Re-evaluate

In Two Thousand Eight

It’s a brand new year with brand new possibilities—Go for it!

Look back and determine what you can do to make improvements over last year.

Reflect where you have been:

What blessed you?  What hindered?

What worked for your good?  What didn’t?

How did you get there?

Was it a good trip?

If not, how could it have been improved?

Look ahead, using your 20/20 hindsight:

Where are you going?

Do you have definitive goals.

How do you get there?

Eliminate what failed previously.

Get good directions from God before you start.

Is this the route Jesus would take?

You may have to leave your comfort zone to arrive at the destination that God has planned for you.  Since the future is unknown and you have never been there before, you will need an accurate map with the route marked clearly.  The directions will only have the next step mapped out, and it may nearly scare you to death; but you are following One who knows the way and will not lead you wrongly.  Bruce Wilkerson said, “When God gives you a dream, it’s never in your comfort zone.”

Open your mind to receive inspiration of the Holy Spirit.  He will place insightful thoughts and previews of coming attractions.

“For as he thinketh in his heart, so is he…” Proverbs 23:7).

You might not get it right the first time, but you haven’t failed until you fail to get up and keep going.

Before leaving the children of Israel, Moses gave them explicit instructions on how to be successful in claiming the land promised to them through their forefather, Abraham.

“Now therefore hearken, O Israel, unto the statutes and unto the judgments, which I teach you, for to do them, that ye may live, and go in and possess the land which the LORD God of your fathers giveth you” (Deuteronomy 4:1).

No other nation had the advantages they had; no other god was able to make such promises, much less fulfill them.  Only their God, who gave them commandments which would enrich their life and lead them to the Promise Land, was powerful enough to orchestrate the successful invasion and occupation of this Land.

“And what nation is there so great, that hath statutes and judgments so righteous as all this law, which I set before you this day.  Behold, the LORD thy God hath set before thee:  go up and possess it, as the LORD God of thy fathers hath said unto thee; fear not, neither be discouraged” (Deuteronomy 4:8, 1:21).

When they finally overcame their fears, under Joshua’s leadership, they entered the land which God had prepared.  The harvest was ready for them, cities were already built; everything God had promised lay before them.  All they had to do was follow His directions and “Go get it.”  There were giants in the land, but God told His people to go unafraid, because He would deliver the giant King Og and his people into their hands.

Go for it, but go with God for victory.  If He says, “Take the spoils,” take them; if He says, “Burn them,” then burn them (Deuteronomy 3).  You see, God has it all planned out.  All He needs is for us to follow His map and take the right route.

“But ye that did cleave unto the LORD your God are alive every one of you this day” (Deuteronomy 4:4).

Cleave, as in “Super Glue,” to the Lord.  Let nothing come between you and Him, and He will direct your path straight to victory.  Don’t let anything distract you from following after, pursuing, the Lord.

“Take heed unto yourselves, lest ye forget the covenant of the LORD your God, which he made with you” (Deuteronomy 4:23).

Take full advantage of the opportunities of the coming new year.  Don’t allow what is happening around you to affect you negatively or become discouraged.  God will honor His Word and bless you as you “Go for it” and cleave to Him.  Don’t let failures of the past year(s) cause you look back with regret.  You can’t change anything that is now history, but you can make new history and live in the blessings that God already has set in motion for you.

Every day is an opportunity to start over.  That’s what grace is, and mercy bought it for us at Calvary.  Since Jesus paid such a high price for our freedom, should we not pull out all stops for Him and “Go for it”?  We can’t even imagine what the results and rewards will be like. 

Dream your dream.  Cooperate with God and allow Him to make it happen.  Get your foot off the brake of doubt and with faith in gear—

“Go for it!”

"Where He leads me I will follow,
Where He leads me I will follow,
Where He leads me I will follow;
I’ll go with Him, with Him, all the way."

Have a wonderfully blessed New Year!