So I watched church online this morning through Lifechurch.tv. Craig Groeschel started the year off with his sermon called "First." I have been thinking a lot about new years resolutions and things that I want to do differently in 2011. Craig asked us, "what kind of year was last year for you spiritually?"
He listed three categories that one might fall under: Spiritually Apathetic (not really doing anything or feeling motivated to go further with the Lord), Spiritually Inconsistent (sometimes you are consistent with making God a priority and other times you fall away and get too busy), and Spiritually Consumed (you are going strong and giving God 100% and always putting Him first in your life).
When I look at 2010 and be honest with myself I would say that I was Spiritually Inconsistent. There were seasons that year where I was going strong and felt like I was really growing and going somewhere with my relationship with the Lord and then there were seasons where I found myself consumed with other things and offering God what some may call "leftovers."
Craig gave 4 points in his sermon which I want to make as part of my new years resolutions. Here they are:
1. First of the Day: Seek God
"Very early in the morning, while it was still dark, Jesus got up, left the house and went off to a solitary place, where he prayed." -Mark 1:35
2. First of the Week: Worship
"not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching."
-Hebrews 10:25
3. First of the Month: Tithe
"A tithe of everything from the land, whether grain from the soil or fruit from the trees, belongs to the LORD; it is holy to the LORD." -Leviticus 27:30
4. First of the Year: Fast
"Announce a time of fasting; call the people together for a solemn meeting. Bring the leaders and all the people of the land into the Temple of the LORD your God, and cry out to him there."-Joel 1:14
At the end of his sermon Craig mentioned something that really stood out to me. He said "if you want what you had then do what you did. But, if you want something you've never had, you have to do what you've never done."
So as you examine your last year and think about the new year, remember that quote. God has the potential to do huge things in 2011 but are you ready for that? Are you ready to surrender everything right now and make Him FIRST in your life?
Here is my bible verse for 2011:
"Seek the Kingdom of God above ALL else, and live righteously, and he will give you EVERYTHING you NEED." -Matt. 6:33
