Now that we’ve been blessed by a fresh new year….what could we do to make it a good one? More balanced, spiritually tuned, and simply blessed?
There are few disciplines that keep me connected to God and grounded in faith. These three habits for a happy new year are simple but fundamental at the same time. I hope you carve time for God this year and then watch what God is doing in your life.
The revelation of God is whole
and pulls our lives together.
The signposts of God are clear
and point out the right road.
The life-maps of God are right,
showing the way to joy.
The directions of God are plain
and easy on the eyes.
(Psalm 19:7-8, MSG)
1) Start your days with God. Say good morning to God before you meet anyone else. Surrender your day to God, ask for guidance and blessings. The life lived with God is so much better than life lived on your whims.
God-devotion makes a country strong;
God-avoidance leaves people weak.
(Proverbs 14:34, MSG)
2) Dig into the Word of God daily. It does not matter whether you read few verses or few chapters a day. Just do it. Stick to it. And this habit will keep you from floating aimlessly in your life.
My hands also will I lift up [in fervent supplication] to Your commandments, which I love, and I will meditate on Your statutes. Remember [fervently] the word and promise to Your servant, in which You have caused me to hope. This is my comfort and consolation in my affliction: that Your word has revived me and given me life. (Psalm 119:48-50, AMP)
(If you’re looking for a reading plan, check out the free offerings of Biblegateway.com. There are plans available for reading the New Testament or the whole Bible in a year but also devotions and verses of the day delivered into your mail box.)
3) Connect with other Christians. Find a Bible study or prayer group. Don’t forget corporate worship no matter how much you enjoy your private worship time with God. Share burdens, serve together, live faith out together. Faith is not a private matter. It is meant to be lived in a community.
The way God designed our bodies is a model for understanding our lives together as a church: every part dependent on every other part, the parts we mention and the parts we don’t, the parts we see and the parts we don’t. If one part hurts, every other part is involved in the hurt, and in the healing. If one part flourishes, every other part enters into the exuberance. (1 Cor.12: 25-26, MSG)
These three habits will make any year a blessed one. Because they keep you connected to God and God is the source of all happiness. It has always been so. And it will always be so.
Gracious God,
Thank you for this new year.
We give it and ourselves to you
and ask you to bless this year abundantly.
Enable us to create new spiritual habits
to spend more time with you.
Guide us clearly, Lord.
Close the wrong doors and open the right ones.
May Your will happen in and through our lives.
In Jesus’ name,
Amen
Q4U: What kind of spiritual habits help you to carve more time for God?
Be blessed, my fellow pilgrim, as you begin a new grace-filled year!
Image courtesy of Jason Rutel, design Mari-Anna Stålnacke. Linking up today with Unite the Bloggersphere , Three Word Wednesday and #tellhisstory.
#EpicGraceWednesdays will be back next Wednesday.
Pin ItThe post Three Habits for a Happy New Year appeared first on Flowing Faith.
