Embracing Growth and Renewal for the New Year

Devotional

Day 1: Embrace the Courage to Grow

Reflecting on the past year, it's important to recognize the new experiences that have contributed to personal growth. Whether it was learning a new skill or entering a new life stage, these moments are significant. They demonstrate courage and a willingness to step out of comfort zones in a world where many remain stuck in routines. Celebrating these achievements is not just about acknowledging success but also about recognizing the bravery it took to pursue them. Embracing new experiences is a testament to one's growth and the courage to face the unknown. [08:05]

"Behold, I am doing a new thing; now it springs forth, do you not perceive it? I will make a way in the wilderness and rivers in the desert." (Isaiah 43:19, ESV)

Reflection: What new experience from the past year are you most proud of, and how did it challenge you to grow beyond your comfort zone?

Day 2: Recognize the Beauty in Your Scars

Life's challenges and pains shape us, leaving dents and bruises that remind us of our humanity. These experiences, whether personal setbacks or painful events, are crucial to acknowledge. They serve as reminders of the need for healing and redemption. While some dents may leave permanent marks, they also open the door for God's redemptive work in our lives. Embracing these scars allows us to see the beauty in our journey and the transformative power of God's grace. [12:06]

"For I will restore health to you, and your wounds I will heal, declares the Lord, because they have called you an outcast: 'It is Zion, for whom no one cares!'" (Jeremiah 30:17, ESV)

Reflection: What is one scar or challenge in your life that you can invite God to use for His redemptive work today?

Day 3: Learn Resilience Through Mistakes

Mistakes are an inevitable part of our journey, teaching us resilience and humility. Like rebuilding a transmission multiple times, these errors remind us of the importance of repentance and the need to put off our old selves. Embracing a renewed mind and spirit is essential for growth. Mistakes are not failures but opportunities to learn and grow stronger. They teach us to rely on God's grace and to strive for a better version of ourselves. [16:08]

"Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance." (James 1:2-3, ESV)

Reflection: What is one mistake you have made recently, and how can you use it as an opportunity to grow in resilience and humility?

Day 4: Seek Revival and Fresh Obedience

As we look to the future, it's a time to embrace new beginnings and seek revival. This involves fresh obedience to God, stepping into new levels of faith and action. God calls us to take off the old mind and put on the new, to be revived and awakened to His purposes. Embracing this call means being open to change and willing to follow God's lead into uncharted territories. It's about being part of something larger than ourselves and allowing God to use us in new and exciting ways. [23:36]

"Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me." (Psalm 51:10, ESV)

Reflection: What is one area of your life where you feel God is calling you to step into fresh obedience and revival?

Day 5: Step Boldly into New Adventures

This year, commit to doing things differently by stepping out in faith. Whether it's taking risks, helping others, or discovering God's plan for your life, there's no limit to what the future can hold. Embracing new adventures requires trust in God's guidance and a willingness to explore the unknown. It's about being open to the possibilities and allowing God to lead you on a journey of discovery and growth. [25:38]

"Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths." (Proverbs 3:5-6, ESV)

Reflection: What is one new adventure or risk you feel God is inviting you to take this year, and how can you prepare to step out in faith?

Sermon Summary

As we stand on the brink of a new year, it's a time to reflect on the past and prepare for the future. The book of Haggai encourages us to "consider our ways," urging us to take a holistic view of our lives. This reflection isn't just about setting goals or making resolutions; it's about understanding the deeper aspects of our journey. In 2023, what new experiences did you embrace? Whether it was learning a new skill, like rebuilding an engine, or stepping into a new life stage, these moments are worth celebrating. They signify growth and courage in a world where many remain stuck in routines.

But life isn't just about new achievements; it's also about acknowledging the dents and bruises we've accumulated. These are the challenges and pains that have shaped us. Whether it's a personal setback or a painful experience, recognizing these dents is crucial. They remind us of our humanity and the need for healing and redemption. Sometimes, these dents leave permanent marks, but they also open the door for God's redemptive work in our lives.

Mistakes are another part of our journey. They are the errors we make, often repeatedly, as we strive to learn and grow. Like rebuilding a transmission multiple times, our mistakes teach us resilience and humility. They remind us of the importance of repentance and the need to put off our old selves, as Ephesians teaches, and embrace a renewed mind and spirit.

As we look to 2024, it's a time to embrace new beginnings. This isn't just about personal growth but also about being part of something larger. Revivals and awakenings are about fresh obedience to God, stepping into new levels of faith and action. God calls us to take off the old mind and put on the new, to be revived and awakened to His purposes. This year, let's commit to doing things differently, to stepping out in faith, and to seeing how God might use us in new and exciting ways.

Key Takeaways

1. Embrace New Experiences: Reflect on the new things you did in 2023. Whether it's learning a new skill or entering a new life stage, these experiences are significant. They show growth and courage in a world where many remain stuck in routines. Celebrate these moments as they signify personal development and bravery. [08:05]
2. Acknowledge Your Dents: Life's challenges and pains shape us. Recognizing these dents is crucial as they remind us of our humanity and the need for healing. Sometimes, these dents leave permanent marks, but they also open the door for God's redemptive work in our lives. [12:06]
3. Learn from Mistakes: Mistakes are part of our journey. They teach us resilience and humility. Like rebuilding a transmission multiple times, our mistakes remind us of the importance of repentance and the need to put off our old selves and embrace a renewed mind and spirit. [16:08]
4. Seek Revival and Awakening: As we look to 2024, it's a time to embrace new beginnings. Revivals and awakenings are about fresh obedience to God, stepping into new levels of faith and action. God calls us to take off the old mind and put on the new, to be revived and awakened to His purposes. [23:36]
5. Step into New Adventures: This year, commit to doing things differently. Step out in faith and see how God might use you in new and exciting ways. Whether it's taking risks, helping others, or discovering God's plan for your life, there's no limit to what 2024 can look like. [25:38]
** [25:38]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[01:37] - Reflecting on Baptisms and Growth
[08:05] - Embracing New Experiences
[12:06] - Acknowledging Life's Dents
[14:28] - The Power of Redemption
[16:08] - Learning from Mistakes
[18:28] - Renewing the Mind
[20:09] - Planning for New Adventures
[21:32] - Embracing Change
[23:36] - Revival and Awakening
[24:35] - God's Call for 2024
[25:38] - Stepping into New Adventures

Sermon Clips

"Haggai says, I'm asking you and I to consider our ways to step back and get a holistic understanding of what 2023 was like and are we happy with it? Are we not happy with it?" [00:07:50] (14 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

"When we don't wrestle with our pain, we can't get to a new place. Haggai says, give careful thought to your ways. Give careful thought to the ways in which you've been dented. In fact, some of the things that haven't gone right in your life, it could be traced back to dents that you picked up years ago that you've not looked at." [00:12:30] (23 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

"And it's okay to believe that. It's also okay to believe that there's a redeemer who can redeem in 2024 and who can do for you things that you can't do for yourself, who can offer healings." [00:14:34] (13 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

"Do you know the mistakes you've made? Are you recognizing them? Are you admitting them? Repentance is when you say it, and you bring it out. When you look at the old of 2023, and you say, this is the end of the world, this is not what I want in 2024." [00:18:10] (18 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

"The book of Ephesians talks about our old mind, the way we used to operate, and the new mind. Here's what it says. Put off your old self, which belongs to your former manner of life, and is corrupt through deceitful desires, and to be renewed in the spirit of your minds, and to put on the new self, created after the likeness of God." [00:18:28] (22 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

"Revivals and awakenings are very similar, but they're a bit different as I see it. Revivals is when people who have a walk with Christ, they come into a building and they get revived. Their faith gets revived. Their spirit gets revived. It's great. It's wonderful. That's what I want more for my life." [00:22:52] (17 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip | )

"God wants you to take off the old mind, to put on the new mind, to be revived, to be awakened, and to do things you haven't been doing he wants you to do and to stop doing things he doesn't want you to do that you've been doing." [00:24:46] (19 seconds) ( | | )

"That's what we're going to do as a church in 2024. We're going to get there and we're going to do some aggressive things and we're going to honor God the whole way and we're going to try new things and we're going to see just how God may use us in new ways in 2024. I can't wait to be a part of it with you." [00:25:15] (18 seconds) ( | | )

"What if this year you pushed yourself, got outside your comfort zone, helped other people, went somewhere extraordinary? What if you discovered what God wants for your life? Made new friends and laughed until you couldn't breathe? There is no limit to what 2024 can look like for you." [00:25:53] (21 seconds) ( | | )

Ask a question about this sermon

Chatbot

Transcript

What was the most surprising thing in this sermon?

Were there any personal stories shared?