Devotion taken from Harvest.org (by Pastor Greg Laurie)
We never know what the New Year will bring. We don't know what problems we will encounter or what changes will come our way. We don't even know what blessings the Lord has in store for us. 

But one thing is guaranteed. No matter what the New Year brings our way, we don't have to be afraid because Jesus Christ will be there for us.

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I like the words of Corrie ten Boom, that wonderful woman of God, who said, "Never be afraid to trust an unknown future to a known God." God is in control of our future. He is ready to bless us in this coming year. But we must be ready to walk with Him, worshipping Him and obeying Him. We can't expect the Lord to bless someone who is in opposition to His law and His love.

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As you look back on 2011, was it a year when you progressed spiritually? Was it a year when you found yourself becoming a bit more like Jesus Christ? Or was there some kind of spiritual breakdown? 

If so, now is a good time to make a change. Now is the time to resolve to grow closer to Jesus Christ.
Submitted by Julie Blanck of Collar Topia and Jules Java Jackets

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PrayerNotes

Let the LORD be your guide 8x10 Print by celiacurrin

^“For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts.” ~Isaiah 55:9:

THOUGHTS:

The New Year always brings thoughts of new beginnings, clean slates and an unmistakable joy when looking forward to what the New Year will bring. You will find people making resolutions for all different things from weight loss to trying new hobbies to getting rid of old bad habits. It is like a wave of motivation comes through giving us an open mind and the confidence to believe in ourselves. We all should be Thankful that the Lord has given us the opportunity to see another year, and if you haven't been thinking about it as a fresh start... then you should!

DREAM BIG:

But where does that leave our Godly relationship? Too often we get in the habit of planning out how we are going to do things differently in the new year, that we forget the very power we need in order to accomplish anything in our life. Moreover, we forget just how BIG a GOD we serve, only shooting for the goals we feel are within our reach.

This year, dream big! Take a leap of faith and pray in something totally awesome into your life and see how God moves tremendously on your behalf. God moves according to your faith, if you keep having faith in little things, He will keep moving in the little things. How much more could God do, if we begin to have faith in the BIG things? And not just dreams, but our trials, circumstances and issues. Remember that nothing is too big for our God.

This year should be a spectacular year for all of us...even through the trials and tribulations. Take all the hurt, pain, anger, frustration, burdens, pent up feelings, fears, shortcomings, regrets, and doubts from 2010 (and before) and leave them in 2010! You can't start fresh when you have tons of baggage from your past wearing you down. You repented right? Then leave it all behind the closing door marking the end of 2010. Doesn’t matter if you have a broken heart , or you are unemployed, stressed, lost, or struggling to make ends meet. Drink from the living water and become refreshed!

There is no time like the present to pray in your breakthroughs. Our God is able! Make this new year one that God has complete control over, and He will do the most amazing things in your life.

PRAYER:

Dear Lord, we pray that you lead us in the direction you want us to go. We pray that You draw nearer to us so that we can see Your presence more in our lives. We step out in faith that You can do things that we could not imagine doing on our own, and we believe You will come through in Your own perfect timing. We pray that Your light will shine in our lives this year like never before. Amen.

~*~*~*~*~*~
Till Next Time
God Bless
Amanda of Astria Legends

PS: I want to thank you all for the opportunity to be a part of the blog team. I want to say that my devotions are geared towards women (and some specifically to single women) as that is where God has used me more than other areas...but I hope you still find inspiration in them.

by Phyllis Ducey
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Christmas is now come and gone. We have a little over 360 days until it returns. Whew! Just enough time to prepare for next year's round! But first time to start thinking about my new year’s goals. Do you do them? “They” say that if you write down your goals, you are 90% likely to accomplish them.

I actually have found that true though I do not write them down each year. For the past 25 plus years my number one goal is to become closer to God. The years I have actually written that down, I have achieved it. I am not a big goal setter so I do not have huge lists. They stay focused around God, marriage and family for the most part. It seems, as I get older, one year blurs into another with very little to distinguish one from the other so my memory of each year’s goals are also a blur.

I don’t know if you are a TV watcher or maybe I should say are you an “end of the world predictor watcher”? I’m not but I am aware that there are numerous shows and movies focused on the end of the world being eminent. Is it possible? Yes, it has been possible for the last 1, 960 or so years. Biblically is it likely? I have no idea. Does it matter? Only to the extent that if you knew it was coming in 2012 (as the media seems to want to exploit) then would it change how you live your life next year?

I have been thinking about that lately and as I consider this year what my goals will be I plan to make them as if it is the last year prior to the start of the end of the world. I do not truly think that 2012 will be the end, however, I want to make this year count.

My first goals will be to draw closer to God.
If there was only a year left, I would want to make sure everyone I loved, everyone I knew and everyone possible would come to understand that Christ died for their sins and that they could have eternal life through Him. I was not given the gift of evangelism and I have tried my hardest to share with those in my family who think I am well intentioned but foolish in my beliefs. There is only one way to be effective that is through prayer. I don’t change hearts that is God’s job. Which leads me to this year’s primary goal for me: to become a woman of diligent prayer.

I pray. I pray frequently during the day but I want to pray with mighty diligence.

Mighty (per Dictionary.com)
great in amount, extent, degree, or importance; exceptional

Diligence (per Dictionary.com)
constant and earnest effort to accomplish what is undertaken; persistent exertion of body or mind.

Can you imagine what type of year it could be if we each mightily and diligently prayed for everyone we know, for the rulers of the world, for the countries we live in, for those who suffer for Christ's sake? What a powerfully spiritual year this could be!




Personal note:
As I noted last week (A Wonder), I have completed my year's commitment to weekly posts. I now will post once a month on the second Monday of the month. It really has been a joy to me.

Have a blessed New Year filled with Christ's love and peace!
Your sister in Christ,
Phyllis

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