“First Things First”

“My times are in thy hand:”

Psalms 31:15

As we face yet another New Year, I’m sure we have all (at least in our own minds) thought of things that we would like to do or change in the blank slate ahead of us. Sometimes we mistakenly think that we alone can make changes in our lives to bring about the results that we want. Our lives are in God’s hands. Only He can bring about change and only He can control our times as it says in this verse. But if we were to be honest with ourselves there are definite changes that we would like to make in our lives. I have learned one thing. It is much better to set goals in small attainable steps than rather to let’s say decide that you will be a size 6 by the end of the year and have taken 5 college courses. (Hasn’t worked for me yet.) God doesn’t intend for us to make unrealistic goals only to be discouraged and burdened when we don’t reach them.

As we look at the blank slate of 2026 before us, what do you see? What do you hope to see or accomplish? Do your thoughts run to the material or spiritual? I love this time of year when we look back at all of the things we didn’t quite accomplish in the past year, but yet have hope that they may happen in the new year ahead. I pray that we all set spiritual goals for the coming year. What real difference do we want to make? Not just things that are obvious such as reading your Bible more, spending more time in prayer, etc. (Although we all should strive for these every day.) I want “to be able to walk the talk more.” I don’t just want to have all the right things to say (which I don’t), all the answers to hard questions (again, I don’t), but I want others to see that not only do I talk it, but that I also walk it. I want to be a real “Christ-follower.” I want them to see Jesus in me. That’s

something we should all be working toward.

“Remember ye not the former things, neither consider the things of old.

Behold, I will do a new thing; now it shall spring forth; shall ye not know it?

I will even make a way in the wilderness, and rivers in the desert.”

Isaiah 43:18-19

It’s amazing how we think that we can plan out our own lives without even asking God

what He wants for our lives. I’m reminded of the story told in James about a businessman who is planning what he is going to do and where he is going to go and when. What a fool! None of us are promised the next breath let alone tomorrow.

“Go to now, ye that say, To day or to morrow we will go into such a city, and continue there a year, and buy and sell, and get gain: Whereas ye know not what shall be on the morrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapour, that appeareth for a little time, and then vanisheth away. For that ye ought to say, If the Lord will, we shall live, and do this, or that.”

James 4:13-15

This man was making plans completely without God. Dr. James Merritt said, “You can do what YOU want to do with your life, or you can do what GOD wants you to do with your life.” The difference is phenomenal. The difference between strife, worry, uncertainty, and the peace that only God can give. Dr. Merritt also said, “Pride may get you what you think you ought to have but it will keep you from what God knows is best.” We think that we know what is best for us, but we don’t. How many times have you messed up your life by conniving to get what you thought was best? We can’t possibly know what is ahead, but God does and He knows the way that we should go because He really does want what is best for us. Not good, or better, but BEST!

The book of James goes on to say in verse 16 and 17 “But now ye rejoice in your boastings: all such rejoicing is evil. Therefore to him that knoweth to do good, and doeth it not, to him it is sin.” What is this saying? As Christians we all know that the Lord should be part of every decision, choice, and action we take in our lives. We know it, but how many times do we put it into practice? There’s that word “choice” again. What an important and life-changing word that is. Each choice that you make this year will determine how your year ends up. To not ask the Lord what He wants in these choices and decisions, (knowing that we should) is sin. Wow! So, you mean every time I make a simple choice in this next year and don’t ask God what He wants me to do, it is a sin? Yup! That’s what it means. A little sobering, isn’t it? I know it will make me think a little more about the decisions I make, how about you?

I recently saw this quote, "No one can go back and start a new beginning, but anyone can start today and make a new ending." There are things in our past that we can’t change as hard as we may try but thank God we can go forward and make a new ending. Our past does not have to control our future. Dwelling on the past, the old grudges, the old hurts, and fears will cloud the chances of enjoying anything new. We just need to remember Who is in control and to pass the reigns of our life over to God. After all He is the MASTER of beginnings. We would do well to remember the beginning of it all: “In the beginning God...” Genesis 1:1 Will you start your 2026 year out with this phrase and put God at the beginning of every decision and choice that you make and every action that you take? Will 2026 be the year that you resolve to be faithful to church? Will 2026 be the year that you decide to serve Him with all your heart and all your soul?

Have a Christ-filled New Year!