The Pursuit, The Priority and the Progress
Well here we find ourselves once again
Through the Christmas Season
And on to the New Year
Before we could really take a deep breath in
And let it out again.
So, Happy New Year
Welcome 2018!
We have been waiting for you.
For many of us, it would seem
2017 was a challenge
Many of us have been waiting expectantly
For an opportunity
To wipe the slate clean
And start anew
I have been listening and reading
In the last few weeks
About the New Year
And, as it usually does,
It continues to amaze me
How you hear the same theme
Running through much of the
Body of Christ.
That, it would seem
Is because those that are taking the time to listen
Are hearing the same thing
From the same Almighty God.
That encourages me
And reassures me.
On New Year’s Eve
Pastor Michael Welsh from Agape House Canada
Preached a wonderful message on Judges 8:4
“When Gideon came to the Jordan, he and the three hundred men who were with him crossed over, exhausted but still in pursuit.”
He spoke about the weariness
And the fatigue
Many of us find ourselves battling
As a result of 2017.
But he also spoke about the fact that it is no time to quit
That in crossing over the Jordan they were crossing over into the Promised Land
And that we are crossing into a transition year
That we need to learn not to quit yet
And that “there is more you have to do!”
“Never judge a person’s possibility by their current condition”
That includes judging your own possibility!
Although I wanted to write down everything he said – as it all struck such a cord in my spirit
The word that stood out to me was
PURSUIT
Last night we watched Elevation Church and their New Year’s Eve service
Steven Furtick spoke on
Philippians 1:12-20
But I want you to know, brethren, that the things which happened to me have actually turned out for the furtherance of the gospel,so that it has become evident to the whole palace guard, and to all the rest, that my chains are in Christ;and most of the brethren in the Lord, having become confident by my chains, are much more bold to speak the word without fear.
Some indeed preach Christ even from envy and strife, and some also from goodwill:
The former preach Christ from selfish ambition, not sincerely, supposing to add affliction to my chains; but the latter out of love, knowing that I am appointed for the defense of the gospel.
What then? Only that in every way, whether in pretense or in truth, Christ is preached; and in this I rejoice, yes, and will rejoice.
For I know that this will turn out for my deliverance through your prayer and the supply of the Spirit of Jesus Christ,according to my earnest expectation and hope that in nothing I shall be ashamed, but with all boldness, as always, so now also Christ will be magnified in my body, whether by life or by death.
“I’m glad it happened” was the title of his message.
And it fit right in with the theme of being exhausted by 2017
But in accepting it
And moving forward with the belief that:
“for I know that this will turn out for my deliverance through your prayer and the supply of the Spirit of Jesus Christ.”
And again, although he said so many things that struck a cord in my spirit
The word that he used that stood out to me was
PROGESS
He talked about measuring one’s progress
That you being able to measure your progress was dependent on
Knowing where you were intending on heading.
That brought me back to a conversation I had
With a good friend on Saturday
That it was time to begin scheduling in
Those things that will bring us closer
To meeting the goals we have for this year
That word for me was:
PRIORITY
If you don’t know what the priority’s are
Then you are not able to measure your progress.
So, let’s put it all together
2018 is upon us
And this is what I’m hearing
2018 is a year of PURSUIT
A year of pursuing what it is that God has for us
In spite of going in weary and exhausted
Don’t quit now! There is more for you to do!
2018 is a year of setting PRIORITYS
Last year I talked about “writing the vision and making it plain”
Well, all those things that you took the time to write down
Prioritize them
This is the season!
2018 is a year of measuring PROGRESS
And in order to measure progress you need to know:
Where you are starting
Where you intend to go.
Measuring progress involves being honest about
“your complicated mess”
Being intentional about where you are going
And how you are getting there.
Remember –
“Never judges someone’s possibility by their current condition.” (including your own)
And the final word that has come up
Over and over again
Throughout the year
And in the last few weeks
PRAISE
We have a God who goes before us
Has a plan for us
And holds us in the palm of His Hand.
No matter where we find ourselves
The best way to propel yourself forward
Into the New Year
Into the New Day
Into this New Season
Is to build that relationship with the Lord
And as you begin to walk in intimacy with Him
You will be able to
Throw up those hands
Humble yourself
And begin to praise and worship
Our Almighty God.
Farewell 2017
Thanks for all the lessons
Difficult as they were
Welcome 2018
We are ready!
