Prayer
– Lord, does time really matter? Does anyone really know what time it is…does
anyone really care? We can only wait for time and use our time wisely—seeking
You, Lord.
Wait
patiently for the LORD. Be brave and courageous. Yes, wait patiently for the
LORD. Psalm
27:14
Meditate.
Consider God’s timing in scripture. Read God’s word and listen to what He is
saying.
Seek God's Blessing--New Life in Christ. |
What were you doing twelve years ago? It had been
a year since I had started writing this blog—and last year I looked at the
twelve days of Christmas. Twelve is an important number in the Bible. Note that
it is in 163 verses in the New Kings James Version. It is noteworthy that
Ismael, firstborn son of Abraham and Sarah’s maid Hagar, had twelve sons—who
became the nations surrounding the current nation of Israel. Abraham’s
grandson, Jacob’s twelve sons became known as the twelve tribes of Israel.
History playing out before our eyes. Wars and rumors of wars resulting from
centuries of sibling and family rivalries. What other twelves do we see in
scripture? There was frequent mention of twelve gold or silver utensils in the
temple and twelve oxen, rams, goats or other animals offered before the Lord as
sin offerings. There were also twelve thousand soldiers and twelve hundred
chariots. Twelve months, twelve years, twelve cities, twelve disciples, twelve
baskets. Even in heaven there will be twelve gates. Search for yourself how
many times twelve is significant throughout the Old and New Testaments.
Is twelve significant in your life? Twelve years
of school. Who were the twelve most influential people in your life? How about
five or even two most important individuals? Yes, twelve is an important
number. There are twelve months ahead of us in this year of 2025. What impact
will you make in other’s lives during this coming year? How will you serve the
Lord by serving others? It isn’t too late to set goals and make choices about
what you do—rather than just drifting through life and letting others tell you
what to do and when to do it. Choose for yourself.
Choice. That was my word of the year for 2024. We
all have a choice each day in hundreds of little things—that often result in a
lifetime direction. Consider and choose wisely whom you will serve and what
will you do with the time you have left here on this earth. Joshua encouraged
the Israelites to choose before they crossed into the Promised Land.
"Now
therefore, fear the LORD, serve Him in sincerity and in truth, and put away the
gods which your fathers served on the other side of the River and in Egypt.
Serve the LORD! "And if it seems evil to you to serve the LORD, choose
for yourselves this day whom you will serve, whether the gods which your
fathers served that were on the other side of the River, or the gods of the
Amorites, in whose land you dwell. But as for me and my house, we will serve
the LORD." Joshua 24:14-15 NKJV (Underlined for emphasis.)
I’m still
considering my “word” for next year. Possibly, “undecided,” “invincible,” “peace,”
“patience,” or “obedient.” What is your “Word of the Year?” Have you
chosen a word to guide you and give you encouragement each day? Can you choose
a word that will impact on your life this year…and twelve years from now?
In choosing your word of the year,
pray, then consider how you’ve seen God working in your life this past year.
What were the highlights and joys of this year? What were your challenges and
what did you learn from them? Where do feel that God is leading you? What area
of your life need growing or healing? What is God calling you to focus on this coming
year? God wants us to have a plan—He does. Embrace your word and focus on it trusting
God to use it to guide you through each day. I’m going to follow this design.
You can too; the choice is yours.
Verse
of Salvation ~ For the Scriptures say, "If you want to enjoy life and see
many happy days, keep your tongue from speaking evil and your lips from telling
lies. Turn away from evil and do good. Search for peace, and work to maintain
it. The eyes of the Lord watch over those who do right, and his ears are open
to their prayers. But the Lord turns his face against those who do evil." 1 Peter 3:10-12
© 2024 Text, photos, and illustrations by Mickey M. Hunacek. All
rights reserved.
All scripture quoted from the New Living Translation (NLT) unless
otherwise noted.
New Living Translation copyright © 1996, 2004, 2007 by Tyndale
House Foundation.
Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers Inc., Carol Stream,
Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
New King James Version (NKJV) © 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Harper Collins
Publisher. All rights reserved. Used by permission.
Biblical search from Blue Letter Bible - http://v3.blueletterbible.org/search.cfm.
Books by Mickey M.
Hunacek
Available as e-books or paperbacks at Amazon.com
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