Old Testament passage for January 1, 2013: Genesis 1:1-2:25
1 In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.2 The earth was without form, and void; and darkness was on the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God was hovering over the face of the waters. 3 Then God said, “Let there be light”; and there was light. Genesis 1:1-3 (NKJV)
The beginning of a new year is always an exciting time to me. It is a time of fresh starts, exciting possibilities, and renewed commitments. I am, by nature, a goal-oriented type person, so the idea of New Year's resolutions is not as offensive to me as it is to many. Lots of people refuse to make any kind of New Year's goals because of the high mortality rate of those goals. If we, however, are reasonable in our expectations and thoughtful in our plans, it is a good thing to ask God what He would have us accomplish in this new year.
One goal we should all make has to do with the Word of God. As we walk through the Word this year, my prayer is that we not only read it but live it. This is a CREATIVE PROCESS. It is altogether appropriate that on this New Year's Day we read about the way God began this entire fantastic endeavour.
The first three verses of the Bible speak to us of the Trinity - Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. The story of Creation is both historical and allegorical. I believe in a literal interpretation of Genesis, but also there is the pattern of how God works in our lives. Knowing this is so valuable as we allow God to do His creative work in us!
Here is a simplified pattern of how God can and will work in your life in the coming year:
1. GOD HAS A PLAN. He has a blueprint for His creation and for your life. God is not confused about what He wants. We are the ones who are confused. That leads to No. 2.
2. GOD TAKES MESSES AND MAKES THEM MARVELLOUS. When it seemed that this new world was completely without order or propose, God was all the while working His plan. Chaos precedes order. That's the way God works.
3. THE HOLY SPIRIT IS BLOWING WITH NEW POWER. The HolySpirit brooded and hovered over the primordial chaos. He hovers over your life, too. He is like winds that blow upon you and move you into new alignments and new assignments.
4. GOD SPEAKS AND HIS WORD IS CREATIVE. God's Word is more than information. It is also FORMATION. When God speaks, He not only tells us what He wants, His Word goes forth to ACCOMPLISH (Isaiah 55:11). Therefore, the Word of God should be also in our hearts and in our mouths.
5. GOD'S FIRST ACT OF CREATION IS ALWAYS LIGHT. He opens our blind eyes. He causes us to see that which we did not see before. Everything ignites off of vision - spiritual vision. God shows you the promised land before He takes you there.
On this New Year's Day, may the eyes of your heart be opened to see how much God loves you. May they be opened to see how He has been working in your life to bring you to this day. May they be opened to understand the great plans He has for you. May His power be released to lead you to your best year yet. Happy New Year! May 2013 be a year of advance.
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