The past year has gone by. The new year has come. Will we bring the old into the new or look forward to the new? Will we embrace change or stay the same? Will our hearts be open or closed? Will we live under fear or will we embrace the TRUTH? Will we be wise or will we be foolish. Will we listen and not talk? Will we be open to learning, and growing? Or will we just continue? Will we live out the Gospel in our daily lives? Will we have a stronger foundation, one built not just hearing His Word but also living His Word. (Luke 6:47) Beginning a new year oftentimes we reflect on our past and future walk. It is a time to pause, evaluate, and do an honest assessment of how we live.
I don’t know the answers to the questions for you, but for me, I will focus on a mighty God who created me in His image. He made me in His unique way. He created me to have fellowship with Him, to love others, and to glorify Him in all I do. It is a big challenge, but one I enjoy because each year I am encouraged to do better…to grow. I want to see a transformation. How will you rate your life in 2020 on a scale of 1-10? The scale according to God’s Word, precepts, and commands. I desire to be more obedient. What about you? I don’t make resolutions, I continue to pray and trust Jesus to transform me. It is a time for me to re-organize and seek God for my goals, my purpose, and my vision for 2021.
I love the word “transformation” because this is what God does in the lives of surrendered Christians. That is why this website is named Transforming Temples. We will never be perfect in this life, but, we have been blessed with the supernatural power from God to be transformed by the “truth that sets us free.” (John 8:32) I love this scripture because God died on the cross for me, that I no longer have to be hostage to sin. Sin does not have to control my life. God’s truth delivers me from Satan’s lies. Satan’s lies have taken over our nation, but I have the freedom to show love to my enemies, love my neighbors, and walk-in kindness. This year may I do it better. The picture at the beginning of the blog reflects our chains of bondage to sin broken by Jesus’ death on the cross. We now are set free to live by the power of the Holy Spirit.
As I sit at my desk I ask God to show me a review of the past year. He shows me my growth, my weaknesses, what I need to let go of and trust Him to control. I desire to live better each year. By living better, I mean living to reflect the light of Jesus, especially in those areas I tend to struggle. I desire to do this life well. I don’t want life to happen to me, I want to be actively pursuing a relationship with Jesus, that everything I do is with His strength and wisdom.
A Christian woman who loves the Lord asked God, “Why Lord, do you not answer my prayers? I have been asking for quite some time.” She was not a patient person; in fact, she often jumped ahead of God, taking matters into her own hands. Of course, it never has a good ending when we do it on our own. However, God can turn it into good if we receive it by acknowledging our error, learn from it, and change the behavior. This equals transformation.
Like most of us, we ask God to fix the problems we have in the world around us, yet we don’t confront the sin in our hearts. This year the goal is unconditional surrender. I ask God to expose the ways I try to run my life without His direction. As I continued in my time of devotion, God reveals to me in the past two weeks where I slacked in my goals. I was exposed. Foremost, my goals are centered around those things that bring God glory. I got off track when I slipped back to doing things my way and excluding the direction from God. If you’re sensitive to the Holy Spirit, you know when you’re off balance. Jesus revealed all of my distractions.
I was prompted to share this blog because I believe many are beginning this year just as I am, seeking goals, direction, and vision. Most of all, we want to walk righteously, holy, and in the Spirit. Why? Because the prince of the power of the air is moving through our nation causing a great division among Christians. The struggle is not against flesh and blood. Our struggle is against spiritual powers of darkness and principalities. (Ephesians 6:12) We see this manifesting in our nation right now. So, I ask you, “are you equipped for the battle? Will you choose love, peace, and unity amongst the body of Christ? Or will you continue to feed into the prince of this world, causing division, chaos, discord, and evil?
Surrendering to Christ is positive. It results in our usefulness in His kingdom on earth. We align with His will. It is positive. Most importantly are the blessings that flow from this relationship. I choose the light. I choose to strive for unconditional surrender. Not me Lord, but You. Will you join me? Let’s kick off the new year with less of us and more of Him. Let’s be renewed in mind and transformed to His will and ways; to honor and glorify the LORD. (Romans 12:1-2) It takes change. Are you willing to change? Will you surrender more of you?
“Every choice is a world made new for the chosen.” Barbara Kingstone, Prodigal Summer
