A little less than 4 hours left before 2013 arrives... And here I am, grateful for the two cups of coffee I had today... Many thoughts have been recorded into a cloud, and all there is to do is to put it all together, to establish more order in my life, starting tomorrow.
Am I ready? Hardly. I will never be fully able to discipline myself by my own strength... in fact, I believe I will not be capable of good by my own strength... No, it is by the Holy Spirit that I am able not only to move, but to conquer. God is good, and He is good, all the time.
Now that I think about it, yes, I have been slacking a good deal this year 2012, but I intend to step up (and grow up) this 2013. I suppose how we handle the first days and months of this year will spell out how the rest of the year will go, but before I do step out, I just feel this need to lift it all up to the Lord; times aren't getting any easier, and, brothers and sisters, we will need Jesus Christ more and more this coming year, even if the world takes step after painful step away from Him.
So if you're reading this, may I invite you to pray with me as I have prayed:
Dear Lord, I thank You for our lives, and for Your mercy and grace. Thank You for every breath we take, for every beat our heart is allowed to take, for every second You allow us to live - that we would draw closer and closer to You. Thank You for making it all possible through the death and resurrection of Your Son, Jesus Christ. Thank You, Jesus Christ, for taking the terrible penalty of our sin, and thank You for giving us life, and life abundantly!
We thank You for another year of trials and blessings, Lord! We thank You, because by Your Word and by the power of Your Spirit, You continue to minister to us - You will continue to strengthen us, to encourage us, to motivate us, to convict us, to love us, to inspire us, to correct us, to rebuke us - so that Your will would be done, and so that Your Name would continue to be glorified through us in this coming year!
Father, it is my prayer that all of us would continue to grow in stature and wisdom, that all of us would continue to grow in favor with You and with men. We love You, and we praise You! In Jesus Christ's Name, Amen!
God bless you and keep you. God make His face shine upon you, and be gracious to you. God lift His countenance upon you, and give you His shalom, His perfect peace, the peace that goes beyond all understanding.
Shared in http://jibee.blogspot.com/. יהוה bless you!