A new year has begun.
The days stretch out before us like a blank canvas, waiting to be filled with purposeful planning. We have the choice as to how we will use our days.
Perhaps the more necessary question we need to ask ourselves is – How will we begin each day?
As we look around at the happenings in the world, we can easily become discouraged. Each day we must tend to our souls, our inner man.
” … our inner man is being renewed day by day.” (2 Corinthians 4:16, NASB)
As we care for our inner man, filling our hearts and minds with the hope we find in His Word, we are then able to not give up. We press on each day. We can strive to do our best each day, but on our own strength will not suffice. Andrew Murray explains:
” … the Lord Jesus in heaven will continue His work in us every day, bit only on one condition: every soul must give Him time each day to impart His love and His grace. Time alone with the Lord Jesus each day is the indispensable condition of growth and power.”
(from God’s Best Secrets by Andrew Murray, page 13)
As we begin this new year, let’s consider these words spoken by Jesus:
“Come to Me, all who are weary and heavy-laden, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For My yoke is easy and My burden is light.” (Matthew 11:28-30, NASB)
These Scriptures provide a very simple plan for each day:
- Come to Him. Let’s commit a time of day to Him alone. We need to quiet ourselves away from distractions. Read Scripture. Use a devotional or reading plan.
- Learn from Him. Let Him teach us how to live humbly before God and man. Let His Word be our guide in the decisions and choices we make.
- Rest in Him. Let’s take time to just be still each day. We need to rest in Him, but also let His love rest on us. As His love fills our hearts, we will then be able to pour out to those around us.
As we come to Jesus each day,
we will find our inner man renewed day by day!
Photo by Debby Hudson on Unsplash
Beautiful encouragement to start our year off! ♥
ReplyDeleteThank you for always being encouraging, Jenifer!
DeleteI need to spend more time resting in Him. My rest time seems to be spent watching too much TV or on some form of social media. I need to be more mindful of what I am doing with my free time.
ReplyDeletePraying for us both to be more mindful :) It's amazing how much we (I) can be drawn to watch the news.
DeleteI love this emphasis. We want peace and hope and renewing, but we only get it through prayer and the Word of God.
ReplyDeleteAs we realize this, we will come to Him more intentionally each day.
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