New Beginnings
In
the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth. The earth
was without form and void, and darkness was over the face of the deep. And
the Spirit of God was hovering over the face of the waters. And God said, “Let
there be light,” and there was light. Genesis 1:1-3.
Each year the calendar gives us a new accounting of time. In 2010, a friend
sent me a quote: “All new beginnings come from the Lord, and not from the
calendar.” As I contemplated this quote, I began to see the ‘tweaks’ for my
life, which I called resolutions, did not change my life! Then I thought about the “first beginning.” I read Genesis 1:1-3 again. The first four words
echoed in my heart. In the beginning… God! This Beginning
creates all that follows into perspective, whose we are, and that our God
is awesome. We came from the First Beginning.
The basis of all life comes in the 3rd verse. God said, “Let there
be light,” and there was light. After God created what He planned, God
said, “Let us make man in our image, after our likeness.
And let them have dominion over the fish of the sea and over the birds of
the heavens and over the livestock and over all the earth and over every
creeping thing that creeps on the earth.” So God created man in His own image, in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them.
When we come before the King of New Beginnings to improve our lives, we
know it is in following God’s Way. He knows how to begin anew. All we have to
do is ‘read’ the heavens and give Him the glory. The heavens
declare the glory of God, and the sky above proclaims His handiwork. Psalm 19:1.
It is when we
follow God’s Word and Way, by following His purpose for our lives, living in
His truth, hungering after righteousness, living His Way, giving God the
Glory. Who do you trust in life? The One who is the Truth and the
Way? The Lord is
my strength and my shield; in Him my heart trusts, and I am helped;
my heart exults, and with my song, I give thanks to Him. Psalm
28:7.
follow God’s Word and Way, by following His purpose for our lives, living in
His truth, hungering after righteousness, living His Way, giving God the
Glory. Who do you trust in life? The One who is the Truth and the
Way? The Lord is
my strength and my shield; in Him my heart trusts, and I am helped;
my heart exults, and with my song, I give thanks to Him. Psalm
28:7.
In this world we often experience fear. In a panic, we pull from The One, Who is
our Strength and Shield. I read 1 John 4:8, and I understood. Anyone who
does not love does not know God, because God is love. There will always
be fear unless we learn to love like God loves. This verse became a friend teaching
me the value of Love in God’s Way and also how to forgive.
Choosing our own way in life leads to placing ourselves above God. Instead, Walk
in a manner worthy of the calling to which you have been called, with
all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with
one another in love. Ephesians 4:1b-2. The keywords are humility,
gentleness, and patience. Humble yourselves, therefore, under the
mighty hand of God so that at the proper time He may exalt you. I
Peter 5:6.
What
was the first thing God created? Light. This light became personified in
Jesus. “I am the light of the
world. Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have
the light of life.”
John 8:12.
was the first thing God created? Light. This light became personified in
Jesus. “I am the light of the
world. Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have
the light of life.”
John 8:12.
For God, who said, “Let light shine
out of darkness,” has shone in our hearts to give the light of the
knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ. 2 Corinthians 4:6.
out of darkness,” has shone in our hearts to give the light of the
knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ. 2 Corinthians 4:6.
Why is Jesus important? The short answer is ‘to know the love of
Christ that surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled with
all the fullness of God!’ Ephesians 3:19.
For this reason, I bow my knees before
the Father, from whom every family in
heaven and on earth is named, that according to the riches of his
glory he may grant you to be strengthened with power through his
Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts
through faith—that you, being rooted and grounded in love, may
have the strength to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and
length and height and depth, and to know the
love of Christ that
surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled with all the fullness of
God. Ephesians 3:14-21.
the Father, from whom every family in
heaven and on earth is named, that according to the riches of his
glory he may grant you to be strengthened with power through his
Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts
through faith—that you, being rooted and grounded in love, may
have the strength to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and
length and height and depth, and to know the
love of Christ that
surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled with all the fullness of
God. Ephesians 3:14-21.
We can guard our hearts by being a delight and a warrior for God, spending time
in prayer, worship, and dwelling in the Word. Do your best to present
yourself to God as one approved, a worker who has no need to be
ashamed, rightly handling the word of truth. 2 Timothy 2:15.
What is wisdom? Longing for His Presence in our lives, through His Word. Wisdom
is when the world no longer entices us and Glory of God is our ultimate
longing.
Gaining wisdom is another way to guard our hearts. If
any of you lack wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all
without reproach, and it will be given him. James 1:5.
Understanding where strength comes, I can do all things through Him who
strengthens me. Philippians 4:13.
Understanding this truth gives us the blessing of living with our Lord every day.
And my God will supply every need
of yours according to his riches in glory in Christ
Jesus. To our God and Father be glory forever and ever. Philippians
4:19-20.
of yours according to his riches in glory in Christ
Jesus. To our God and Father be glory forever and ever. Philippians
4:19-20.
From New Beginnings, by Anna K Payne.
Comments? eacombs@att.net