I can hardly believe that we’re back at one — January 1, 2017. Praise God for this sunrise — a fresh start to the day and the year. As I look in the mirror and continue to ask God to search me and know my heart, I know that there’s still work to be done as I draw closer to him. When I ask him to search my heart and reveal to me all that is not like him, I’m actually a little disappointed when I see what’s deep down in my heart and hidden from view. Full disclosure? It’s not pretty. I can’t dress it up in something nice from Barneys New York and drape it in diamonds to deflect you from seeing my ugly parts. I just have to work to smooth out those rough edges and sand them down by diving deeper into the word of God now that they’ve been exposed. Knowing better often times prompts us to do better, so that’s what I aim to do each day.
This is not a resolution; it is a Sunrise to Sunset Mindset I’m embracing. For as long as I am privileged to see a sunrise, I will work to make God smile until the sun sets on my earthly existence. Of the 17,250 or so sunrises I’ve been afforded, I’ve squandered nearly 11,000 of these fresh starts. That accounts for my teen years and all of my 20s. Thank God for muddling my memories of those years. One thing I’ve learned over the past 6,250 sunrises is that nothing is wasted. Everything we experience serves to mold us into who God wants us to be.
It may seem strange to admit this, but I’m grateful for my ugly parts. Without the spirit’s timely revelation of what I need to work on, I’d probably become a little self-righteous or haughty — thinking that I have arrived. There’s no room for that attitude in our journey to being better. We should always focus on being better than we were yesterday, and while you’re at it, ask God to reveal your ugly parts. Once you see for yourself what’s been hidden from view, you won’t rest until you see a transformation. My prayer for all who read this is that 2017 will bring about beautiful changes in your lives. Happy New Year, and may blessings abound! <3
No matter how painful, no matter how much solitary struggle awaits us, because we have joyous moments like this, we can face the challengers over and over again.
Amen!
I pray the same, Michelle! I also pray that God will break my heart for what breaks yours. Then I am led into intercession so I can pray Thy will be done on earth as in heaven by the Holy Spirit! Happy new year!
Happy New Year, Jo Ann! There’s a beautiful contemporary Christian song that has those lyrics. That’s a great way to start each day –asking God to reveal those things to you and complying with his wishes to do better.
Happy New Year, Michelle. Our sermon today was not to make resolutions but to make biblical solutions. Instead of breaking your resolutions (which averages to about 13 days) why not search for biblical solutions. This my friend is what I am going to start my 2017 with – biblical solutions. We will never know how to be more like Christ unless we are in God’s word everyday. Blessings to you for sharing such a timely post my sister in Christ.
Happy New Year, Brenda. <3 I love the idea of searching for biblical solutions rather than making resolutions. This is the second year that I will create a Vision Board for 2017, and every goal is based on God's word.
Sunrise to sunset is so clever and doable! I wept when I looked at myself in an end-of-year eval and I have wasted many more sunrises to sunsets than you (how silly to compare, though). The cool thing is that the Lord was still with me, long before I knew him. He was smiling for the days to come! Glad I’ve met him, and you, too.
“This is not a resolution; it is a Sunrise to Sunset Mindset,” Wow! what an eye opener, and so true!