It’s That Time of Year

​It’s hard to believe after this week, there’s only one more Sunday in this year.  I usually ask myself, where did the year go, but this year has been different from the usual.  It’s been a very trying year full of a few ups and very deep downs.  It is usually about now that I begin to assess the year.  I am not referring to the events of the year, but how did I do in achieving my spiritual goals that I set for myself in the beginning of the year?  Did I make progress in loving my neighbor as myself?  Did I do my best to shine the light of Christ into the lives of others?  Have I grown in showing compassion for the poor and homeless? Did I handle my hurts and disappointments with a view toward glorifying God?  Did I add to my knowledge of the Word of God?  Did I achieve my goal of living to God’s glory instead of my own?  These are just a handful of the many, many important questions I ask myself each year.
 
I began doing this when I realized long ago that I was living each year without any spiritual goals - as if God didn’t matter.  I pondered this and concluded to do so is to live not with a view towards God, but a view towards myself.  It’s when I reasoned that it is God who has blessed my years, and it is God who takes me from one year to another, that I changed my perspective.  If you have realized you are in a similar situation, I encourage you to sit down and map out your spiritual goals for the coming year.  I assure you if you do, you will notice your year will be full of blessings beyond words.  Our God loves us and is faithful in all things.  He wants to bless us to live spiritually abundant lives.  Glorify Him.
 
Blessings!
 
Lamar