2021 Daily Devotion - Day 283

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Last year, when a college student was away at school, he called his parents to wish them a happy New Year. His dad answered the phone. "Well, Dad, what’s your New Year’s resolution?" he asked him. "To make your mother as happy as I can all year," he answered proudly. Then mom got on, and the student asked, "What’s your resolution, Mom?" "To see that your dad keeps his New Year’s resolution."

SOURCE: http://irsweb.com/. Citation: Jeanette Case, Erie, PA, Readers Digest.

As funny, and maybe as true as this story is, what is even more important than a New Year’s resolution is our desire to want to know what God would have us do. Too many New Year’s resolutions come from a personal and subjective point of view. We don’t even know if what we have resolved to do is what we should be doing. In Lamentations 3:40 we read these words:

Lamentations 3:40 ESV
Let us test and examine our ways, and return to the Lord!

Wouldn’t it be better to desire what God would have us do? Perhaps as we begin this New Year, we should pray and ask God and search the scriptures to find out. We know growing spiritually through Small Groups, Bible Study or Cursillo would be in keeping with God’s plan for us to grow in our discipleship. We know finding a place in the church to serve would also advance our discipleship and give our lives greater purpose. It might be helpful to find a strong Christian to serve as a mentor in our lives. So, let us test and examine our ways, and ask if they are the things God really wants us to do.

Pray with me:
Heavenly Father, too often we have a plan for our lives, but in truth, You have a better one. Give us a hunger to know what it is You want us to do to grow spiritually and serve You more faithfully. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

Yours because of Him,
Pastor John R. Steward
Senior Pastor
Mount of Olives Church

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