NEW YEARS RESOLUTIONS

Happy New Year! Today is the day that we all make resolutions for the new year. We say we will lose weight, quit smoking, get out of debt, be kinder to our families and friends, just become a "new person"! But most of us rarely keep our resolutions. Usually within a few weeks we have quit our diet, started smoking again, pulled out the credit card and bought something we really wanted but truly didn't need, yelled at our kids, took our bad days out on our spouses.

But there is a way that we can start fresh and become new and that is through Christ Jesus. We can turn to Christ who truly gives us the opportunity to forget our past and truly become new. The thought of being able to do this truly fills me with joy! It means that we have a never ending supply of hope and endless opportunities to move forward! We can have the courage to deal with our past failures and move forward in Christ. We have the opportunity to lead more meaningful, Christ-centered lifes. We can look forward to a future of peace and security and hope that only Christ can give.

Lord, thank you for the opportunity to start this year anew with the hope that only you can give. Thank you for forgiving us our past defeats and helping us to live the life that you want us to live. Thank you, Lord, for your never ending supply of hope. Help us to live this year as you would have us live - showing you in everything we do and giving you the glory.

Brothers, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead. I press on on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus. Philippians 3:13-14

Prayer - An Awesome Power

Prayer is such an important power. We may go to the Lord for all our needs and He hears our prayers. Through prayer, we can find the peace that only God can give us.

I was reminded of what how powerful prayer is today when a friend sent me a text message to pray for a situation in her life. I immediately dropped to my knees and lifted her and the situation up to God. What an awesome feeling to know that we serve a God that hears all of our prayers and meets all of our needs! I thought about how prayer is not something we had to do, but something we get to do. I get to bring to God every worry, every concern, every praise that is on my heart. God is always near and He always hears our prayers. And because He is always near, we do not need to be anxious about anything. And because He is always near, we can have a peace that only He can give. Because He is near, we have a joy that fills every part of our lives. What an awesome feeling to know that we can turn over every care to God and that He hears all of our prayers!

Thank you, Lord, for hearing our prayers. Thank you for the peace that passes all understanding, the peace that only You can give. Thank you for others who pray for us. Help us to reach out to others and pray for their needs.

Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. Phillipians 4:4-7