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My husband, Gabe and I recently took a five-hour road trip over New Year’s Eve to enjoy some much due time together. Just, he and I. We were able to talk about our dreams, goals, and prayers for the New Year. It was refreshing, exciting, and stirring to spend time talking and praying about the things that were impressed upon our hearts.

 

An extension of those dreams and prayers that have been lingering heavily on my heart and mind are those for you. Yes, you, the community of women who make up each read of these articles, each download of these Bible study lessons, the views of the posted podcasts, and those of you that are simply here searching for inspiration—a word of hope, or maybe a point of view you can relate to or be challenged by.

 

Some of us may be approaching this new year with excitement at the potential of what it may hold, some with fear of the seemingly known or unknown, and others with a sense of indifference because for you, you see no signs of change, growth, or restoration in this new year.

 

I believe that God has something fresh and new in store for each one of us this year, I really do!

 

“For I am about to do something new. See, I have already begun! Do you not see it?” (Isaiah 43:19)

 

Do you see it? Do you believe it?

 

In 1 Chronicles 28, as the end of King David’s life was approaching, he stood before all of the leaders of Jerusalem and gave a valedictory word to the assembly. He explained to them that he intended to build a permanent structure, a temple, for the Ark of the Covenant to dwell permanently.

 

He then went on to explain to them, without bitterness or self-pity, that though he desired to build this temple, God was not going to allow him to complete this work because He had pre- appointed the building of the temple to David’s son, Solomon.

 

So, without dwelling on his disappointment, David continued sharing with the people, the promise that God had given him; that he, himself, would be linked to the forever King. Then, he began to instruct his son Solomon with words that we too would be wise to heed in this new year, so that we can experience the “something new” God has in store for you and me.

 

 ” . . . get to know well your father’s God; serve Him with a whole heart and eager mind, for God examines every heart and sees through every motive. If you seek Him, He will make sure you find Him, but if you abandon Him, He will leave you for good. Look sharp now! God has chosen you to build His holy house. Be brave, determined! And do it!” (1 Chronicles 28:9–10 MSG)

 

What a message to us. A message that, if heeded, will indeed produce new growth this coming year. Here is a summary of David’s word to Solomon to apply to our lives here and now.

 

  • Get to know God for yourself.  In order to do this, we have to read God’s Word (1 Peter 1:2, 2 Timothy 3:16).  I challenge you, dig deeper, for yourself, into God’s Word. Devotionals, commentaries, and podcasts are all great, but nothing replaces the power of God’s living Word. As David reminds Solomon in verse 19, “If you seek Him, He will make sure you find Him!”

 

  • Serve Him with all you have, your whole heart and an eager mind (Hebrews 10:24, Romans 12:1 and Galatians 5:13).  Are you actively serving the Lord in some capacity today? As Pastor Greg has challenged us more than once, “Let’s get some skin in the game”. I challenge you to take personal stake and invest in the body of Christ by committing to serve the Lord through serving others on a regular basis.

 

  • Be ready, be confident, and be determined (2 Timothy 4:2, Galatians 6:9). Stand confident in this very thing that “He that has begun a good work in you will complete it until the day of Jesus Christ; Philippians 1:6

 

As we heed these words and apply them to our life we will be ready for the new work, new growth, and new challenges that God has for us in this new year!