A Word For The New Year!

Monday, January 05, 2009
A Word for the New year
Current mood: relieved

Recently, I had the opportunity to open the service at church. The Lord wanted me to share some scripture for the coming New Year at the service and He has led me to share it with anyone who reads this blog. This is basically what I said at the service.

Lately, I've been feeling overwhelmed. I'm not sure why, but, I've had a sense that things have become to hard to handle. The economy looks bad, people are losing their jobs, Christmas is right around the corner, and people are hurting. I spent some time in prayer about this and the Lord told me that I was holding onto things that weren't mine to hold onto. He had already carried that burden. It was already taken care of. He paid the price. I'm wondering how many of you are feeling the same way? That life has just become too hard.

A good friend of mine gave me this scripture to read and I'm going to share it with all of you.

Phillipians 4:4-9

"4Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice!
5Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near.
6Do not be anxious about anything (do not worry about a thing), but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.
7And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
8Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things.
9Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me—put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you."

I am going to challenge you, as the Lord challenged me, to search your heart and mind and ask the Lord to reveal to you the worries, fears, and anxieties that you are holding onto. Release those things to the Lord. If you are focused on your worries, then your focus is taken off the Lord. Trust in Him to take care of the problems in your life. Do not dwell on them. And the peace that surpasses all understanding shall be yours! I can't tell you what a relief it is, what a load off my shoulders, knowing that I have a loving Father in heaven who will provide all our needs, who will direct our path, who has a plan for your life, and love you no matter where you are or what you are doing. Let it go and make Jesus the center of your life.

"Rejoice in the Lord, again I say rejoice."

Have a blessed and happy New Year!