NEW YEAR, NEW BEGINNING

New Year, New Beginning
Written by Sister Abena January 1, 2008
For I know the plans I have for you ," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. (Jeremiah 29:11)

It is 2008 now and as I sit here and think back to 2007 I wonder how did we get to 2008 so quickly? Usually, by now, I have great hopes for the new year, but for some reason, I entered 2008 very quietly. I usually hear a lot of churches every where talking about the new slogan for the upcoming year, but once again, seems pretty quiet. I have heard a few here and there talking about the number 8 means new beginnings, but that’s about it.

I have always seen the new year as a new start, a way God allows us to start a new year better than we ended the previous year and that is what my primary goal is for 2008. I am going to take an assessment of my shortcomings for 2007 and try to do better in 2008. I am going to search my heart for the areas I need to grow in and pursue change and reformation with a vengeance. I am going to search for any areas in my life that need to be rejuvenated, maybe like, reading my Bible everyday with more zeal instead of so dutifully. I am going to invest in a stronger more passionate prayer life. I truly look at my prayer life as a way to communicate to God and He communicates back to me. If I don’t have that, I am truly lost, and I mean lost! I understand when David said, I will seek the Lord always.

Each year, I seek God for a new scripture for me to stand on, believe, and grab a hold of for the new year. Last year it was Matthew 6:33, Seek ye first the kingdom of God and His righteousness and all of these things will be added unto you. This scripture reigned true in my life in 2007 more than any other year of my life. The scripture God gave me for 2008 is in Jeremiah 29:11, For I know the plans I have for you Abena," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. Wow, each time I read that scripture it knocks me off of my feet because I know that God is talking to me personally, that is why I inserted my name.

How about you, have you sought out God for a scripture for yourself? You know what that does for me, it gives me a renewed purpose and hope for the present year and I go after that promise in the scripture with all that I have within me. Also, throughout the year, the Holy Spirit reveals the scripture in many forms. For example, last year, I sought God first regarding some challenges in my family, and He had me step back and allow Him to add blessings onto the people in my family I was praying for, especially my little sister. I thought I would have to provide the monetary things she needed, but God did. Also, a situation at my job where someone I trusted actually turned out to not be very trustworthy, but I sought God first instead of trying to handle the problem myself. I was going to share some very personal information with this person about myself, but God had me pull back and He sent someone to share information with me about the person I thought I trusted, and my reputation was spared, because who knows how the untrustworthy person would have used the information to harm me. So I thank God for sending a true friend to warn me. These are just two examples.

I encourage you for 2008 to: 1. Seek God for a scripture that is just for you. 2. Take an honest assessment of the areas in your life that still need your attention. It could be a sin that continues to come back, it could be that you can’t seem to get out of a state of depression, it could be fornication, it could be lack of a desire to serve God etc. whatever it is seek God for full deliverance so that He can move you into your destiny for 2008. God wants more than ever for you to be in position and ready to receive the abundant blessings He has for you but He needs you to take ownership of the areas in your life that need YOUR attention. The first step is recognizing the areas of concern and the next steps are to seek out God and His Holy word for guidance, deliverance, change, and restoration. Can you do that? I believe if you do, you will never be the same.

In closing, I want you to remember that your best days are still ahead, you just have to grab a hold of the promises of God and don’t let go! But remember, promises don’t come without obedience. Some blessings in Gods word are unconditional, but most are conditional. Which means God says if you then I.

God Blesses Obedience, look at: Deuteronomy 7:11-16: You shall therefore be careful to do the commandment, and the statutes, and the ordinances, which I command you this day. 12 "And because you hearken to these ordinances, and keep and do them, the LORD your God will keep with you the covenant and the steadfast love which he swore to your fathers to keep; 13 he will love you, bless you, and multiply you; he will also bless the fruit of your body and the fruit of your ground, your grain and your wine and your oil, the increase of your cattle and the young of your flock, in the land which he swore to your fathers to give you. 14 You shall be blessed above all peoples; there shall not be male or female barren among you, or among your cattle. 15 And the LORD will take away from you all sickness; and none of the evil diseases of Egypt, which you knew, will he inflict upon you, but he will lay them upon all who hate you. 16 And you shall destroy all the peoples that the LORD your God will give over to you, your eye shall not pity them; neither shall you serve their gods, for that would be a snare to you.

Blessings upon you this year and the years to come! Sincerely, Sister Abena
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http://www.hischosenvesselministry2005.blogspot.com/ http://www.inspiredtowrite08.blogspot.com/
©2007 Sister Abena