
Today is December 31, 2011 and as of 12:01 AM it will be in the history books, I wish I could say that it was the year our hopes and dreams became a reality but those have been reserved for another year perhaps 2012.
With all the unrest and conflict in our world and our individual lives today it would be great to enter 2012 on a happy note rather than a negative one.
But wait just a minute!
Hold the fort!
Stop the presses!
Did I just set us up to enter 2012 on a negative note?
In spite of all the unrest and conflict in our world and lives is this not the Year of Our LORD 2012? Perhaps the most important choice we will need to make the entire 366 days of 2012 will be to choose between seeing 2012 as the Year of Our LORD 2012 or not.
If we chose to see 2012 as the LORD’s year then rather than unrest and conflict being adversities they will be entry points to a deeper more profound relationship not only with God but yourself as well which will in turn open up deeper relationship with others and the world around you.
For me 12:01 January 1, 2012 opens the doorway not only to the Year of My LORD 2012 but the beginning of a new and exciting adventure. I think one of the keys to any new year is not to think of it in terms of what it will bring but to think of it in terms of what do I want it to bring and how am I going to go about accomplishing those things.
But wait just a minute!
Hold the fort!
Stop the presses!
Did I just write of what I want 2012 to bring?
Did I not write a paragraph or two ago that for me 2012 was the year of my Lord? If I set out to think about what I want to 2012 to bring who’s year is it mine or the Lord’s?
Let’s back up a bit and do a rewrite… For me 12:01 January 1, 2012 opens the doorway not only to the Year of My LORD 2012 but the beginning of a new and exciting adventure. I think one of the keys to any new year is not to think of it in terms of what it will bring but to think of it in terms of what do I want it to bring and how am I going to go about accomplishing those things. But to think of it in terms of what God wants to bring about in my life and to go about discovering, embarking, and accomplishing those things. For me 2012 will be the greatest year of Adventuring with God in all my 65 years!
As we anticipate 2012 as a year of Adventuring with God let us begin by allowing God’s word to set us up and gently push us off into deeper waters and begin our adventure.
"Remember not the former things, nor consider the things of old. Behold, I am doing a new thing; now it springs forth, do you not perceive it? I will make a way in the wilderness and rivers in the desert.” (Isaiah 43:18-19 ESV)
“For I know the plans I have for you, declares the LORD, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope. Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me, and I will hear you. You will seek me and find me, when you seek me with all your heart. I will be found by you…” (Jeremiah 29:11-14 ESV)
Trust in the LORD, and do good; dwell in the land (YEAR) and befriend faithfulness. Delight yourself in the LORD, and he will give you the desires of your heart. Commit your way to the LORD; trust in him, and he will act. He will bring forth your righteousness as the light, and your justice as the noonday. Be still before the LORD and wait patiently for him; fret not yourself over the one who prospers in his way, over the man who carries out evil devices! Refrain from anger, and forsake wrath! Fret not yourself; it tends only to evil. For the evildoers shall be cut off, but those who wait for the LORD shall inherit the land (YEAR).” (Psalms 37:3-9 ESV)
Leaving the Holy Spirit to work with you in coming to terms with God on the all of the scripture quotes I will add a few of my own observations to the last one. I am not one to make New Years Resolutions and I will stand on that premise however, the Psalmist puts before us for 2012 “MUST DO’s” (I’ve added a couple, feel free to add your own)…
Trust in the LORD…
Delight yourself in the LORD…
Commit your year to the LORD…
Be still before the LORD…
Refrain from anger…
Wait for the LORD…
Love the LORD with all of your life…
Serve Jesus by serving others…
Well whether you are ready for 2012 or not here it comes and the choices you make before it gets here are some of the most important choices you’ll make all year. What will they be? Only you can answer that question.
In closing there’s one more thing I would like you to think about that may help you make the right choice – to choose to make 2012 the Year of the LORD.
While it is true 2012 will include your past years it is just as true that 2012 will bring brand spanking new blessings. While it is true all your past years have shaped you into the person you are now it is also true that God’s plans for you during 2012 is to forge a new you, a more blessed you. Because God works primarily outside the medium of time the “brand spanking” new blessings of 2012 are already in place and are awaiting your discovery.
Grace and PEACE,
Gary Piper
From Natural Spirit Ministries and the Glory Seed Devotional families
MAY 2012 PROVE TO BE ALL THAT GOD WANTS IT TO BE FOR YOU!
Scripture quotations marked ESV "Are from The Holy Bible, English Standard Version, copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a division of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved."