Embrace a New Year: Reset Your Life
Summary
As we step into a new year, it's a time for reflection and renewal. Today, I want to challenge each of us to embrace a reset in our lives. Just as a game console sometimes needs a reset to function properly, our lives too can benefit from a fresh start. This reset involves three key areas: our focus, our heart, and our desires.
Firstly, we must reset our focus. It's easy to get caught up in the busyness of life and lose sight of what truly matters. Our focus should be on seeking God's kingdom and His righteousness above all else. When we align our focus with God's purposes, everything else falls into place. This year, let's strive to consistently seek and desire God more than ever before.
Secondly, we need to reset our hearts. Our hearts endure everything we go through, and if not guarded, they can become polluted with the lies of the enemy. Proverbs 4:23 reminds us to guard our hearts, for out of them flow the springs of life. A heart reset allows God to heal, remake, and restore us, enabling us to live lighter and love deeper.
Lastly, we must reset our desires. Our flesh often pulls us towards the things of this world, but we are called to desire God above all else. Our desires should draw us closer to Him, not away. As we reset our desires, we align ourselves with God's will, finding true satisfaction and fulfillment in Him.
This year, let's not settle for surface-level changes. Instead, let's allow God to cleanse and renew the very core of who we are. This is not just about a new year; it's about a new life lived in alignment with the Lord. As we reset, we open ourselves to the eternal peace and joy that only God can provide.
Key Takeaways:
- Reset Your Focus: Our focus should be on seeking God's kingdom and His righteousness above all else. When we align our focus with God's purposes, everything else falls into place. This year, strive to consistently seek and desire God more than ever before. [01:09:28]
- Guard Your Heart: Our hearts endure everything we go through, and if not guarded, they can become polluted with the lies of the enemy. A heart reset allows God to heal, remake, and restore us, enabling us to live lighter and love deeper. [01:17:20]
- Align Your Desires: Our desires should draw us closer to God, not away. As we reset our desires, we align ourselves with God's will, finding true satisfaction and fulfillment in Him. [01:23:43]
- Embrace a New Life: This year, let's not settle for surface-level changes. Instead, allow God to cleanse and renew the very core of who we are. This is not just about a new year; it's about a new life lived in alignment with the Lord. [01:27:45]
- Seek Eternal Peace: As we reset, we open ourselves to the eternal peace and joy that only God can provide. This is a daily battle, but the prize is worth it. [01:28:20]
Youtube Chapters:
- [00:00] - Welcome
- [04:33] - Introduction and Greetings
- [12:00] - Roots and Wings Membership
- [18:00] - Community Groups Overview
- [25:00] - The Ruthless Elimination of Hurry
- [30:00] - Mental Health and the Church
- [35:00] - Take Back Your Family
- [40:00] - Dangerous Jesus
- [46:41] - Honoring My Wife
- [51:03] - Prayer and New Year Challenge
- [52:12] - The Importance of Reset
- [56:20] - David's Example of Reset
- [01:01:31] - Resetting Our Focus
- [01:12:24] - Resetting Our Heart
- [01:21:55] - Resetting Our Desires
- [01:28:48] - Closing Prayer and Offering
Study Guide
Bible Study Discussion Guide
Bible Reading:
1. Proverbs 4:23 - "Above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it."
2. Matthew 6:33 - "But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well."
3. Psalm 34:3-8 - "Glorify the Lord with me; let us exalt his name together. I sought the Lord, and he answered me; he delivered me from all my fears. Those who look to him are radiant; their faces are never covered with shame. This poor man called, and the Lord heard him; he saved him out of all his troubles. The angel of the Lord encamps around those who fear him, and he delivers them. Taste and see that the Lord is good; blessed is the one who takes refuge in him."
Observation Questions:
1. According to Proverbs 4:23, why is it important to guard our hearts? How does this relate to the sermon’s emphasis on resetting our hearts? [01:14:13]
2. In Matthew 6:33, what are we instructed to seek first, and what is promised as a result? How does this align with the sermon’s call to reset our focus? [01:09:28]
3. In Psalm 34:3-8, what actions does David take in the midst of his troubles, and what are the outcomes of those actions? How does this illustrate the concept of a reset? [01:00:30]
Interpretation Questions:
1. How might guarding our hearts, as instructed in Proverbs 4:23, impact our daily interactions and decisions? What are some practical ways to implement this in our lives? [01:15:14]
2. What does it mean to seek God's kingdom and righteousness first, as mentioned in Matthew 6:33? How can this priority influence our life choices and goals? [01:09:28]
3. Reflecting on Psalm 34:3-8, how does David’s response to his circumstances demonstrate a reset in his focus and desires? What can we learn from his example about trusting God in difficult times? [01:00:30]
Application Questions:
1. Reflect on your current focus in life. Is it aligned with seeking God's kingdom first? Identify one specific area where you can shift your focus to better align with this priority. [01:09:28]
2. Consider the state of your heart. Are there any areas where you need to guard it more vigilantly? What steps can you take this week to protect your heart from negative influences? [01:14:13]
3. Examine your desires. Are they drawing you closer to God or pulling you away? What is one desire you need to reset to align more closely with God’s will? [01:23:43]
4. Think about a recent situation where you felt overwhelmed or burdened. How can you apply the concept of a reset, as David did in Psalm 34, to find peace and clarity? [01:00:30]
5. Identify a specific distraction in your life that prevents you from focusing on Jesus. What practical steps can you take this week to minimize that distraction? [01:05:17]
6. How can you incorporate the practice of seeking God’s guidance in your daily decisions? What is one decision you are facing where you can intentionally seek God’s direction? [01:09:28]
7. Reflect on a relationship in your life that may need healing. How can resetting your heart help you approach this relationship with love and forgiveness? [01:19:41]
Devotional
Day 1: Aligning Our Focus with God's Kingdom
In the hustle and bustle of daily life, it's easy to lose sight of what truly matters. Our focus can become scattered, drawn to the demands and distractions of the world. However, a purposeful reset of our focus is essential. By seeking God's kingdom and His righteousness above all else, we align our lives with His divine purposes. This alignment brings clarity and order, allowing everything else to fall into place. As we embark on this new year, let us strive to consistently seek and desire God more than ever before, ensuring that our focus remains steadfast on His eternal promises. [01:09:28]
"But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you." (Matthew 6:33, ESV)
Reflection: What specific distractions in your life are pulling your focus away from seeking God's kingdom? How can you intentionally redirect your attention towards His purposes today?
Day 2: Guarding the Heart Against Deception
Our hearts are the wellspring of our lives, enduring every experience and emotion we encounter. If left unguarded, they can become tainted by the lies and deceptions of the enemy. Proverbs 4:23 emphasizes the importance of guarding our hearts, for out of them flow the springs of life. A heart reset allows God to heal, remake, and restore us, enabling us to live lighter and love deeper. By inviting God into the innermost parts of our hearts, we allow Him to cleanse and renew us, freeing us from burdens and opening us to His transformative love. [01:17:20]
"Keep your heart with all vigilance, for from it flow the springs of life." (Proverbs 4:23, ESV)
Reflection: What lies or negative influences have you allowed to take root in your heart? How can you actively guard your heart against these deceptions and invite God's healing presence today?
Day 3: Desiring God Above All Else
Our desires often pull us towards the fleeting pleasures of this world, but we are called to desire God above all else. When our desires align with His will, we find true satisfaction and fulfillment. This reset of desires draws us closer to God, allowing us to experience the depth of His love and purpose for our lives. As we reset our desires, we open ourselves to the richness of a life lived in alignment with God's will, finding joy and contentment in His presence. [01:23:43]
"Whom have I in heaven but you? And there is nothing on earth that I desire besides you." (Psalm 73:25, ESV)
Reflection: What worldly desires are competing with your desire for God? How can you intentionally cultivate a deeper longing for His presence in your daily life?
Day 4: Embracing a New Life in Christ
This year, let us not settle for surface-level changes. Instead, allow God to cleanse and renew the very core of who we are. This transformation is not just about a new year; it's about embracing a new life lived in alignment with the Lord. By surrendering our old ways and embracing His transformative power, we open ourselves to the eternal peace and joy that only God can provide. This journey requires courage and commitment, but the reward is a life filled with His presence and purpose. [01:27:45]
"Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come." (2 Corinthians 5:17, ESV)
Reflection: What old habits or mindsets are hindering your spiritual growth? How can you actively embrace the new life that Christ offers and allow Him to transform you from the inside out?
Day 5: Seeking Eternal Peace and Joy
As we reset, we open ourselves to the eternal peace and joy that only God can provide. This is a daily battle, but the prize is worth it. By consistently seeking His presence and aligning our lives with His will, we experience a peace that surpasses all understanding and a joy that is unshakable. This journey requires intentionality and perseverance, but the reward is a life filled with His abundant grace and love. Let us commit to seeking His eternal peace and joy, trusting that He will guide us every step of the way. [01:28:20]
"You make known to me the path of life; in your presence there is fullness of joy; at your right hand are pleasures forevermore." (Psalm 16:11, ESV)
Reflection: In what areas of your life do you struggle to find peace and joy? How can you intentionally seek God's presence and trust in His promises to experience His eternal peace and joy today?
Quotes
I want to challenge you to be fully committed, to see what God has in store for you. And even as I'm challenging you to be fully committed, the first thing I want to challenge you to do is reset. Okay? I want to challenge you. To reset. Reset your focus. Reset your desire. And reset your heart. Reset your focus. Reset your desire. Reset your heart. [00:52:12] (40 seconds)
And because it wasn't maintained properly, it caused it to keep malfunctioning until it no longer worked in the game. And the solution was that it needed a reset. Let's define this word reset. This word reset means to start a process over again from the beginning. It means to return something to its original position, or to begin again, with a fresh perspective. Reset. [00:55:29] (35 seconds)
Sometimes when we've been playing this game of life and allowing the junk and the dirt of life to get in, and we're not maintaining our spiritual console, we get to a place to where we're not operating in the way that we were created to operate. We get to a place where we need to reset. [01:01:31] (24 seconds)
We have to reset our focus. And the thing about focus is when we're not focused on what our focus is, we will drift away from it. If you are not focused on what your focus is, inevitably you will drift away from it. This is how we wind up on a hamster wheel. [01:05:17] (26 seconds)
We have to reset our heart. Everything that we endure, our heart endures. Everything that we endure, our heart endures. And there may be things, and I'm sure that there are just a lot of the bumps, the bruises, and the scars that aren't apparent on the body, but they are apparent. And they're very visible in our hearts. [01:12:24] (33 seconds)
We need a heart reset. Proverbs 4 says, Keep and guard your heart with all vigilance and above all that you guard. For out of it, out of it flows the springs of life. ESV out of it says, out of it flows the issues of life. But he says, keep it and guard it above all that you guard. Guard your heart. [01:13:12] (32 seconds)
When we reset our heart, we discover that God is not just a part of our life. He is the very, the essence of our existence. Resetting our heart allows him to work in us. It allows him to heal us because some of us need to be healed. It allows him to remake us and to restore us. Resetting our heart. [01:18:06] (30 seconds)
We reset our, our focus. We reset our hearts. We have to reset our desires. Just like with our, our focus and our heart. If we are not actively pursuing God, if we are not actively pursuing his will, our desires start to change. Just like somebody who eats too much junk food. [01:21:55] (27 seconds)
It's so easy for us to desire the things of this world, but we are called to be not to be of this world. We just hear. This is it. We just, we're just passing through. We are in this world, not of this world. When we start affixing our desires to the things of this world, that's when things, things start to get off. [01:23:43] (23 seconds)
As we walk into 2025, let's just not aim for a life and aim for changes that just scratch the surface. This year, I'm challenging you to go deeper. Challenging you to do something that goes beyond the first 15 days of January. Allow the Lord to cleanse us and renew the very core of who we are. [01:27:45] (27 seconds)
Chatbot
-
I'm an AI bot trained only on this specific sermon. Do you have any questions about it?