Embracing Spiritual Renewal in the New Year

Devotional

Day 1: Embrace the Power of Jesus' Blood

The blood of Jesus is a profound source of protection and forgiveness, offering believers a spiritual covering that shields them from harm and cleanses them from sin. This divine grace and mercy are enduring, reminding us of God's unwavering love and commitment to our spiritual journey. Embracing the power of the blood means recognizing it as a source of strength and assurance, allowing it to guide and fortify us in our daily walk with God. As you reflect on this truth, consider how the blood of Jesus can be a constant reminder of your spiritual identity and the victory you have over the enemy's traps. [01:05:54]

Hebrews 9:14 (ESV): "How much more will the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without blemish to God, purify our conscience from dead works to serve the living God."

Reflection: In what areas of your life do you need to embrace the cleansing and protective power of Jesus' blood today?

Day 2: Trust in God's Provision

Matthew 6:25-34 teaches us not to be anxious about life's necessities, as God provides for all His creation. Trusting in God's provision allows us to release our worries and focus on His kingdom. This year, let go of anxiety and embrace faith, knowing that God will meet your needs. Trusting God over anxiety is a conscious decision to prioritize faith over fear, recognizing that worry and faith cannot coexist. As you navigate life's uncertainties, remember that God cares for the birds and the lilies, and He will surely care for you. [01:07:45]

Psalm 55:22 (ESV): "Cast your burden on the Lord, and he will sustain you; he will never permit the righteous to be moved."

Reflection: What specific worries can you cast upon God today, trusting Him to provide and sustain you?

Day 3: Prioritize Spiritual Growth

As we set goals for the new year, it's crucial to prioritize spiritual growth alongside physical and material aspirations. Spiritual health is foundational, and when we seek God's kingdom first, everything else falls into place. Make a conscious effort to nurture your spiritual life this year, ensuring that your relationship with God remains at the forefront of your priorities. This involves reassessing your New Year's resolutions to include spiritual goals that foster inner transformation, which will naturally reflect outwardly. [01:17:02]

Colossians 3:2 (ESV): "Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth."

Reflection: What specific spiritual goal can you set for yourself this year to ensure your spiritual growth is prioritized?

Day 4: Recognize Your Worth in God

Understanding your value in God's eyes is essential for living confidently and purposefully. God cares for you more than the birds of the air, and recognizing your worth in Him empowers you to refuse to lower yourself to meet others' expectations. Embrace your God-given value and let it guide your actions, knowing that you are cherished and valued by the Creator. This understanding allows you to live with a sense of purpose and dignity, rooted in the knowledge of your worth in God's eyes. [01:22:55]

1 Peter 2:9 (ESV): "But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light."

Reflection: How can you remind yourself of your God-given worth today, especially in situations where you feel undervalued?

Day 5: Walk in Faith

This year, walk in the fullness of faith, trusting God even when His plans are unclear. Faith requires persistence and patience, especially when circumstances don't make sense. Hold onto your faith, knowing that God is working behind the scenes for your good. Walking in faith means actively choosing to trust God's timing and His plans, even when they are not immediately evident. It is a call to action, urging believers to commit to spiritual growth throughout the year, beyond the initial enthusiasm of January. [01:35:54]

Habakkuk 2:3 (ESV): "For still the vision awaits its appointed time; it hastens to the end—it will not lie. If it seems slow, wait for it; it will surely come; it will not delay."

Reflection: What is one area of your life where you need to exercise patience and trust in God's timing today?

Sermon Summary

In this sermon, the focus is on embracing a "New Year, New Me" mindset, emphasizing spiritual renewal and prioritizing one's relationship with God. The message begins with a reflection on the power of the blood of Jesus, which offers protection and forgiveness, and transitions into a call to avoid anxiety and worry about life's uncertainties. Drawing from Matthew 6:25-34, the sermon encourages believers to trust in God's provision, as He cares for the birds and the lilies, and will surely care for us. The emphasis is on seeking first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, ensuring that spiritual priorities are not overshadowed by worldly concerns.

The sermon challenges the congregation to reassess their New Year's resolutions, highlighting the common neglect of spiritual goals in favor of physical and material ones. It stresses the importance of spiritual health, urging believers to focus on their inner transformation, which will naturally reflect outwardly. The message is clear: worry and faith cannot coexist, and believers are called to trust God fully, even when circumstances seem uncertain.

The sermon also touches on the importance of understanding one's value in God's eyes, encouraging individuals not to devalue themselves to meet others' expectations. It calls for a deeper faith, one that persists even when God's plans are not immediately clear. The sermon concludes with an invitation to seek God wholeheartedly, not just for material blessings but for a genuine relationship with Him. It is a call to action, urging believers to commit to spiritual growth throughout the year, beyond the initial enthusiasm of January.

Key Takeaways

1. 34 teaches us not to be anxious about life's necessities, as God provides for all His creation. Trusting in God's provision allows us to release our worries and focus on His kingdom. This year, let go of anxiety and embrace faith, knowing that God will meet your needs. [01:07:45]
3. Spiritual Priorities: As we set goals for the new year, it's crucial to prioritize spiritual growth alongside physical and material aspirations. Spiritual health is foundational, and when we seek God's kingdom first, everything else falls into place. Make a conscious effort to nurture your spiritual life this year.

4. Understanding Your Worth: Recognize your value in God's eyes and refuse to lower yourself to meet others' expectations. God cares for you more than the birds of the air, and understanding your worth in Him empowers you to live confidently and purposefully. Embrace your God-given value and let it guide your actions.

5. Faith in Action: This year, walk in the fullness of faith, trusting God even when His plans are unclear. Faith requires persistence and patience, especially when circumstances don't make sense. Hold onto your faith, knowing that God is working behind the scenes for your good.

** [67:45]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[65:54] - The Power of the Blood
[66:58] - Scripture Reading: Matthew 6:25-34
[67:45] - Trust Over Anxiety
[68:41] - Prayer for Guidance
[77:02] - Spiritual Priorities for the New Year
[80:15] - Letting Go of Worry
[81:08] - Recognizing Your Worth
[82:55] - Embracing Your Value
[89:13] - Faith Over Fear
[92:52] - Abraham's Faith Journey
[95:54] - Faith in Action
[103:00] - Seeking God First
[105:05] - Trusting God in Uncertainty
[108:40] - Invitation to Faith and Commitment

Bible Study Guide

Observation Questions

What does Matthew 6:25-34 say about the value of human life compared to the birds and lilies? How does this relate to God's provision? [01:06:58]
According to the sermon, what are some common New Year's resolutions that people focus on, and what spiritual goals are often neglected? [01:08:41]
How does the sermon describe the relationship between worry and faith? What does it suggest about their coexistence? [01:43:54]

Interpretation Questions

In what ways does the sermon suggest that understanding one's worth in God's eyes can impact a person's life choices and self-esteem? [01:22:55]
How does the sermon interpret the phrase "seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness" in the context of setting priorities for the new year? [01:37:46]
What does the sermon imply about the role of faith when God's plans are unclear or when circumstances seem challenging? [01:35:54]

Application Questions

Reflect on your current New Year's resolutions. Are there spiritual goals you have overlooked? How can you incorporate them into your plans for the year? [01:08:41]
Consider a situation in your life where you are experiencing anxiety. How can you apply the principle of trusting in God's provision as described in Matthew 6:25-34? [01:07:45]
Think about a time when you have devalued yourself to meet others' expectations. How can you remind yourself of your worth in God's eyes in similar situations? [01:22:55]
Identify an area in your life where you struggle to trust God's plan. What steps can you take to strengthen your faith and trust in Him, even when His plans are not clear? [01:35:54]
How can you make seeking God a priority in your daily routine? What specific actions can you take to ensure that your spiritual growth is not overshadowed by worldly concerns? [01:37:46]
Reflect on a recent worry or fear. How can you replace that worry with faith, and what practical steps can you take to trust God more fully in that area? [01:43:54]
What is one tangible way you can seek a deeper relationship with God this year, beyond just seeking material blessings? [01:48:40]

Sermon Clips

"But what they was trying to tell you is that because of the blood that was on you. That every trick and trap that the enemy tried to do. It couldn't touch you because you was covered. A lot of blood. Anybody ever had big mama Nana and them plead the blood over your life? You didn't understand it then. But aren't you glad that that blood that they pleaded years ago. Is still. Covering you today. Is there anybody here that can testify that I'm covered?" [01:03:59] (29 seconds)

"Therefore I tell you, do not be anxious about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink, nor about your body, what you will put on. Is not life more than food and the body more than clothing? Look at the birds of the air. They neither sow nor reap or gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they?" [01:06:34] (34 seconds)

"Therefore don't be anxious, saying, what shall we eat or what shall we drink or what shall we wear? For the Gentiles seek after these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them all. But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you. Therefore don't be anxious about tomorrow, for tomorrow be anxious for itself. Tomorrow has its own trouble." [01:07:45] (39 seconds)

"Many of us begin the new year by making resolutions of all sorts and whims we resolve ourselves to do this not to do this according to researchers the most popular resolution this year are number one to save money eat healthier exercise more spend more time with family and friends to quit smoking or some other habit they may have others resolutions include starting a new hobby traveling more than you ever have before surprisingly or not so surprising what's not included in these lists are spending more time with God studying God's word more or a deeper prayer life it would seem that what people are more focused on is their physical health and well -being and not the well -being of their spiritual lives" [01:14:33] (55 seconds)

"Because many times we devalue ourselves. To fit the needs of people. Who have low thought processes. Of what's valuable. They don't know how to handle valuable stuff. And so we go down to their level. But not this year. This year. You're going to have to understand my worth. Thank you. I'm glad you got it. I'm glad. Thank you. You're going to have to understand. That you have to treat me. As valuable as that. Because the God. That takes care of the birds. In the air. He will take care of me. This new year. New me. You can't wear. You got to remember. You're valuable." [01:22:50] (76 seconds)

"And this is the year where it will make less sense than any other year. But you're going to have to hold on to it with everything in you. Because this is a year that your faith is going to bring you to things that you're not going to be able to do. That people say God wouldn't do. God ain't going to do that. God don't operate like that. He don't operate like that for you. He going to do it for me. I got enough faith that listen, I just believe that God's going to do something in this church that we ain't going to have room enough to be in here." [01:35:41] (47 seconds)

"First 34 says this, without all the theological stuff, here's what it says. Don't worry about tomorrow. You got enough to worry about today. Because some of us are so worried about tomorrow, you missing God today. God's doing today. Because God will take care of tomorrow. Tomorrow has enough trouble by itself. Why bring tomorrow's trouble into today? Today, we're going to focus on what God is doing today. And today, I truly believe, today, that God wants to turn your worry around. Worry and faith don't really go together." [01:43:00] (66 seconds)

"That if it's truly going to be a new year new you you got to open your mouth and you got to tell God what you need you got to tell God the desire of your heart and then not worry about it any longer that he'll work it out he'll fix it it's not up to you to know how it's not up to you to know when it's not up to you to know why it's just up to you to have faith so before I start the prayer I need you to open your own mouth and begin to talk to God for yourself begin to pray even now tell God what you need and tell God what you want not just you at the altar those sitting in pews begin to have that conversation with God that God I needed to be a new year I needed to be a new me I've been through trials and tribulations I've had heartache and I've had pain I've had disappointments I've had failures but God I just trust you today I trust and believe that this is going to be the best year matter of fact it's going to be the most blessed year of my very life" [01:55:28] (85 seconds)

"Almighty God, our heavenly Father, who of thy tender mercy did give thy only son, Jesus Christ, to suffer death upon the cross for our redemption, who made thereby his oblation of himself, once offered a full, perfect, and sufficient sacrifice, oblation and satisfaction for the sins of the whole world. And did institute, and his holy gospel command us to continue a perpetual memory of his precious death until his coming again, hear us, O merciful Father, we humbly beseech thee, and grant that we, receiving these creatures of bread and wine, according to thy son, our Savior, Jesus Christ, holy institution, in remembrance of his death and passion, may be partakers of his most blessed body and blood, who on the same night when he was betrayed, he took bread, when he had given thanks, he broke it, and gave it to his disciples, saying, take eat." [02:17:19] (46 seconds)

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