Well, the new year is well underway, and I have not yet recovered from Christmas break. It was an absolutely wonderful time, but oh so busy. As I write, my decorations are still up. My husband asked me yesterday, “Any chance these Christmas decorations will be coming down?” I just laughed. I have actually thought that maybe I should just leave them up until next year. I love the sparkly lights, nativities, and festive feel that our home has. It may look a little strange in June, so I plan to get everything down this weekend…hopefully. New years bring new thoughts and plans. I have never been one to make New Year’s resolutions. Making them seems to be so much about what I am resolved to accomplish. Historically for me, if that is my thinking, then I am doomed to fail. I prefer to ask the Lord what He wants me to do. Is there anything that I need to change? Anything that I need to step out in faith and do that is not my norm. Is there anything that I need to pray about this year that is different from other years? The most important path for our Christian walk is staying in God’s will for our lives no matter when the calendar changes numbers. Self-reflection is a good way to begin a new year, but for believers it must always be coupled with seeking the way of the Lord. I actually started on a new path in October that is filtering over into this year. I let the season of Covid turn me into a pile of self-indulgence. I did not eat right or exercise enough, and it caught up with me. I was crying out to God to help me do what I knew was the right thing to do, but I just could not move. One Tuesday morning I confessed to our Redeemed Bible study group that I was struggling. I asked them to pray for me. They got up and laid hands on me and prayed for me immediately. I am not kidding, the next day I woke up with a different attitude – one of joyful surrender to what I must do to honor God and the temple He gave me. The prayers of those faithful ones did a work in me. I am staying on this good track by the grace of God. Actually, isn’t this the way we must live always? The apostle Paul wrote in Galatians 6:9, “Let us not lose heart in doing good, for in due time we will reap if we do not grow weary.” Are you weary? Ask for prayer. Are you doing good for everyone else, but yourself? Remember that the Lord gave you a temple (I Corinthians 6:19-20) so, taking care of your temple is paramount to your being able to serve God and others. For this year I hope for all of us that we will stay in the Word, honor the Lord with our whole hearts, and stay on the good path. God bless you friends in 2023.
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