Today is January 2! Happy 2019 and I pray God’s richest blessing over you in this new year. I pray it is a year where you know God more than ever, find freedom in ways your soul longs for, discover your purpose, and leverage all of it to make a difference in this world.
Every new year people start new years resolutions and goal. All of which are good and I do myself. I personally use the Full Focus Journal by Michael Hyatt. It is an amazing tool designed to help you accomplish more. I write S.M.A.R.T.E.R. goals. If you want to know more message me in the comments.
Every year I start a new habit and have at least one spiritual goal. One year it was to spend 15 minutes a day in prayer, one year was to read through the Bible in a year, and this year is to do an extended fast. I want to encourage you to do something new this year to grow your relationship with Jesus. I would encourage you to make it about prayer. Whether you pray everyday for 3 hours or once a month for 15 seconds, I would just say wherever you are in your prayer life increase it! Prayer is not about religious reterique or earning anything. God will not love you more if you pray more or love you less if you pray less, but you will know Him more when you pray conversationally more.
Luke 5:15 But despite Jesus’ instructions, the report of his power spread even faster, and vast crowds came to hear him preach and to be healed of their diseases. 16 But Jesus often withdrew to the wilderness for prayer.
As Jesus ministry of only 3 years, which by the way if you think you have pressure think about this. Jesus had 3 1/2 years to convince the world and His brothers that He was God, conceived to a virgin, and the only way to heaven. If you have a brother, what would it take for your brother to convince you they were God. You would think He would have 40 years, but no just 3. That is pressure! In the midst of the pressure, Jesus often to left the fame, growing influence, and need to show the world who He was… to pray. He know prayer was His lifeline! It is also ours. The Jesus who knew the Father for billions of years often got away to talk with His Father.
If you feel pressure, overwhelmed, lost, confused, unsure of where to God, needing to make a decision… Go to the Father God who wants the best for you! It is not about praying for an hour as much as it is about always being in a posture of prayer. So today, go pray. Not big fancy words, not even clean religious words. Go talk to your Dad, ask for wisdom, ask for understanding, ask for a new heart, ask what He wants for you in this year. Then listen and wait!
Helping People Live a Better Story
Brandon Sereg
@brandonsereg
www.thevibrant.church
