A New Beginning

By: Jennifer Hallmark

Wow! Can you believe that it is another New Year and almost March? It seems to me like last year just began and suddenly here we are in 2009. To many, last year seemed like a nightmare with a failing economy, poor job market and high prices for everything. We could go into 2009 expecting no better…
But God…this is one of my favorite phrases in the Word of God. You will be reading a story where things seem hopeless in scriptures then come to these two words and you know everything changes. As people of faith, we need to believe that 2009 can be a new beginning for our relationships, our finances and most importantly our walk with God.
Before the start of each New Year, I pray and ask God for the focus for myself, something concrete I can stand on for the entire year. I used to make resolutions of things I would try to accomplish but that never seemed to work too well. Now I take time to ask God what He wants; if you haven’t done this, take the month of January or February. January is the month I use to take what God is showing me, commit to it and back it in the Word and in prayer. Many people start the year off fasting; this can be a positive tool for focus and for dying to self. You need to seek God yourself but I will share some things now that God has shown me for 2009:
(1) It is a year of forgiveness-This year, during a service at church God spoke to my heart that this year would be a year of forgiveness. I wasn’t too happy when I heard it for I felt that it meant that things will happen or people will act in such a way that I will have to forgive. The thought then came that maybe this is the year I can forgive myself, an area I struggle in.
(2) It is a year of faith building- there will be many opportunities for me to walk by faith and not by sight. I have asked God to build my trust in Him so we can be closer and walking by faith is one way to do this.
(3) It is a year of focus-I focus on God and Him alone. When things and people are shaking and falling around me, my eyes must be on Him or I will get caught up in everything else, especially the negative things. Like Peter, my focus must be on Jesus and not the waves.
As followers of Christ, 2009 can be a great year for change in the church and community. Start with yourself, forgiveness, faith, focus and then let your light shine and see others drawn to Christ!

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