Psalm 119:59 (New King James Version)

59 I considered my ways and turned my feet to Your Testimonies

Welcome to another New Year! It’s a chance for a new beginning, a fresh start, a “comeback”, or whatever you want to call it. I’m not knocking it; I actually look forward to it myself. Last year I heard folks talking about  “what an awful year 2006 was” and “how glad they were 2006 was over” (this is in church mind you). I found myself having to face my own reality. In my personal prayer time with the Lord, God instructed me to write down every POSITIVE thing I could remember from the prior year. By the time I had finished, I had a pretty impressive list.

There is one resolution I made at the start of 2007, and I’m determined to carry it into 2008. It is simply this: I am going to resolve to think differently. Why is this important? Because I have come to the realization that we can’t deal with our actions if we neglect our thought life. If we do, we’ll find ourselves back in the same old place we were very soon after we began our resolution. Old habits begin to leave us first in our thinking. Before we commit to change any habits, we need to first ask the Lord what needs to change in our thinking. We become set in our own ways, opinionated, and selfish without any effort. (I’m speaking from experience here). Therefore, if we DON’T find ourselves getting upset (and maybe even offended) in our thinking with these old habits and attitudes, we won’t experience change. If we’re not experiencing that struggle, we’re not hearing God’s voice and submitting to His will.

One more resolution I am making is this: I want to walk in the will of God – WHATEVER that is. I want to be honest enough with God to ask Him what needs to change in me. I’m great at telling God what needs to change in somebody ELSE, but I need to focus in on what changes HE desires in ME. I have a will and plan for my own life, but what is GOD’S will and GOD’S plan? Let me encourage you to take the time to place yourself in the Lord’s hands, listen for His voice, and commit yourself to DO whatever you find that to be. Take the time to seek Him and to ask Him, He’ll be faithful to answer you.

Blessings!