New Years Points to Remember

Hi !
Thoughts on the first day of 2016!  Isn’t that exciting?  I love the fact that as children of God we live in expectation…anticipation…and eagerness to watch what the Lord is doing in our personal life and in the lives of those around us!!  We don’t know what 2016 will bring but we do know that our Almighty Heavenly Father is in charge!

I just love New Year’s Day. The good news is that each year is an opportunity for new beginnings and a fresh start. But then so is each week. Every Sunday is the first day of the week – a new beginning. Actually, every day is an opportunity for a new beginning.    Our God gives us new beginnings through our lives!  Lamentations 3:23 (NLT)  Great is his faithfulness; his mercies begin afresh each morning.

As we enter the New Year there are four things I want to remember:

1. Interruptions in my life are inevitable and God allows them for a purpose.  There will be times in the coming year when I will want to say, “WAIT, this is not the way I planned it.” By trusting Christ I can look at all interruptions as adventures with Him! Romans 8:28 (NLT)  And we know that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to his purpose for them.

2. My Attitude sets my agenda for my day – my week – my month – my year! Philippians 2:5 (NLT) You must have the same attitude that Christ Jesus had. Think about Him…Jesus is the perfect model of humility and being a servant.  Perhaps a new habit to develop in 2016 would be to constantly ask servant questions: “What can I do to help?” “How can I serve in this place?”  “If it were me, what would I want or need?” “Can I lend you a hand?”

3. Cheerful and joyful living is my choice.  When I choose to see all happenings in my life as blessings from God then my heart is glad. When my heart is glad even the rain drops look like love tokens from God.  Helen Keller who was born blind once said, Keep your face to the sunshine and you cannot see the shadows. This kind of living can only flow from the love and joy that Jesus puts in my heart. You see, Jesus not only gave His life for us, but He gives His life to us right now! And His life in us fills us with joy and abundant life.  John 10:10 (NLT) …My purpose is to give them a rich and satisfying life.

4. The action word for my life is surrender. Spiritual victory and true happiness stems from me giving all that I am to Him.  My surrender is based on this fact: God Is Good. He wills only the best for me.  I lose out whenever I decide to do my own thing instead of God’s will. Surrendering to Him always makes us become more than we could every achieve ourselves.  Jeremiah 29:11 (NLT) For I know the plans I have for you,” says the LORD. “They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope.

Ephesians 3:20 (NLT) Now all glory to God, who is able, through his mighty power at work within us, to accomplish infinitely more than we might ask or think.

Happy New Year !

Joyfully,

Yvonne