New Year's 2007

I’ve listened to many preachers and pastors over the years. I’ve listened to many speakers and politicians, and rebels talk about their passions and their causes that for which they were fighting. But, for the most part, these will all pass away without notice as they only focused on themselves. Oddly enough, it will be the simple minister that follows God’s will and plan for His life that will be remembered. For example, Billy Graham. Very simple man, very simple message, very simple life, very simple planning, but all of these based on God and His Plans for his life.

Jeremiah 29

11 For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.

12 Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you.

13 You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart.

Go into the New Year with:

His Purpose

An active relationship with God is what makes life complete, it is what gives meaning to life, it is what gives us our purpose in life.

Without that relationship with God and the assurance and hope that we will one day spend the rest of eternity in heaven with Him, there is a void, a vacuum in life, a whole in our hearts.

Many people, even those who are well-known, can attest to that void. For example, H.G. Wells, famous historian and philosopher, said at age 61: "I have no peace. All life is at the end of the tether." The poet Byron said, "My days are in yellow leaf, the flowers and fruits of life are gone, the worm and the canker, and the grief are mine alone." The literary genius Thoreau said, "Most men live lives of quiet desperation."

Ralph Barton, one of the top cartoonists, who contributed to such elite newspapers such as the Saturday Evening Post, left this note pinned to his pillow before taking his own life: “I have had few difficulties, many friends, great successes; I have gone from wife to wife, from house to house, visited great countries of the world, but I am fed up with inventing devices to fill up twenty-four hours of the day.”

You see, without God there is no purpose in life, we are simply inventing ways and devices to fill up twenty-four hours of the day.

And, don’t confuse God’s purpose for your life with investing all your time in ‘busyness.’ Yes, many people confuse the business of God with the busyness of their agenda, both in their lives and in the church.

Jeremiah 29

11 For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.

12 Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you.

13 You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart.

Go into the New Year with:

His Provisions

These verses tell us that God has already many plans. Read that again and pay attention to the tense…

For I know the plans I have for you… that’s planning that has already taken place… that’s planning that has already been done. You don’t have to do any intense or stress invoking searching to find out what God’s plans are for your day, your week, your month, your year, and your life. All of those are short and long range goals that involve action plans to accomplish.