Wednesday, December 31st

Yesterday we started the discussion around looking ahead, looking ahead into 2026, but more specifically, how do we look ahead, not based on our agenda, but what God is doing? What God is doing as Lord, Holy One, Creator, and King? (Isaiah 43:15)

Today I want to take it one step further. Take a look at,

2 Corinthians 5:17- Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here!

You may be familiar with that passage, and we talk a lot about that passage around salvation; the old life is gone, the new life has come. Which is a true statement. But let’s go back to God as Creator, in conjunction with what Christ has done. What is the new thing, the new way, the new creation that God needs to do in your life? What are the old ways, the flesh ways that you are still stuck in? How can God, as Creator, be creating in your life?

Let’s take it one step further,
 
James 4:13-15- 13 Now listen, you who say, “Today or tomorrow we will go to this or that city, spend a year there, carry on business and make money.” 14 Why, you do not even know what will happen tomorrow. What is your life? You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes. 15 Instead, you ought to say, “If it is the Lord’s will, we will live and do this or that.”

We can come up with all the plans we want and I’m not saying we shouldn’t plan and look ahead. But what is the intention of this passage?

Are you doing it your way? Your will? Or are you doing it according to God’s will?
I love this reflection by Pastor Peter Briscoe, “ask Christ to create a quiet spot in your soul where just the two of you can meet, talk, and rest as you go about your days. Sure, reach for the stars and plan for the future if you wish; but ask Him to make His presence a deeper reality as you go about life.”

As you do that, ask him what he wants to create in you? Maybe it isn’t about the next resolution, maybe it is with greater purpose of tending to your mind, heart, and soul.
As we step into this next year we are going to be more on-purpose with discipleship. We see discipleship in everything we do, from Sunday am to any groups you are a part of to serving in so many ways, all steps of discipleship. Which means we’ve defined discipleship this way; loving God and others by being with Jesus, being like Jesus, and doing the things Jesus did.

All that to say, what could be a word or two or three, that God is trying to get your attention with, to say, “let’s focus on this, for this year.” Where do you need to grow in being a disciple of Jesus; being with, like, and doing the things Jesus did?

For me, I’m prompted by two words, thus far; dependence and intention. I believe God is getting my attention around be more dependent on Him, His Spirit, His Kingdom work. As well as being more intentional with Him and others, versus just waiting to see what “could” happen. My desire is that God and I will meet, in the secret place, to deepen those two realities in my life.

What is it for you this year? Take some time, meet with God, work towards aligning your will with His.