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Jennifer Hayes Yates

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Priorities for a New Year

January 6, 2021 By Jennifer H. Yates Leave a Comment

6 Jan
Priorities for a New Year

Everybody knows New Year’s resolutions are just promises made to be broken. I stopped making them a long time ago. But evaluating my spiritual life and doing a priority check? That’s something worth taking the time for as we begin a new year.

“Search me, O God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts. See if there is any offensive way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.”

Psalm 139:23-24, NIV

January is a great time to look back over the past year and ask God to show us any bad habits we’ve allowed to creep into our spiritual lives. Let’s start with church.

With the pandemic of 2020, many have stopped attending church, even online. Once we traded in our Sunday best in the pew for our pajamas on the couch, church attendance gave way to others priorities.

The loss of community and fellowship has hurt the faith of many because the Christian life is meant to be lived out together. We need one another to spur us on.

“And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds. Let us not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but let us encourage one another–and all the more as you see the Day approaching.”

Hebrews 10:24-25

Now, more than ever, we need to meet together–even if online–and encourage one another. So let us consider it, think about it, and meditate on it. How can I spur others on toward love and good deeds? Do I need to recommit myself to regular church attendance with my family? What does that look like in our current circumstances?

If your church isn’t holding in-person gatherings right now, how can you more faithfully commit to being an active part of the body of Christ? Do you need to reaffirm your commitment to get dressed and show up for online services? Do you need to join a Zoom small group or Bible study so you can be more faithfully engaged with the community of faith?

What about our personal spiritual disciplines? God wants us to put Him first and love Him best.

“But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.”

Matthew 6:33

“He answered: ‘”Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind” and “Love your neighbor as yourself.”‘”

Luke 10:27

As we enter a new year, how can we put God first and love Him better?

  1. Commit to daily time with God.
  2. Commit to study God’s Word.
  3. Commit to faithful prayer.
  4. Commit to ________________ (You fill in the blank).

What areas of your spiritual life need attention right now? How have you grown in the last year? The fruit of the Spirit is our measure of spiritual growth and maturity.

Are you more loving, joyful, peaceful, patient, kind, good, faithful, gentle, and self-controlled? I have to admit, I still need to grow in many of these areas. But we don’t develop the fruit by trying harder or doing more.

We grow as we seek God and spend time abiding in Him. So, as we do a spiritual check, we must remember that God’s love and grace are abundant, even as we seek to realign our priorities.

His love for us does not change:

“For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.”

Romans 8:38-39

But our love for Him can:

“Yet I hold this against you: You have forsaken your first love. Remember the height from which you have fallen! Repent and do the things you did at first.”

Revelation 2:4

So, let’s begin 2021 with an honest look at our priorities. Let’s get back to our first love. Let’s ignite a fire for God that will show the world He is worthy of worship and service.

No matter what 2020 brought our way, we can walk into 2021 with a new heart and a new passion for the things of God. We can start each day seeking God first and making Him our number one priority in life.

“Since, them, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things. for you died, and your life is now hidden with Christ in God.”

Colossians 3:1-3

When God is the center of all we think, say, and do, we will walk in the peace, joy, and blessings that come from knowing God.

If you need a little motivation and encouragement for seeking Him first and growing your faith, check out my book Seek Him First: How to Hear from God, Walk in His Will, and Change Your World.

And don’t forget to come join us in our private Facebook group Growing Your Faith for encouragement, accountability, and support.

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Filed Under: Spiritual Growth Tagged With: Bible study, Christian devotional, devotional, Jennifer H Yates, one thing, quiet time, religion vs. relationship, seeking God, the Word, worship

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About Jennifer H Yates

About Jennifer H Yates

Hey, friends! I'm Jen--wife, mama, and empty-nester. I love to write, read, and drink coffee, especially with friends.

I've found that many women struggle to find time and focus to grow their relationship with God through studying His Word. I encourage and challenge women with practical strategies and helpful resources for quality study in as little as fifteen minutes a day.

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We all have a place in the Kingdom. ⁠
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We all have a place in the Kingdom. ⁠
⁠
Click link in bio to read post.⁠
⁠
#prayerwarrior #bedeeplyrooted #prayerispowerful #praywithoutceasing #christianpost #christianblogger #womenintheword #livewithintention #shareyourheart #faithwriter #womenencouragingwomen #wordoflife #seekgoddaily #wordbeforeworld #jesusandcoffee #daughteroftheking #fiercelyhis #womenlivingwell #girlfriendsintheworld #faithblogger #givemejesus #graceupongrace #faithoverfear #seekhimfirst #growingyourfaith #womenoftheworld #intheword #lampandlight #shereadstruth #butfirstjesus

"Paul, a servant of Christ Jesus, called to be an
"Paul, a servant of Christ Jesus, called to be an apostle and set apart for the gospel--the gospel he promised beforehand through his prophets in the Holy Scriptures regarding his Son, who as to his human nature was a descendant of David, and who through the Spirit of holiness was declared with power to be the Son of God by his resurrection from the dead: Jesus Christ our Lord" (Romans 1:1-4, NIV).
All of Scripture, all of history, all of time has been about Jesus Christ, Son of God. 
Do you know Him? You can. His life, death, and resurrection are historical fact. All so that you could know Him and have eternal life.
Jesus loves you! ❤

"The women who had come with Jesus from Galilee fo
"The women who had come with Jesus from Galilee followed Joseph and saw the tomb and how his body was laid in it. Then they went home and prepared spices and perfumes. But they rested on the Sabbath in obedience to the commandment" (Luke 23:55-56).
Can you imagine the horror these women had witnessed? Mary Magdalene, Joanna, Susanna, and many others had followed Jesus and helped support his ministry (Luke 8:3).
Now all their hopes had been crushed as they stood at a distance and witnessed Jesus' agonizing death on the cross (Luke 23:49). His own mother had to stand by helplessly as her son cried out, "Father, into your hands I commit my spirit" (Luke 23:46).
As we women often do, they looked for a way to still serve Him, even in His death, by preparing His body for burial. Sometimes, it's the little things.
When our hearts are breaking and we think we can't take another breath, sometimes we need something in our hands--a burial spice, a casserole, a text that says I'm here.
We can't make the hurt go away, but we can channel it into something useful, something hopeful, something comforting.
As they rested on the Sabbath, I'm sure they anticipated the opportunity to see Him one more time, to minister to Him once more with the spices and perfumes they had prepared.
Hearts crushed, hands open.
Grieved but grateful. Resting but ready.
Because if there was anything they knew for sure, it's that Jesus was no ordinary man. And when hearts are turned toward Him, anything can happen.

God never called us to “blind” faith. We may b
God never called us to “blind” faith. We may believe without seeing, but faith is being sure and certain of what we don’t see, not what we don’t know. ⁠
The Israelites had historical facts on which to base their faith. That’s why God constantly told them to remember what He had done and tell it to their children. Their faith was in what they knew to be true, even though they didn’t always see it with their own eyes. ⁠
We, too, have facts on which to base our faith. The Bible is historically accurate and verified. If ever we needed to know what we believe, it’s now.⁠
⁠
Click link in bio to read post.⁠
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#prayerwarrior #bedeeplyrooted #prayerispowerful #praywithoutceasing #christianpost #christianblogger #womenintheword #livewithintention #shareyourheart #faithwriter #womenencouragingwomen #wordoflife #seekgoddaily #wordbeforeworld #jesusandcoffee #daughteroftheking #fiercelyhis #womenlivingwell #girlfriendsintheworld #faithblogger #givemejesus #graceupongrace #faithoverfear #seekhimfirst #growingyourfaith #womenoftheworld #intheword #lampandlight #shereadstruth #butfirstjesus

It’s something I have a hard time doing. Like mo
It’s something I have a hard time doing. Like most women, when I do get still, my mind is still going 90 mph. I’m so distracted by all the preparations for the day. Sounds a little like Martha, who, by the way, is the one who invited Jesus over in the first place. But like Martha, I have felt the Lord’s gentle rebuke. He wants me at His feet. And really, that’s where I want to be. It’s not about time and focus. It’s about heart and desire. The rest will come. ❤️ #growingyourfaith #jesusfirst #wordbeforeworld #seekhimfirst #javawithjesus #womenintheword

Do you really want to grow your faith? What we fee
Do you really want to grow your faith? What we feed the most is what grows the most. 🍽️⁠
⁠
What are you feeding?⁠
⁠
Click the link in my bio to read this week's post.⁠
#prayerwarrior #bedeeplyrooted #prayerispowerful #praywithoutceasing #christianpost #christianblogger #womenintheword #livewithintention #shareyourheart #faithwriter #womenencouragingwomen #wordoflife #seekgoddaily #wordbeforeworld #jesusandcoffee #daughteroftheking #fiercelyhis #womenlivingwell #girlfriendsintheworld #faithblogger #givemejesus #graceupongrace #faithoverfear #seekhimfirst #growingyourfaith #womenoftheworld #intheword #lampandlight #shereadstruth #butfirstjesus ⁠


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