Hitting the Switchbacks

I am beginning the New Year much the way I want to finish it...with the joy of the Lord, daily in His will, daily feeling His presence, and daily bearing the fruit that only He can produce. Bro. Daryl challenged us last weekend to reflect on 2009. What can we do differently? I have done just that over the past week and no matter what my personal goals are (lose weight, spend less money, pay off a lawnmower, etc.), it all comes back to one thing..."Seek first the Kingdom of God and His righteousness and all these things will be added unto to you."

I may have goals and goals are good. But the most important goal is to seek the Lord first everyday and seek His truth, His will and like the verse said, His righteousness. Reflecting over the past year, I have had some really good days . Blessed in abundance, fun times with family and friends. Things are going just awesomely at work. I have also had some bad days and hard times. There have been many ups and downs. What I realize is that during the good times, I am so happy that sometimes I forget to tell God thank you. Not fully appreciated that every good gift comes from above. During the hard times, I recall getting on my knees, bowing my heart and my will and seeking the strength, love and protection of the Lord. While I am so thankful that as a child of God, I can seek Him during hard times, I also need to seek Him daily, in both good and bad. Daily or how about moment by moment. I found this quote in a book I was reading,

"There is nothing, no circumstance, no testing that can ever touch me until first of all it has gone past God and past Christ right through me. It has come that far, it has come with a great purpose, which I may not understand at the moment, but as I refuse to become panicky, as I lift up my eyes to Him and accept it as coming from the throne of God for some great purpose of blessing in my own heart, no sorrow will ever disturb me, no trial will ever disarm me, no circumstance will cause me to fret. For I shall rest in the joy of what my Lord is!! That is the rest of victory." ..I shall rest in the joy of WHAT my LORD IS. That's an all-the-time kind of knowing.

I am so thankful for 2009 and all the wonderful things that happened during the year. I am also so thankful for the times that God decided to teach me something through a circumstance, a hurt feeling, a trial. Those were the times that He really blessed my heart with the feeling of His presence. "All things work for the good of those who love the Lord." I love the Lord! I am so ready to begin 2010, with Him.

Where are we going, Lord? Where are you taking me? I can't wait to see! Back to the beginning of the post, hitting the switchback, no matter what your plans are for 2010, no matter what your daily, weekly, monthly or yearly goals are, if we seek Him FIRST everything else will fall in to place! "...and all these things will be added unto you."


Filled with His Love!