Time for a New Year Assessment

You and I both know that it takes 21 days to develop a habit. Here we are on the 24th day of the New Year 2018. Even if we gave ourselves the first day of the year off to do whatever it is we wanted or needed to do, at least 21 days have still gone by. So, let's take an assessment today. How are you doing with yourself? Have you established routine? Is the new routine bringing you closer to your goals? How do you feel about where you are in the commitments that you have made?

1 Timothy 4:16 Take heed to yourself, and to the doctrine; continue in them: for in doing this you shall both save yourself, and them that hear you.

Notice in the scripture above it begins with take heed to yourself. The first thing we are to do, is take heed to oneself. If we are unable to take heed to ourselves, then we will be unable to take heed to anything else. As one teenager said to me, "adulting is hard." Yes, it is. If her concept of adulting was telling herself what to do and what not to do--it will be one of the hardest things she will ever do. 

The wonderful thing about being a christian is we do not have to do this alone. The Holy Spirit is with us to lead us and guide. He is truly a great gift. The Holy Spirit is our guide. When we have a guide we do not have to worry about where we are going. We know we will end up in the right location, if we follow the guide. The Holy Spirit gives us a check in our spirit man, when we get off course and then, gently and lovingly redirects our steps.

Psalms 37:23 (NKJV) "The steps of a good man are ordered by the Lord,
And He delights in his way."

Today, take an assessment of where you are. Ask yourself some hard questions. Have I been heeding the voice of the Holy Spirit, or doing things my own way? Am I following the Holy Spirit's leading? Am I closer to where I want to be or further away? 

Dear Lord, forgive me for doing my own thing, my way.
I know this is not your will for my life. Help 
me to get back on track. In Jesus name, 
​Amen.

If you are on track, celebrate! Rejoice in the Lord! Call a friend and thank them for helping you stay focused. Call your pastor or boss, and encourage them to keep doing what they are doing because it is helping. Everyone needs encouragement. 

​You can start a new today. The Lord's mercy is truly, new every morning.