Out with the Old....

 "For I am about to do something new. See, I have already begun! Do you not see it? I will make a pathway through the wilderness. I will create rivers in the dry wasteland." (Isaiah 43:19 NLT)

Its a new year, a new day; one we have never seen before and will never see again full of brand new grace and mercy. I'm so excited about what God has already done in my life and the lives of others in 2015. It is with an expectant attitude that I wait to see His plan unfold. My advice to you is GET READY !!! God is about to do some things that will blow our natural minds.

  "Therefore, if anyone is in Christ he is a new creation, old things have passed away, and look new things have come." (2 Corinthians 5:17)
Before I fully laid down my life and found my true life in the Son, my New Years were pretty normal. I would go to church on NYE but spend the rest of the year in turmoil. Turmoil between doing the things of the flesh mostly with doing a small amount of things from the spirit. . . . . . .
 HE makes ALL things NEW !! The excitement I feel can't truly be placed into words. This is the first year of many that my life, in its entirety, has been fully surrendered to Christ. I am no longer trying to do things on my own. I am at His discretion. Something about the beginning of this New Year feels so different but finally the way I should not only spend each year but each day: Following Christ. There's something so grand, so powerful about walking with Christ. You CANNOT stay the same. You will not be able to walk in the fullness of God and what Jesus did on the cross until you lay down your life for Him. This walk is a day-by-day surrender to the Lord, His will, and His way. It is not to be taken lightly. You will have to lose yourself in Him to truly find who you were created to be. So, this means old ways, habits, and even people must be cut loose. I'm not saying don't love them, I am saying just love them from a distance like over -------------------------------------------------------> here. (lol). Understand something, everyone cannot go where God is going to take you. Just like you cannot go with them. I say this because your purpose is not just for you. It is for the glory of God. Certain relationships, friendships, etc. will hinder you from getting where you are supposed to be. We were not meant to do this life alone, we all need people around us that will lift us up and speak life into us when we need it. Any person or thing that is draining you or holding you back CUT IT OFF. Whatever God tells you to do, do it. Know that anything He tells you to do majority of the time you will be reluctant to do it but do it despite how you feel because God has your best interest in mind at all times. Halfway obedience is still DISOBEDIENCE. Remove ANY dead weight that you are trying to take with you and see how much faster you can run forward.  

"But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and reaching forward to what is ahead, I pursue as my goal the prize promised by God's heavenly call in Christ Jesus." (Philippians 3:13-14 HCSB)
 New Years is the time where most people make resolutions that are more unrealistic than realistic. Unrealistic goals are harder to achieve. Set goals that you know you can and will accomplish. My ONLY goal this year is to maintain a flourishing relationship with God. I was going to make a full list of things that I wanted to accomplish. However, I realized that majority of the things I may have put on that list would have been temporary and I was reminded by the Holy Spirit to focus on things eternal. Although I have only set one goal it is an important goal and it has things tied to it. When you grow in Christ, focus on Him, and allow Him to govern every decision you make you will prosper in each and every area. You will have troubles and different trials but being anchored in Christ you can face whatever because of Him.

TRUST GOD! TRUST GOD! TRUST GOD! TRUST GOD! TRUST GOD! TRUST GOD!
If I had a million tongues I couldn't say "TRUST GOD" enough. It is essential! Seek Him out. Trust His Word. Apply it to your life EVERYDAY! TRUST that small still voice. TRUST your intuition. These are just some of the ways that God speaks to us through His Holy Spirit. TRUST that whatever God tells you will come to pass. His word cannot return to him void. (Hallelujah!!!!!)  He may not make things happen when you want Him to but He is NEVER late and rarely early but ALWAYS (like seriously ALWAYS) on time. Know that God is always behind the scenes working things out for your good. So for the next 364 days I challenge you to place ALL of your trust and your entire life in His hands. Here's to the New Year but not just any New Year ; A New Year with Jesus Christ leading you the whole way for the rest of your life.
"And blessed (happy, to be envied) is she who believed that there would be fulfillment of the things that were spoken to her from the Lord." (Luke 1:45 AMP)

from my heart to yours. -Q