Pastor’s Corner

Time for a fresh start

With the new year now in motion, and a couple of weeks of 2012 behind us, I wonder how you are doing with some of the goals or resolutions you placed before you with the new year.

If you’re like me, you possibly have already discovered that some of the things you resolved to do are not going to get done this year, at least not the first part of the year.

If that is the case I have some wonderful news for you. It is not too late. In fact, it is never too late to change, or, may I say, to be changed!

I have spent the last 23 years of my life preaching and teaching that we serve a God that not only leads us to change, He initiates and accomplished the change in me that I need. What are some things you need God to change in your life?

When we think of those things that God desires, often times that which we desire for change will begin to diminish. Allow me, if I may, to share four areas where I pray God will change me and perhaps even you for the new year and for the rest of our lives.

I pray God will change my PURPOSE. My prayer is that my purpose will become what He desires for me instead of that which I desire. I desire a lot of things, those of which I believe are good and noble things, however, if they are not God’s purpose for me then they are of no avail. My purpose must be God’s purpose for me.

I pray that God will change my PRIORITIES.

My priorities are always the problem. What I mean is that my priorities need to be God’s priorities for my life.

More often than not, what I want and desire is the antithesis of God’s plans and desires for me. I need to prioritize that which matters to Him and not so much me.

I pray that God will change my PROPERTY.

Now that’s a strange prayerbut what I mean, simply, is that I need to learn to realize that everything that I own, actually belongs to Him. I need to surrender my own possessions to Him, whom they belonged to all the time. I need to let go of some things, they are not mine.

Then finally, I pray that God will change my PAST.

This is my favorite prayer.

Because of Christ’s death on the cross for my sins, the Bible states that my past is forever forgiven and my present is assured that I serve a forgiving God.

Have you had your PAST changed? Your future depends upon it. If you have never come to know theforgiveness that comes form a relationship with Jesus Christ maybe you need to begin a fresh start in a Bible-believing church where you can you learn more about God’s plans for your life. It’s the best thing that can happen to you for the New Year!

On behalf of our church family at First Baptist Church, Garfield, we are wishing you a very happy and God blessed New Year!

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Editor’s note: Jack Maddox is the pastor of First Baptist Church, Garfield. Follow him on his blog at www.wordpress.jackmaddox.com, or e-mail him at Brojackfbcg@ gmail.com.

Church, Pages 2 on 01/25/2012