Resolutions: by Ann Broughton

 “Seek the Lord and his strength, seek his face continually” (1 Chronicles 16:11 KJV).

Have you made your list of resolutions for the New Year? It seems everyone has good intentions at the beginning of the New Year, but oftentimes we get lazy and forget about the list. Usually at the top of the list is for people to lose weight and exercise. Well, today I will challenge you to put seeking the Lord and His plans for your life as the number one item on your resolution list. After all, that should be your first priority.

The Wise Men or magi of the Bible certainly put the need to find the Christ child as their number one priority. These men were not even Jews, but were astronomers and had seen the star and had researched that a King of the Jews was to be born. As soon as they saw the star they headed to Jerusalem, which was very far away. It might have taken them many months to get to Bethlehem, as the Bible says that “On coming to the house, they saw the child with his mother Mary, and they bowed down and worshiped him” (Matthew 2:11 NIV).  Jesus was no longer a baby but a child and later King Herod commanded that all boys 2 years and under should be killed, so we know that Jesus was a young child. So these men traveled earnestly to find Jesus for a long period of time. They let nothing stop them. Their mission was to see Jesus and give Him gifts.

My challenge to you as we start the New Year is to earnestly seek the Lord with all your heart every day and give Him the gift of yourself in service to others. You have a special gift that only you have, and you must seek the Lord to help you see it and use it for Him. Every day, take time to pray, seek the Lord’s will, read the Bible, and then go out and serve Him in whatever He leads you to do. There is so much need around us that it should not be hard to find a way to serve. People need hope. They need to know that people care for them and that God loves them. So many people are lonely and sad. You can be the one that turns a life from despair to happiness just by caring and sharing what the Lord has done for you. This could be the greatest year ever in your life if you just step out in faith and seek the Lord earnestly.

Dear Lord,

As we approach a New Year, let us strive to earnestly seek you every day. Help us to put seeking you at the top of our to do list every morning, so that we can serve you with the gift you have given us.

In Jesus name,

Amen

What Is Your Spiritual GIft? by Ann Broughton

“There are different kinds of gifts, but the same Spirit. There are different kinds of service, but the same Lord. There are different kinds of working, but the same God works all of them in all men” (1 Cor. 12:4-6 NIV). 

How are you using the gifts God gave you? We all have gifts that we need to use to help others in some way. I know many people will say that they have no special gift that can be used by God, but they would be wrong. The Bible is specific, “Now to each one the manifestation of the Spirit is given for the common good” (1 Cor. 12:7 NIV). This pretty much says that we are to use our gifts to help others.

 I believe I have several gifts: bringing joy to others, singing, teaching, and writing. I will have to admit that I was seriously considering not writing devotions anymore. I didn’t believe that my impact on others was that great and that my words of wisdom weren’t really reaching anyone. But after praying, I was convicted. I felt that I have this talent and maybe someone was being blessed that I didn’t know about. Maybe this talent that God gave me was helping someone come closer to God. So I decided to start writing again.

Now I truly believe that you have been given a special gift also. I will ask that question again, “What are you doing with the gift God gave you?”  There are so many people out there who need a smile, an encouraging word, a hug, a phone call, or a shoulder to cry on. You may be the one who needs to bring a meal to someone. You may be the one who visits a widow. There are so many people who have needs. As Christians, we are called to meet those needs and sometimes go out of our comfort zone to do it. Pray about this and do something for someone this week. Use your God given gift. You will be blessed and be a blessing to someone else.

Dear Lord,

Show me what my gift is and help me to use it for your purpose. Help me to reach out to others with your love and compassion.

In Jesus name,

Amen