Starting a brand new year brings a fresh perspective, a clean page, a fresh start to make a change. Over the years I have made a list of New Years resolutions or goals that I want to accomplish this year......changes that I desire to make in my life whether they are physical, emotional, mental or spiritual. It reminds me of Lamentations 3:22-24 - "The faithful love of the Lord never ends! His mercies never cease. They are new every morning great is Your faithfulness. The Lord is my portion, says my soul, therefore I hope in Him!" The Lord's faithfulness is New for us every morning, I do not have to store it up for later but I get a fresh stat with the Lord each & evry day - Great is His faithfulness!
Well today I decided to get out all of my old journals and look back on New Year's Day Past to see what new years resolutions or goals I made. Did I keep any of the resolutions? Did I make any changes? and How have I changed over the years? All of the lists that we make so many times are forgotten about leaving us frustrated. I saw in my own journey not only lists or goals to achieve but I also saw changes in me.
Reflecting back to my Past New Years Resolutions......
1994-1999
- to deepen my walk with the Lord
- give the attitudes of my heart over to God
- to be more "spirit-controlled"
- to creatively & passionately love Mark & the girls
- to be a more patient mother to Emily & Katie
- to spend more time making memories with my family
- exercise & be healthy
- build more relationships with others
- enjoy the life God has given me & practice the joy of the Lord
- time management
As I kept reading through my journals I discovered that as I deepened my walk with the Lord and allowed His love to flow through me I didn't put as much emphasis on the "list" that may get lost or forgotten about and focused more on my daily time with God in His word & my journal.
My New Year's journal entry from 2000 to this new year 2009 has been something like this......Happy New Year! Thank you Lord for a brand new year. What will be of this new year, who will we meet, what will we do, what will challange & shape us. Lord, only You know what this year will bring so we trust You. Help us Father to trust You completely, to love others & to invest our lives for Your glory.
In reflecting on Lamentations 3:22-24 I can have a New Years Day perspective every day this year.....as I turn the pages in my journal and write the date at the top it is a new day....a fresh start and a clean slate - "....they are new every morning great is Your faithfulness. The Lord is my portion, says my soul, therefore I hope in Him."
Have a blessed New Year......because In Christ we Have Hope!
1 comment:
Linda - Great blog! What an inspiration of "hope"! A year ago I was searching, looking and praying for hope. God answered my prayers by a simple act of kindness from two very special women (you and Susie) who simply asked "can I pray with you?" Some may see that as a question, but I saw it as the most powerful statement of what Christ following is all about. Thank you. I am so excited about being a part of Church of Hope and am looking forward to seeing what God has planned for all of us this year. God bless you and your family.
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