1 00:00:02,720 --> 00:00:03,520 Speaker 1: Life Audio. 2 00:00:10,840 --> 00:00:14,360 Speaker 2: Welcome to the Crosswalk devotional. We are so glad to 3 00:00:14,400 --> 00:00:16,079 Speaker 2: have you listening with us here today. 4 00:00:16,720 --> 00:00:19,880 Speaker 3: Today's topic is letting the Word of God shape your future. 5 00:00:20,680 --> 00:00:23,480 Speaker 3: We will return after a brief message from our sponsor. 6 00:00:36,960 --> 00:00:39,360 Speaker 3: How to Let the Word of God Shape Your Year 7 00:00:40,159 --> 00:00:44,239 Speaker 3: written by Aaron D. Anthony Brown read of Rochelle Alberti. 8 00:00:45,720 --> 00:00:50,120 Speaker 3: Bible reading teach us to number our days carefully so 9 00:00:50,159 --> 00:00:53,400 Speaker 3: that we may develop wisdom in our hearts, Psalm ninety, 10 00:00:53,640 --> 00:00:59,240 Speaker 3: verse twelve CSB. With the new year comes no hopes. 11 00:00:59,240 --> 00:01:04,840 Speaker 2: Expectations, and disappointments. Whatever we face, everything is always better 12 00:01:04,880 --> 00:01:08,399 Speaker 2: when we face it with God. Sadly, however, we often 13 00:01:08,480 --> 00:01:12,000 Speaker 2: start our year without focusing on Him. We have our 14 00:01:12,040 --> 00:01:15,440 Speaker 2: goals and plans for achieving them, if the Lord doesn't 15 00:01:15,440 --> 00:01:20,120 Speaker 2: always factor into that process, perhaps that explains at least 16 00:01:20,319 --> 00:01:23,320 Speaker 2: part of the reason so many resolutions fade away by 17 00:01:23,319 --> 00:01:26,920 Speaker 2: the end of January. We make commitments, but none stick. 18 00:01:27,880 --> 00:01:34,200 Speaker 2: What sticks are the excuses? Here's an alternative. What if 19 00:01:34,240 --> 00:01:38,640 Speaker 2: we made plans but factor God into the process. What 20 00:01:38,720 --> 00:01:41,360 Speaker 2: if we sought Him for wisdom? Or what goals to 21 00:01:41,400 --> 00:01:46,080 Speaker 2: set and how best to accomplish those goals? As a believer. 22 00:01:46,440 --> 00:01:50,160 Speaker 2: That may sound self evident, but we make many decisions 23 00:01:50,200 --> 00:01:54,560 Speaker 2: every day without consulting God. We enter into disputes with 24 00:01:54,600 --> 00:02:00,680 Speaker 2: loved ones, take on responsibilities, and more, all without spending 25 00:02:00,760 --> 00:02:05,320 Speaker 2: sufficient time in prayer. Sometimes we have to make split 26 00:02:05,360 --> 00:02:10,240 Speaker 2: second decisions. However, we're being honest. There are times we 27 00:02:10,320 --> 00:02:15,200 Speaker 2: could pray and simply don't. We think we know what's best, 28 00:02:15,480 --> 00:02:18,960 Speaker 2: but then we feel foolish when things don't exactly work out. 29 00:02:20,040 --> 00:02:23,440 Speaker 2: Let's do something different this new year. Before we make 30 00:02:23,560 --> 00:02:26,680 Speaker 2: any plans, Let's figure out how we can allow God 31 00:02:26,919 --> 00:02:33,000 Speaker 2: to shape this new year, intersecting faith in life. Entering 32 00:02:33,040 --> 00:02:37,280 Speaker 2: into the new year is undoubtedly an exciting time. If 33 00:02:37,280 --> 00:02:39,399 Speaker 2: we are going to make the most of this newness, 34 00:02:39,720 --> 00:02:42,680 Speaker 2: we should strive to put the Lord first. Here are 35 00:02:42,680 --> 00:02:44,680 Speaker 2: a few ways you can let the word of God 36 00:02:44,919 --> 00:02:50,480 Speaker 2: shape your gear. One with action. Some of us set 37 00:02:50,760 --> 00:02:54,600 Speaker 2: unrealistic goals, some of us set too many goals, and 38 00:02:54,720 --> 00:02:57,960 Speaker 2: some of us set no goals at all. The solution 39 00:02:58,080 --> 00:03:01,000 Speaker 2: to all of this is to pray for whism, which 40 00:03:01,040 --> 00:03:05,079 Speaker 2: God gives freely James one to five. He knows our 41 00:03:05,120 --> 00:03:10,200 Speaker 2: heart's desires and also knows what's best for us. Seek 42 00:03:10,280 --> 00:03:13,960 Speaker 2: him and ask Him for the best approach. Doing so 43 00:03:14,160 --> 00:03:17,160 Speaker 2: will help us find the wisdom we be not just 44 00:03:17,200 --> 00:03:21,799 Speaker 2: to make good decisions, but the best decision. The new 45 00:03:21,880 --> 00:03:24,880 Speaker 2: year is a great time for action because we enter 46 00:03:24,960 --> 00:03:29,040 Speaker 2: into it with a fresh mindset. However, keep in mind 47 00:03:29,120 --> 00:03:31,239 Speaker 2: that we don't have to wait for the new year 48 00:03:31,320 --> 00:03:34,680 Speaker 2: to change. We should seek God on a daily basis 49 00:03:34,680 --> 00:03:37,720 Speaker 2: to become more like Christ, rather than just waiting for 50 00:03:37,800 --> 00:03:45,000 Speaker 2: special occasions. Two with gratitude. When God is the center 51 00:03:45,040 --> 00:03:50,120 Speaker 2: of our plans, we experience greater gratitude. That's the natural 52 00:03:50,160 --> 00:03:53,000 Speaker 2: result of living a life with a view of the Creator. 53 00:03:54,000 --> 00:03:56,320 Speaker 2: We know that what we have is not given freely, 54 00:03:56,520 --> 00:03:59,560 Speaker 2: and not our own, and not to be taken for granted. 55 00:04:00,200 --> 00:04:03,880 Speaker 2: What we have our gifts from God, our plans, the 56 00:04:03,920 --> 00:04:08,200 Speaker 2: success of the plans, and the result whatever that might be. 57 00:04:09,520 --> 00:04:15,160 Speaker 2: Three with trust. When life goes our way and even 58 00:04:15,160 --> 00:04:18,560 Speaker 2: when it doesn't, knowing that God has brought us through 59 00:04:18,600 --> 00:04:23,600 Speaker 2: before helps us trust Him for the next time. That 60 00:04:23,720 --> 00:04:28,640 Speaker 2: applies to specific circumstances, such as familial disputes or loss, 61 00:04:29,720 --> 00:04:32,760 Speaker 2: but also applies to how we approach the new year. 62 00:04:33,720 --> 00:04:36,600 Speaker 2: Some years are better than others for a myriad of reasons. 63 00:04:36,800 --> 00:04:42,000 Speaker 2: Financial relational. Whatever the case, God has seen us through 64 00:04:42,040 --> 00:04:45,800 Speaker 2: difficult times, which reminds us we ought to trust Him 65 00:04:46,000 --> 00:04:49,680 Speaker 2: for whatever comes next year. There is no good reason 66 00:04:49,960 --> 00:04:55,840 Speaker 2: to fear of the future. Four With hope. Faith in 67 00:04:55,960 --> 00:04:59,280 Speaker 2: God brands us a hope for the future that people 68 00:04:59,320 --> 00:05:01,800 Speaker 2: can't find then they don't believe in a higher power. 69 00:05:02,600 --> 00:05:06,680 Speaker 2: Such individuals are forced to find hope in people and circumstances, 70 00:05:07,200 --> 00:05:11,440 Speaker 2: and that hope just as quickly falter. However, when we 71 00:05:11,480 --> 00:05:14,320 Speaker 2: have our eyes trained on God, we set our feet 72 00:05:14,360 --> 00:05:18,320 Speaker 2: on solid ground, we find many reasons to hope, and 73 00:05:18,440 --> 00:05:23,560 Speaker 2: those reasons never change, because God never changes Hebrews thirteen eight. 74 00:05:25,000 --> 00:05:27,200 Speaker 2: Let that be an encouragement to you as you set 75 00:05:27,200 --> 00:05:31,480 Speaker 2: yourself to grow, not just this new year, but day by. 76 00:05:31,440 --> 00:05:40,840 Speaker 3: Day, further reading Proverbs three, five and six, Proverbs sixteen nine. 77 00:05:39,880 --> 00:05:49,200 Speaker 2: Psalm thirty two eight, James one five, and Hebrews thirteen eight. 78 00:05:50,360 --> 00:05:53,680 Speaker 1: The Crosswalk Devotional is a production of Life Audio and 79 00:05:53,760 --> 00:05:57,640 Speaker 1: Salem Media. 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