Put on your new nature, and be renewed as you learn to know your Creator and become like him. Colossians 3:10 (NLT)
The start of a new year is always busy with resolutions, changed habits, and goals for the months to come. So it's a fitting time to consider our spiritual lives as well. If you know Jesus as your Savior, does your life reflect it? Paul tells the Colossian church in chapter 3 to get rid of anger, rage, malicious behavior, slander, and dirty language. He says it doesn't matter if we are Jew or Gentile, all that matters is Christ. Today, set a specific goal for 2012 to know your Creator through prayer and Bible study and to become more like him.
Dear God, please be on our hearts, minds, and lips each day. Help us to show others that Jesus Christ is all that matters. Thank you for your love and goodness toward us. In Jesus' name, Amen.
Do you set spiritual resolutions each year? More often? Share them with us!
Showing posts with label New Year Resolutions. Show all posts
Showing posts with label New Year Resolutions. Show all posts
Tuesday, January 3, 2012
Friday, December 30, 2011
The wise men bring gifts
When [the wise men] saw the star, the were filled with joy! They entered the house and saw the child with his mother, Mary, and they bowed down and worshiped him. Then they opened their treasure chests and gave him gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh. Matthew 2:10-11
The wise men realized the miracle they witnessed as they found the child Jesus. They didn't expect God to find them or to shower them with gifts. Instead, they brought gifts to him. Perhaps the most important was their worship. As we approach the start of another year, consider the gift you can offer God. Time together in prayer and in the Bible become gifts to you both!
Dear God, as the days pass and the time comes closer for Jesus to return, help us draw near to you. Teach us to pray and to hear your voice. Thank you for your love and the abundant blessing of a Savior. In Jesus' name, Amen.
Do you have a New Year's Resolution? Leave a comment and let us pray for you!
The wise men realized the miracle they witnessed as they found the child Jesus. They didn't expect God to find them or to shower them with gifts. Instead, they brought gifts to him. Perhaps the most important was their worship. As we approach the start of another year, consider the gift you can offer God. Time together in prayer and in the Bible become gifts to you both!
Dear God, as the days pass and the time comes closer for Jesus to return, help us draw near to you. Teach us to pray and to hear your voice. Thank you for your love and the abundant blessing of a Savior. In Jesus' name, Amen.
Do you have a New Year's Resolution? Leave a comment and let us pray for you!
Monday, January 17, 2011
Becoming a New Creation in 2011
Each year many of us make resolutions to change something in our life; we add something new or remove something that isn't working. Many abandon their resolutions when the enthusiasm ends and the real work begins, typically only a month or two later. How do we make major changes and how do the changes become habit? How many changes have you tried to make in your life only to fail? I can think of many.
Becoming a new creation is scriptural for those who know and rely on Christ. God intends for us to become new in the essence of our being; to hope in God, love God and one another, pray unceasingly, encourage each other, think in spiritual terms, battle in spiritual ways, etc. 2 Corinthians 5:17 gives us information on how spiritual rebirth takes place, “If anyone is in Christ, he is a new creature; the old things passed away; behold new things have come.” When we believe in the person and work of Christ, we open the door to our spirits so that by the Holy Spirit we can live in Christ and He can live in us. His in-dwelling Spirit prompts us to desire to imitate Christ in character and life practices. The concept of taking off unattractive character traits and put on new traits is addressed many times in the New Testament. One of the greatest resources we have for "taking off" the old nature and putting on the new is the Bible. Reading and praying through scripture can change our hearts and minds as the concepts of God become clearer. A longing will develop to become Christ-like in our thoughts and actions (in other words - a new creation). Ephesians 4: 22-24 says to be renewed in the spirit of your mind and put on the new self which is in the likeness of God. Ask God to make you into a new creation. He will answer that prayer. God's work in you is spirit-work, His work through you is nothing short of miraculous.
If you have time this week, read through Galatians, Ephesians, Philippians, and Colossians which are letters written to the church in each city. Many sections of these letters describe the old life without Christ and the new life in Christ. Take some time to pray through some of the concepts that speak to you and jot them in your prayer journal for further prayer and meditation.
Lord, help us desire to be like you. We want to be new in our minds and hearts as we walk with you. We praise and worship you.
Blessings on your week,
Carol
Monday, January 10, 2011
A resolution to fall in love
Falling in love is great fun, isn't it? Your beloved spends all his or her time with you, surprises you with tokens of affection, tells you how wonderful you are, and makes you feel like the most important person in creation. Fun indeed.
And a lot of work. No wonder the fires of passion cool after a few months (years, if you're especially fortunate). It's not much different in our walk with God. As new believers, we read our Bibles and pray often. We spend time getting to know this Almighty One who fills a place in our hearts we never knew existed. We tell Him we love Him and we list all the reasons He is the most important thing in our lives.
And then we get busy. Kids come, work calls, distractions abound. Little by little, we stop spending time with Him. We forget to pray. We don't have time to read our Bibles. We grow distant and God grieves our absence. We mourn the relationship that once was so precious and important and seems to have taken a back seat to everything else in the world.
Maybe it's time to set another kind of resolution. A resolution to fall in love with your Creator again. Here are some of the many reasons to spend time enacting this change:
Scripture is full of people who loved the Lord and followed His ways. They give us a solid foundation for loving Him, too. When you feel like you're slipping away, take a few minutes to catch up with some of those followers and see yourself in them. Use your prayer journal to record these and other reasons you have for loving the Lord.
Praying many blessings on you,
Shelley
And a lot of work. No wonder the fires of passion cool after a few months (years, if you're especially fortunate). It's not much different in our walk with God. As new believers, we read our Bibles and pray often. We spend time getting to know this Almighty One who fills a place in our hearts we never knew existed. We tell Him we love Him and we list all the reasons He is the most important thing in our lives.
And then we get busy. Kids come, work calls, distractions abound. Little by little, we stop spending time with Him. We forget to pray. We don't have time to read our Bibles. We grow distant and God grieves our absence. We mourn the relationship that once was so precious and important and seems to have taken a back seat to everything else in the world.
Maybe it's time to set another kind of resolution. A resolution to fall in love with your Creator again. Here are some of the many reasons to spend time enacting this change:
- God is love. (1 John 4:8)
- We love Him because He first loved us. (1 John 4:19)
- God loved you so much that He sent His only Son as your Savior from eternal death. (John 3:16)
- As far as the east is from the west, so far has he removed your transgressions from you. (Psalm 103:12)
- He heals all your diseases, redeems your life from destruction, crowns you with lovingkindness and tender mercies. (Psalm 103:3-4)
- He is faithful even when we are faithless. (2 Timothy 2:13)
- He provides rest for our weary souls. (Matthew 11:28)
- He has redeemed you and called you His own. (Isaiah 43:1)
- He is patient and waits for you with mercy. (Isaiah 30:18)
- He is your rock, your fortress, and your deliverer. Your stronghold and your refuge. (2 Samuel 22:2-3)
- He is worthy. (Revelation 5:12)
Scripture is full of people who loved the Lord and followed His ways. They give us a solid foundation for loving Him, too. When you feel like you're slipping away, take a few minutes to catch up with some of those followers and see yourself in them. Use your prayer journal to record these and other reasons you have for loving the Lord.
Praying many blessings on you,
Shelley
Thursday, January 6, 2011
New Year Commitments
It's a new year. Time for a new love and a new you, right?
Well...
January 6th, and I can't figure out where the first five days of the new year have gone. Is it too late to wish you all a Happy New Year? Late is better than never, after all.
And about late being better than never... Have you set up any New Year's Resolutions? Perhaps you're like me and you shy away from this chore. A commitment is a hefty thing, you know. It's not too late! Come on, belly up to the table and face the cards. It's time, pardner.
I am not a huge fan of setting resolutions and then breaking them. I usually hold off making myself and the Lord any promises until I know the changes I plan to make are realistic and reachable while still being a challenge. Committing to the Lord, and all that. (Psalm 37:5 and Proverbs 16:3 speak of committing your way to the Lord.)
There are so many ways to set up a resolution plan if you're the unconventional type. First, change the way you approach this by changing the language. Instead of a resolution, you're setting goals. Challenging yourself to a new lifestyle. Simply making changes to create a better situation for yourself.
Now try breaking your yearly changes down into smaller, more attainable goals. A new one each quarter, each month, or even every week. These smaller goals should keep you on track to reach your big change throughout the year. Also, get a partner to help you stay accountable.
There are as many ways to achieve your resolutions (oops, there's that word again) er... GOALS as there are types of goals. Physical fitness, relational health, career plans, and spiritual challenges all might come into your personal setup. For myself, I have career goals (finish that book in the first quarter of the year and submit to agents), physical fitness goals (work up to 15 minutes of jumping rope continuously), and spiritual goals (do my Bible study every morning).
What about you? What are your goals and challenges? Share them with us! We'll help keep you accountable, and you can help keep us going.
At Elohim Prayer Beads, we're setting spiritual challenges. Look for that in the next post. And get ready. We're going to ask you to go on this ride with us and share your experiences.
So Happy New Year, dear ones. May your life be full of renewed promise and joy as you serve Him.
Shelley
Commit your way to the Lord, trust also in Him, and He shall bring it to pass. Psalm 37:5
Well...
January 6th, and I can't figure out where the first five days of the new year have gone. Is it too late to wish you all a Happy New Year? Late is better than never, after all.
And about late being better than never... Have you set up any New Year's Resolutions? Perhaps you're like me and you shy away from this chore. A commitment is a hefty thing, you know. It's not too late! Come on, belly up to the table and face the cards. It's time, pardner.
I am not a huge fan of setting resolutions and then breaking them. I usually hold off making myself and the Lord any promises until I know the changes I plan to make are realistic and reachable while still being a challenge. Committing to the Lord, and all that. (Psalm 37:5 and Proverbs 16:3 speak of committing your way to the Lord.)
There are so many ways to set up a resolution plan if you're the unconventional type. First, change the way you approach this by changing the language. Instead of a resolution, you're setting goals. Challenging yourself to a new lifestyle. Simply making changes to create a better situation for yourself.
Now try breaking your yearly changes down into smaller, more attainable goals. A new one each quarter, each month, or even every week. These smaller goals should keep you on track to reach your big change throughout the year. Also, get a partner to help you stay accountable.
There are as many ways to achieve your resolutions (oops, there's that word again) er... GOALS as there are types of goals. Physical fitness, relational health, career plans, and spiritual challenges all might come into your personal setup. For myself, I have career goals (finish that book in the first quarter of the year and submit to agents), physical fitness goals (work up to 15 minutes of jumping rope continuously), and spiritual goals (do my Bible study every morning).
What about you? What are your goals and challenges? Share them with us! We'll help keep you accountable, and you can help keep us going.
At Elohim Prayer Beads, we're setting spiritual challenges. Look for that in the next post. And get ready. We're going to ask you to go on this ride with us and share your experiences.
So Happy New Year, dear ones. May your life be full of renewed promise and joy as you serve Him.
Shelley
Commit your way to the Lord, trust also in Him, and He shall bring it to pass. Psalm 37:5
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