2013 A New Year For A New You (Part 1 - A Lookback) Series

Top Ten Things you will not have to worry about in 2013:

1. The Bible will still have all the answers.

2. Prayer will still work for every situation.

3. The Holy Spirit will still move.

4. God will still inhabit the praises of His people.

5. The name of Jesus will still be powerful.

6. There will still be singing of praise.

7. God will still pour out blessings upon His people.

8. There will still be room at the cross.

9. Jesus will still love you.

10. Jesus will still save the lost.

We know God is for us as we let go of 2012 and embrace 2013. God has great plans for each one of us.

Jeremiah 29:11 (GWT)

“I know the plans that I have for you, declares the Lord. They are plans for peace and not disaster, plans to give you a future filled with hope.”

We have a future. We have a hope. We hold on to Jesus every step we take in this life.

We are embarking on a new year, 2013. As we look back at 2012 and wave “goodbye,” let us embrace the good and let go of any bad. Taking the good into 2013 is what we have to do, as we learn from any bad we may have faced. We have planted seeds in 2012 and now we are right at the threshold of the new. 2013 will be a year of blessings, increase, and what you have planted will have a great harvest. It will be a year of standing strong and pressing forward. It will be a year of not being afraid of man, but be in awe of God and His power.

Starting today, and for the next four Sundays in January, I will be preaching a series entitled; “2013 - A New Year For A New You!” Be expecting great things as you come and learn more of what God is going to do in 2013 and beyond in your life.

Let’s start today by looking back at this past year of 2012 and all that God has done. We look back not to bring discouragement, but to see where we have come and where we are going. It is good to evaluate and take assessments of where you are so you can prepare and plan for where you are going.

2012 is in the books. We can’t rewind -- much as we’d like, we can’t go back and correct anything we did or didn‘t do. But we can reflect -- and evaluate and -- if we’re wise, make change.

2 Corinthians 5:17 (Amplified Bible)

“Therefore if any person is [ingrafted] in Christ (the Messiah) he is a new creation (a new creature altogether); the old [previous moral and spiritual condition] has passed away. Behold, the fresh and new has come!”

When we are given a new beginning, or a new year, we need to embrace it. It is a gift from God. Embracing the new often means we need to let go of the old. Before we do, let us take a look at this past year (2012) and rejoice at the good, the bad, and maybe even the ugly!

Reflect - Evaluate - Make Change

We reflect on all that has happened in 2012 in our life.

Are you the same spiritually as you were a year ago, or have you developed a deeper relationship with God? Look at all the major events that took place this past year in your life. Have you taken the time to praise God for all He has done? It reminds me of the many songs sung after battles won in the Bible.

Song of Deborah - Judges 5:1 - 31

Song of Moses - Exodus 15:1 - 18

Song of Mariam - Exodus 15:20 - 21

Song of David - 1 Chronicles 16:7 - 36, 1 Chron. 29:1 - 19 (Prayer of praise), Book of Psalms (songs - “A Psalm of David”)

All of these songs came as praise and reminders of what God had done for them that year, or from generation to generation. We must also remind ourselves or reflect on what God has done for us. Not for building up our pride, but for recognizing our steps were ordered of the Lord. We see the hand of God that was flexed on our behalf.

Did God rescue you from something?

Did God provide when you had no hope of provision?

Did God sustain you when you experienced loss or regret?

Did you have strength to walk through something you never thought you could? This is God equipping you.

Did God’s favor go before you and you were granted something you never thought was possible?

Are you breathing? Then He gave you life today!