What Now?

We counted days prior to Christmas making sure everything was as prepared for that big day as possible. It came quickly and the day was over even faster. As we view these days after Christmas, we find:

• gifts given and received, mountains of torn up gift wrap stuffed in garbage bags,
• Christmas pageants finished after hours of work on music, costumes, special effects, etc.
• children occupied with everything from girl's baby dolls or boys sports equipment,
• company has come and gone,
• leftovers from Christmas dinner are stowed away in the refrigerator or freezer,
• Christmas tree is either already down or will be in a couple of days,
• holiday décor is back in boxes ready for the attic or garage,
• gifts have been returned to stores for exchange or for money back,
• holiday depression may be setting in by now.....SO...
• What now?

As I write, in just a few days we will be looking at a new year...2015. Christmas is probably the one really big holiday celebration of the year. More is done in preparation for this day than perhaps any other day. When it's over, folks may go through a time of let down little realizing that another special holiday is just around the corner...New Year's Day.

Many people I know make New Year resolutions. I don't care for the word “resolution” because to me, it says something I must determine to do with great resolve in looking at a new year. I know myself well and know many ways where I need to make changes in my life, especially in the spiritual area of “me.” I also think I know enough about me that for any spiritual change to take place, it takes God's conviction, direction and strengthening in my life for such changes to take place. So Christmas is a part of the past until next year, so “WHAT NOW” does God have in store for me in 2015?

I can read most places in God's Word and feel a conviction of a need for change or strengthening in my life. I've been spending some time in the book of Colossians and have had no problem seeing some places where God wants to work with me on some things. These don't have to apply to you but many of them do to me. Allow me to share a few of these things that I have simply written in a journal to keep me reminded that New Years day can be a day of real spiritual significance for me. I have underlined a few words in the verses listed that I view as things the Lord and I are going to have to work on. It won't work without my cooperation with Him.

As you therefore have received Christ Jesus
the Lord, so walk in Him,
2:6

Set your mind on things above, not on
things on the earth.

3:2

And let the peace of God rule in your
hearts, to which also you were
called in one body, and be thankful.
Let the word of Christ dwell in you
richly in all wisdom...
3:15,16a

And whatever you do, do it heartily,
as to the Lord and not to men.
3:23

Continue earnestly in prayer, being
vigilant in it with thanksgiving.
4:2

Let your speech always be with grace,
seasoned with salt, that you may know
how you ought to answer each one.
4:6

I'm looking forward to 2015 even though I have no idea the things that may come my way. I do know that God will not allow anything to come into my life without His approval, Jesus continues to love me despite my flaws and the Holy Spirit is always near to teach and lead me. I want to be teachable and pliable in the hands of God and be more for Him than I've ever been in my life.

There are friends who know I select a Scripture verse for each year. This year my theme verse is Micah 6:8:

He hath showed thee, O man, what is
good: and what doth the Lord
require of thee, but to do justly, and
to love mercy, and to walk humbly
with thy God?

Dear Father, I'm not being prideful in wanting to be more for You this year than before. There is nothing of You I can be without Your power in my life. Help me to keep my focus on You and not on me and my personal desires. I love You and want to please You. In Jesus' precious name...Amen.