Prayer Journey Challenge!

             The New Year is upon us, and with it comes many New Year’s resolutions.  There are the time-honored favorites of losing weight and getting more exercise, but many people also seek to deepen their relationship with God.  All of these require change, but thankfully, when it comes to a closer relationship with our Savior, God will carry much of the load in making the change.  He only requires two things from us, neither of which comes easily.

            First, we must be willing to surrender ourselves to Him.  To surrender to Him means that we must yield all power and authority over our lives to Him, allowing Him to take control.  I think we all resist submission to some degree.  It’s a normal instinct.  However, if we have a desire to be all that God has called us to be and to leave a legacy that will glorify Him, we must make some tough decisions.

            Secondly, God requires whole-hearted commitment.  In a world that pulls us in so many directions, commitments are often taken for granted and easily tossed aside when something better comes along.  To succeed in deepening our relationship, we must be all in, renewing that commitment daily.  That doesn’t mean there won’t be setbacks.  It simply means that we seek and accept His forgiveness, and then sincerely recommit our lives and our futures to Him.  Peter was committed to walking on water but when he took his eyes off Jesus, he began to sink.  That failure didn’t keep him from doing great things for the Kingdom.  If we worry too much about failing, we will be more like the other disciples and never get out of the boat.  Each day is a new day, requiring a new commitment.

            If you are ready to surrender and commit, allowing God to make the changes that will deepen your relationship with Him, then I invite you to join me on a New Year’s journey.  For the next few weeks, my blog will be focused on preparation for a deeper relationship.  We’ll consider Satan’s attacks that will try to stop us before we get started.  We’ll look at God’s armor that protects us from those attacks, and we’ll talk about how to pray.  Then, beginning on February 1st, for 30 days, I’ll post a daily devotional thought to help you stay focused on the journey to enjoy sweet communion with our God, and to develop an intimate relationship with Him.  It won’t be an easy journey, and it won’t completely end this side of Heaven, but the destination will be well worth the effort.  I hope you’ll join me!

“Knowledge of God pales against intimacy with Jesus” (Lisa Harper, Back Porch Theology Podcast).

Psalm 63: 1

Jeremiah 29: 13

 

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