Christian Perspectives: A New Year

January 22, 2016 · 0 Comments

Heading into the New Year is a good time to assess where we are in life and ask ourselves the question: What will the New Year look like for me?

We cannot change the past, but we can learn from it and use this knowledge to help us decide what we need to do to make our lives better in the future.

The first thing we need to do is figure out what our priorities are in life.

My hope is that you would say your relationship with God, through Jesus Christ, is your most important priority. If this is true then this will affect all your decisions as you move along this year.

If you don’t have one already, you need to schedule a definite time each day to pray and to read His word.

Using a daytimer or a “through the bible” reading program is a good way to help you out as you try to keep this up all year.

Joining in with other family members could be a motivating factor; or find a friend who will follow along with you, encouraging one another as you go.

Pray for yourself, your family and for those you know around you.

Also, don’t forget to pray for our government and the world at large.

There is so much going on in the world that we need to keep it in front of Him in prayer.

Being part of a local bible believing church is important.

If you aren’t, this would be a great time to make the commitment to attend one on Sunday morning. Also get involved by helping out in the local church in any way God may lead you.

Being in church must be a priority. This world offers us many things we could be doing instead of going to church on Sunday morning but God delights in our gathering together to worship Him.

This gathering together will also be a great encouragement to all there.

Our next priority should be our family.

When’s the last time you had a date night with your spouse?

Hire a babysitter or send your children to grandma and grandpa’s for a couple of hours while you go out for dinner at a restaurant.

Take this time to just talk and share some time together as a couple. Spend quality time with your children too.

Those people who have been telling you “they grow up so fast” are right. My children are now grown and well established in their careers. The last 25 years have gone by very fast and the days just keep flying by.

I am now the one saying “they grow up so fast.”

It has been said that no one on their death bed says, “I wish I had spent more time at work.”

We need to remember that our time here on earth is limited.

We can get so caught up in the here and now that we fail to deal with the eternal, the things that will last forever.

The Psalmist tells us to number our days so that we will develop a heart of wisdom.

I trust we all will strive for a closer relationship with Him in this coming year.

By Jim Rintoul

Bethel Bible Chapel