) or following after the ways of the world.
How have I dealt with problems, conflicts, or mistakes made
by others or even myself? Hopefully I was able to apply both grace and truth
rather than going to one extreme or the other.
When I use the New Year as a time for reflecting on the
newness He brings, I realize that with the new year come new opportunities to
live out that new life.
Perhaps I wasn’t able to answer all of the above questions
as I hoped, or at least not consistently so.
But there is good news. I will
have a new year ahead of me to change my answers, unless God takes me home to
be with Him or if Jesus comes first.
Those aren’t bad options but don’t I want my life to be on track with
Him in the meantime, to make a difference now.
And that is
why…… my circumstances might not change, but my perspective toward life will change as I see through new eyes. — I have faith.
… the world might seem to keep getting worse, but my reactions toward it will change as I understand with a new mind. — I have hope.
… people around me might not change, but my attitude toward them will change as I respond with a new heart. — I have love.
And so I pray…
Heavenly Father, it’s New Year’s Eve. In some ways this past
year feels like it has flown by; but on the other hand, when I consider some of
the painful events of the year, it seems like it was a year that would never
end—a year that would never go away. The “already” and “not yet” of knowing you
were clearly evident over the past twelve months. Joy and grief are both
comfortably at home in my heart at the end of this calendar year.
Thank you for your steadfast love and fresh mercies that
came every single day this past year—when I was aware of them and when I
wasn’t. You remained faithful to everything you’ve promised me in Jesus. Great
is your faithfulness.
But Father, it’s because of your love for me in that I can
also own my grief and sadness. As much as I believe and love the gospel, there
were stretches when I clearly didn’t act like it. This past year I joined
naysayers in saying, “So where is your God?” You usually heard this complaint
from me when you were seem quiet and not there catering to me.
When you didn’t act of quickly as I expected or in keeping
with my agenda, I sulked and whined. When I experienced the reality of life in
a broken world among broken people (which was a lot this year), I wanted relief
more than a changed heart; I wanted you to vindicate me more than I wanted to
glorify you; I wanted to give up more than I wanted to grace up. Many times I
trusted my voiceless, sightless, senseless, powerless idols more than I trusted
you. I own my sin and grieve my foolishness.
But until then, on the eve of a new year, prepare me for
twelve new months of groaning and growing in grace. I resolve to trust You plus
nothing for my everything. With palms up, I offer you great praise and fresh
surrender to your purposes. May 2019 be a new year of new creation and
fruitfulness. So very Amen I pray, in Jesus’ tender and trustworthy name.
A Blessed New Year to all!
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