1 00:00:02,680 --> 00:00:14,160 Speaker 1: Life Audio. Welcome to the Crosswalk devotional. We are so 2 00:00:14,320 --> 00:00:17,600 Speaker 1: glad to have you listening with us here today. Today's 3 00:00:17,640 --> 00:00:21,079 Speaker 1: topic is about starting the new year with Jesus. We 4 00:00:21,120 --> 00:00:37,440 Speaker 1: will return after a brief message from our sponsor Starting 5 00:00:37,560 --> 00:00:41,720 Speaker 1: the New Year with Jesus, written by Vivian Bricker, read 6 00:00:42,000 --> 00:00:48,800 Speaker 1: by Rochelle Alberti Bible reading, Jesus replied, Love the Lord, 7 00:00:48,840 --> 00:00:52,680 Speaker 1: your God, was all your heart, was all your soul, 8 00:00:52,880 --> 00:00:56,640 Speaker 1: and was all your mind Matthew, twenty two thirty seven. 9 00:00:58,280 --> 00:01:01,680 Speaker 1: As this new year approaches, many of us consider the 10 00:01:01,680 --> 00:01:05,640 Speaker 1: new year's resolutions we want to make. Various resolutions can 11 00:01:05,760 --> 00:01:09,680 Speaker 1: draw our attention, such as weight loss, getting organized, or 12 00:01:09,760 --> 00:01:14,640 Speaker 1: switching careers. While all of these are common new Year's resolutions, 13 00:01:15,120 --> 00:01:18,240 Speaker 1: the greatest resolution we can make is to start the 14 00:01:18,280 --> 00:01:22,320 Speaker 1: new year with Jesus, cultivate our relationship with him, and 15 00:01:22,480 --> 00:01:28,120 Speaker 1: faithfully follow him. Developing a stronger relationship with Jesus throughout 16 00:01:28,120 --> 00:01:31,640 Speaker 1: the year will prove beneficial not only for the present year, 17 00:01:32,120 --> 00:01:36,080 Speaker 1: but also for all the years to come. While we 18 00:01:36,160 --> 00:01:40,119 Speaker 1: will not be completely immune from our problems, our lives 19 00:01:40,120 --> 00:01:44,600 Speaker 1: shall become better and more focused on the Lord. The 20 00:01:44,600 --> 00:01:48,040 Speaker 1: more our lives are centered around Jesus, the more joyful 21 00:01:48,120 --> 00:01:51,640 Speaker 1: we will be. Soon we will see that materialism and 22 00:01:51,720 --> 00:01:54,720 Speaker 1: things of the world do not fulfill us. They are 23 00:01:54,720 --> 00:01:57,280 Speaker 1: but empty promises that lead us a brief from the Lord. 24 00:01:58,000 --> 00:02:01,120 Speaker 1: We don't need to chase after the arse things will 25 00:02:01,160 --> 00:02:05,200 Speaker 1: follow them. Since we know Jesus as our lord and savior, 26 00:02:05,640 --> 00:02:09,239 Speaker 1: we should strive to nurture our relationship with him this 27 00:02:09,400 --> 00:02:12,760 Speaker 1: mean year and be the perfect start. Consider what you 28 00:02:12,800 --> 00:02:15,680 Speaker 1: are struggling with and the help that Jesus can offer. 29 00:02:16,480 --> 00:02:19,240 Speaker 1: Maybe you are battling the chronic illness or facing the 30 00:02:19,280 --> 00:02:22,440 Speaker 1: death of a loved one. Give these matters over to 31 00:02:22,520 --> 00:02:26,240 Speaker 1: him and trust him with the new year. It can 32 00:02:26,280 --> 00:02:29,120 Speaker 1: be easy to think that this year will be just 33 00:02:29,160 --> 00:02:32,440 Speaker 1: as terrible as the year prior, but we need to 34 00:02:32,480 --> 00:02:35,840 Speaker 1: remember that we are making a change. The change to 35 00:02:36,000 --> 00:02:39,559 Speaker 1: living in accordance with Jesus rather than with the world 36 00:02:39,760 --> 00:02:45,840 Speaker 1: will prove to be glorious. Protection, safety, and comfort will 37 00:02:45,840 --> 00:02:50,200 Speaker 1: always surround us. Jesus does not want us to start 38 00:02:50,280 --> 00:02:53,280 Speaker 1: another year without him. He wants us to walk with 39 00:02:53,360 --> 00:02:57,680 Speaker 1: him and to trust him. By making this decision, we 40 00:02:57,760 --> 00:03:02,359 Speaker 1: can truly start living the most whole light that Jesus 41 00:03:02,360 --> 00:03:07,600 Speaker 1: died for. Us to have John tin ten intersecting faith 42 00:03:07,639 --> 00:03:12,960 Speaker 1: in line. When Jesus was asked what was the greatest commandment, 43 00:03:13,360 --> 00:03:17,320 Speaker 1: he replied, love the Lord, your God, was all your heart, 44 00:03:18,040 --> 00:03:21,440 Speaker 1: all your soul, and with all your mind Matthew twenty 45 00:03:21,440 --> 00:03:25,280 Speaker 1: two thirty seven. By doing this, we will be able 46 00:03:25,320 --> 00:03:27,600 Speaker 1: to live this new year with our hearts focused on 47 00:03:27,680 --> 00:03:31,119 Speaker 1: the Lord rather than loving the things of this world. 48 00:03:31,280 --> 00:03:34,600 Speaker 1: We need to change the narrative and choose to love him. 49 00:03:35,880 --> 00:03:39,240 Speaker 1: Challenge yourself and see if the Lord is truly your 50 00:03:39,280 --> 00:03:42,720 Speaker 1: top priority. Is he the one you want to please 51 00:03:43,320 --> 00:03:47,000 Speaker 1: or is it yourself. As we enter the upcoming year, 52 00:03:47,400 --> 00:03:51,120 Speaker 1: we need to examine our hearts and ask ourselves these 53 00:03:51,200 --> 00:03:56,320 Speaker 1: challenging questions. By answering these questions honestly, we will be 54 00:03:56,400 --> 00:04:00,600 Speaker 1: able to see where our allegiance lies. If a person 55 00:04:00,640 --> 00:04:03,680 Speaker 1: has discovered they have not truly placed faith in the Lord, 56 00:04:03,800 --> 00:04:07,440 Speaker 1: yet they can choose to trust in him today. This 57 00:04:07,480 --> 00:04:10,680 Speaker 1: can be done by believing that Jesus died for your sins, 58 00:04:11,240 --> 00:04:15,520 Speaker 1: was buried and rose again verse Corinthians fifteen one through four, 59 00:04:15,920 --> 00:04:20,279 Speaker 1: Romans tenth nine through eleven. If you believe this, you 60 00:04:20,360 --> 00:04:26,520 Speaker 1: will have eternal life, forgiveness and salvation With this upcoming year, 61 00:04:27,040 --> 00:04:30,960 Speaker 1: take the opportunity to start the year with Jesus. Choose 62 00:04:31,000 --> 00:04:34,560 Speaker 1: to faithfully follow him and love him throughout every storm 63 00:04:34,600 --> 00:04:39,320 Speaker 1: of life. Some days will be harder than others, Yet 64 00:04:39,360 --> 00:04:42,359 Speaker 1: the love that the Lord has for us knows no 65 00:04:42,480 --> 00:04:47,240 Speaker 1: bounds Romans eight thirty seven through thirty nine. Since the 66 00:04:47,320 --> 00:04:50,120 Speaker 1: Lord loves us in this way, we need to love 67 00:04:50,200 --> 00:04:54,680 Speaker 1: him too and focus on serving him. What are your 68 00:04:54,760 --> 00:04:58,800 Speaker 1: new year's resolutions? Are any of them centered around Jesus? 69 00:04:59,600 --> 00:05:02,480 Speaker 1: What what it looked like to follow Jesus rather than 70 00:05:02,520 --> 00:05:07,760 Speaker 1: the world this upcoming year. Dear Lord, please forgive me 71 00:05:07,839 --> 00:05:10,279 Speaker 1: for focusing on the world rather than on you in 72 00:05:10,360 --> 00:05:14,279 Speaker 1: previous years. I'm choosing to start this year with you 73 00:05:14,800 --> 00:05:18,320 Speaker 1: and to keep my eyes focused on you during this 74 00:05:18,480 --> 00:05:21,880 Speaker 1: upcoming year. Help me to fully love you with all 75 00:05:21,920 --> 00:05:26,520 Speaker 1: my heart, soul, and mind. You are completely worthy of 76 00:05:26,640 --> 00:05:29,680 Speaker 1: all my love, and I'm sorry I have been far 77 00:05:29,720 --> 00:05:32,640 Speaker 1: from you for so long. In your name, I pray 78 00:05:33,120 --> 00:05:39,200 Speaker 1: I'm it further reading Luke nine twenty three through twenty four, 79 00:05:40,400 --> 00:05:49,919 Speaker 1: John eight twelve, John fourteen, fifteen through thirty one. The 80 00:05:50,000 --> 00:05:53,680 Speaker 1: Crosswalk Devotional is a production of Life Audio and Salem 81 00:05:53,720 --> 00:05:57,320 Speaker 1: Media If you liked what you heard today, please take 82 00:05:57,320 --> 00:05:59,720 Speaker 1: a second to rate and review this podcast in your 83 00:05:59,720 --> 00:06:03,440 Speaker 1: favorite podcast app so that more listeners like you can 84 00:06:03,520 --> 00:06:09,080 Speaker 1: find the show. For more faith filled, inspirational podcasts, visit 85 00:06:09,160 --> 00:06:18,400 Speaker 1: us at lifeaudio dot com.