Seeking His Heart
Have you made your New Year’s resolutions? Or have you already forgotten them?
I don’t know why, but I have a mental block on these things. I guess it’s because I was forever being asked to fill out goal sheets when I taught school. Such a drag! I could use that time to plan my next lesson.
Then, when I started attending the Louisville Christian Writers’ group, there it was again, every January – “Let’s fill out our goal sheets for the year.”
I will have to admit, when I took the time to do it and when I looked back at the end of the year, it was gratifying to see many things accomplished.
The Lord says:
I know the plans I have for you, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you a hope and a future. Jer. 29:11
Well, there you have it. He has the plans, so why should I worry about it? Okay, okay, I know, He may know what He has in mind for me, but I can’t just sit back and expect him to lay it on me. So, what to do?
Perhaps it’s time to go back to the old “Be Still” theme. Perhaps that would be a good time to seek His face and ask for direction for this year – or even for this month. It might be a good idea to have paper and pencil handy for after prayer time.
At the same time, we must remember that our plans must always be tempered along the way.
In his heart, man plans his course, but the Lord determines his steps. Prov. 16:9
Let me share one of my husband’s resolutions. He decided to read the Bible through this year in the One Year Chronological Bible. Faithfully, he started Jan. 1.
Later that night, we reread all the Christmas cards we had received in December – something we do each January. One friend’s card arrived late and we hadn’t read it yet. Surprisingly, she mentioned that she had been so blessed this past year by reading the Bible through in, none other than, the One Year Chronological Bible.
I told Jim, “Wow, if that isn’t affirmation!” One of those “God-incident” moments. His wonderful timing!
Sometimes we try to pack in too many goals and become frustrated. Sometimes they aren’t very measurable – too vague, too broad. “I want to love everybody this year” rather than “I will work on my relationship with (whoever) by doing (thus and so).”
Maybe you could consider even one definitive, measurable goal. I’ll share one of mine – to reduce the number of words in my blog each week – 500 words max. How am I doing?
One other goal is to return to the fascinating, encouraging story of Joseph that we started back in November. We left him saving the grain for a coming famine. Soon the brothers will be showing up at the palace. What fun! See you next week.
~ Joyce ~
Great message Joyce! Thanks for sharing.
Morning Joyce. Last year after your suggestion to keep a notebook listing 1000 things to be thankful for I did. A year later I have a fat little notebook and if I get in bed and turn the light off forgetting my gratitude I have to turn the light on and write. It is a thanksgiving every night and a perfect way to achieve a good rest in the arms of a loving father. Thank you Nancy
Thanks for reading, Anne.
As my loving wife reminds me God has a plan,like most things you need to seek it to have it and enjoy his gifts.Thanks be to God.We miss you guys and enjoy your blog.Hope you have a great day.Tell Jim Diane and I are finishing our one year bible a little late but as they say the turtle won the race.Enjoy your time away and we look forward to your return. Hershel & Diane
Happy New Year Joyce! Good motivating thoughts – thank you. Just to encourage Jim, Bill enjoys the chronological Bible and just finished (2015) his third read thru! He thinks I too must do this – maybe after BSF
Thanks, Janet. Glad to hear about others who find this Bible helpful. Worthy goal.
One of my goals for this year is to go to the gym at least three times a week. If I miss a day going to the gym, then I will walk in the neighborhood to make up for it. Either way, my plan is not to beat myself up if something unforeseen happens to prevent me from exercising that day. Who knows, God may have something better planned for me that day!
Joyce, Tell Jim I, too, am reading the Bible through chronologically…I started a couple of months ago so am still working on it. (Not sure it is confined to a year or not.) It is quite interesting how Genesis is interrupted with Joseph’s story!!