Be Still This New Year

Happy New Year!

I love the word “new.” It speaks of beginning again. God knew that you and I would need new beginnings. That’s probably why He makes His mercies new everyday!

I needed a new start for 2009 so I took the Christmas holidays off to spend with my family and with God. As a wife, mom, friend, and minister, I can become spent quickly. If I don’t rush into God’s presence for new grace and mercies—for a new filling of Him, I live depleted.
And it’s not a pretty sight!

I began to complain, feel tried and overwhelmed. I become annoyed at the very people I love and find ministry to be more like a job than a passion. The list goes on. But…

This is not God’s intention.

Instead of striving forward into the New Year with new resolutions God calls us to be still and know that He is God. Being still means DO NOT plan, worry, struggle, or make every effort to plan out 2009. It means to focus on God and allow Him to plan your steps. This is exactly what I’ve been doing.

Have you ever thought about what you and I may be giving up by moving ahead of God or perhaps being discontent with what He’s provided?

It causes me to think about Esau. He had his priorities out of whack. Instead of receiving God’s plan and provision for his life, he traded it for instant gratification—a full belly of stew.

We all know a full belly doesn’t last long before we are hungry again.

Neither does anything we do or trade for God’s perfect plan.

I wonder what our “bowl of soup” is that we’re willing to trade for pleasure now instead of future fulfillment. Will you take a minute to consider that question?

I don’t know about you, but I don’t want to miss one thing God has for me and my family. When I’m tempted to plan out this year, I stop. I open the Psalms and suddenly I see that He is God and there is no other. His plans are right, pure, noble, and good. So my New Year’s resolution is simple this year. I’m allowing God to direct my path.