The New Year presents us time to stop and think about our past and future actions.
Sometimes it helps to stop and consider the direction your life is heading. I wondered which one would come out on top if I could actually total up the good and the bad things in my life this year?
By the good I mean: how have I walked and talked like Jesus through my actions, the love I have shown, my prayer time, my willingness to give of my time and finances, am I raising my children with godly values, or how have I treated my coworkers?
By the bad I mean: am I leaving the old year with anger or bitterness in my heart, or an ache because of hurtful words gnawing at my soul. Am I unwilling to forgive, or have I made wrong decisions that hurt others? Has my prayer time been zilch, or have I walked around with a negative mood most of the time?
Will January 1 be just another day, or will it really be a new beginning for you and me as the title suggests? Reflecting on the direction we’ve taken may not be easy, but it is helpful, because otherwise we assume that time will continue on as always and that we can correct situations later when our life isn’t quite so hectic to share Christ, or to give of our time for His work. We think we may eventually get rid of our bitterness and reinstate our prayer time. We fool ourselves. We assume we will wake up to another day, not realizing that God has given us each day as a gift. Yes, each day is a gift, and we will one day be held accountable for how we use that time.
We are now given another 365 days or 525,600 minutes. That time may not be given to each one of us, so how are you going to use those minutes and hours? We’re granted one day at a time; yesterday is no longer good, and tomorrow is unknown.
As we survey the blessings we have received or the folly of our worldly mode of living, it could be a time to rejoice or to reconsider. Are you satisfied with the way you have lived this year? Does something need changing? Determine in your heart to move on to God’s blessings. His desire is to have us shine into a very disturbed world, now more than ever.
As you step into this year, stop and think: why should I be allowed another day?
Florence Simmons is an author, freelance writer and a speaker. She and her husband have been in ministry for over 40 years. Her website www.common-sensewisdom.com
is open for new and experienced writers.
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