E-Newsletters

A Good Word Cooking for a Crowd FYI Moments for Moms Pages and Tunes Reflections Side by Side Unlimited! Women@Work Laugh Lines

Daily Prayer Focus

Pray for Churches

Pray for your pastor, church leadership and staff.

Reader Poll

How do you like the new Leaders Unlimited Web site? I didn't find it helpful. It's okay. I love it! View Results

Reflections

Welcoming the New Year

The first day of the New Year creeps across the International Date Line several hours before it arrives in Springfield, Missouri. By the time the New Year makes its 24-hour trek around the world, people will have observed its coming in different ways.

For some of us, New Year’s Day is a time to evaluate the past year and set goals for the coming months. When I opened my computer today I noted a file titled “Goals for the New Year.doc.” As the computer faithfully reported the file had not been opened for a while, I thought this would be a good time to see what I had in mind a year ago.

The first listings were the usual—lose weight, exercise more, get more rest. Hmmm… I achieved one of those three, but I’m not saying which.

The list continued in categories, moving from the above “Physical” goals to “Spiritual,” and “Relational” goals. My life was neatly separated into its various pieces, all of which needed improving a year ago—and still do.

Looking at life by categories or “pieces” began when I read Eugene Peterson’s rendering of Psalm 5:3 in the Message:

“Every morning you'll hear me at it again. Every morning I lay out the pieces of my life on your altar and watch for fire to descend.”

The background picture is of an Old Testament sacrifice on the altar, separated in an appropriate fashion. The psalmist then waits for the fire of God to come and consume the sacrifice, his daily offering to God.

Life taken as a whole can be overwhelming, but when I break it into categories, I can handle it with God’s help. The secret is daily bringing all the pieces of my life to the Lord in prayer, believing He will send the fire of His Spirit to work in ways I could not have imagined.

The New Year has crept from the international date line to Missouri, and will continue its trek for 365 days. I do not know what it will bring me, but I know what I want to bring to the New Year—a commitment to daily “lay out the pieces of my life” on the altar and watch for God’s fire to descend.

Points to Ponder:

An old saying goes, “Life is hard by the yard, but it’s a cinch by the inch.” We could apply that concept to the coming year. Life may seem formidable as we look at months ahead, but it can be manageable when we deal with it one day at a time—with the help of the Lord.

Today, symbolically put the pieces of your life on the altar by bringing each piece—one by one—to the Lord in prayer, then stand back and see what God will do. You probably will not see visible fire and smoke, but when this process becomes a daily habit, you will soon know God is faithfully working on your behalf.

PEGGY MUSGROVE is a licensed Assemblies of God minister. She is also a speaker, freelance writer, author and prayer group leader. Her latest book, Musings of a Maraschino Cherry was released in 2004.. You can visit her at www.musgroveville.com.

Like what you've read?

Subscribe to this email newsletter at
www.womensministriesunlimited.ag.org/newsletters