Journal: Inspirational New Year Message (Page 2)

     God’s true interest for our well being isn’t rooted in our vain pursuits.  No one can take any material wealth with them when they die.  It all remains behind.  The real plan of salvation is based on the condition of our hearts and souls.  That is what God is after.  It is sad to say in 2009 most of us were concerned with the growth of our bank accounts rather than the growth of our relationship with God. 

     Today, people are desperate and many are willing to do anything to advance.  Stealing, cheating, lying and even murder are all too-common practices.  How can anyone find salvation with a heart so infected and corrupt?  Such conditions require God’s intervention.  In 2009 God’s presence removed many of these impediments that barricaded a fruitful relationship with him.  Like a farmer, who understands that in order to maximize growth, one must prune unwanted limbs and branches until the tree appears bare.  Sometimes making it look lifeless but in reality, this process enriches the tree and activates the growth process.  Without pruning the branches the tree’s growth would have been stunted and eventually it would have died.   Well God is no different than a farmer.  He knows our potential and the circumstances in our life were stunting our spiritual growth, thus leading to our spiritual death.  Therefore God had to prune and cut away many things out of our lives leaving us bare and somewhat naked, losing  jobs, homes, relationships and even marriages. 

     God’s plan was to remove our burdens because he can use us when we are humble.  Many of us prayed more than we ever had before in fear of losing our material possessions.  God can use us best when we are prayerful.  2009 also revealed our true friends; god had to place the right people in our lives.  Some of our material possessions lured the wrong people into our lives.  This became a major hindrance to our progress and cleverly, the loss of material things took those people away. 

     In closing, I would like to share these final thoughts.  The reason that 2009 presented so much hardship is because deliverance is at hand and the foundation of the Kingdom of God is being established.  Any time that a woman is about to deliver a child it’s not uncommon for her labor pains to intensify, so it is with a people, nation, or world.  Once the child is delivered no material possession come along with birth; we all come into the world naked so it is with our spiritual birth.      

     To fully appreciate the real value of 2009 we must not focus on what the storm blew away but rather what it blew in. In the midst of our poverty God never allowed us to go hungry, become homeless, or go in need.  He supplied us with our daily bread.  What he did for us he would do for you.  So family, trust in God with all your heart mind and soul and let’s take advantage of life and the opportunity that God has given each of us by making 2010 our greatest year yet!

     Good luck and God Bless!