Preparing for the New Year

5. January 2009 by Bernice Davis.

Hello: Happy New Year: 

Before we get back into our study let me just share with you some of my New Year goals. Each year, I write out a list of the things that I want to accomplish for the New Year.   I believe in “writing the vision and making it plain.”   I don’t make the list too overbearing or too “out there” but I do reach for the impossible and I do dream big for I believe that all things are possible if we only believe.  But I am also aware that whatever I put before the Lord I have to be willing to work towards it.  Things are not just going to happen.   The bible teaches that “faith without works is dead.”   

While I will not go into the specifics of my list because I want to keep it private because it involves other people, I will give you a general overview of what I do. 1.     I make my goals in three areasa.   

Spiritual                                                            

i.      I create a certain prayer time and bible reading time everyday that I can meet.   I make this goal realistic.   If you are not use to praying an hour a day or reading God’s word an hour daily, do not make that commitment.  You will find that it will be very difficult to commit to.   Start slow and reasonable and it will increase and become a habit.                                                           

ii.      There are certain subjects that I attempt to perfect or learn through the word.  This year I aam attempting to master the book of Matthew and master the period of Israel called the Monarchy.   I will spend the entire year reading and gathering material on those two subjects.                                                      

iii.      Meditation time-   I always schedule some time just to meditate on God’s word.  NO concordances, no dictionaries, no study materials, just meditation.  Reading for reading sakes.   For this task, I actually use one of those Get through the bible in a year books.  I used the chronological one that takes you from Genesis to Revelation and it has the date from Jan 1 to Dec 31 on what your reading should be so it is very easy to follow.  It also allows me to constantly read through God’s word afresh each year.                                                         

iv.      Fasting-  I am getting ready to start a 21 day fast.  I always like to give God the first 21 days of my New Year in fasting and prayer.   If you are not use to fasting and would like to try it, please start slow and make a commitment of something you can keep but at the same time it must be a sacrifice.   Those of you that have medical conditions should consult with your doctor and share your plans with them before you attempt any type of fast.   Should you want more information about what I am doing, please email me and I will share with you personally what my fast entails.  I also try to fast at least 3 times a year.  They are all different and are guided by where I am spiritually and the needs of people around me.                                                         

v.      Outreach-  My spiritual goals always include some type of community outreach that will help me be a witness or help win souls to the Lord Jesus Christ.   Currently, I function as a volunteer chaplain at a local women’s prison in my state and I can be found there every Second Sunday of the month preaching the word of God.  It is so rewarding.  Also my business contributes to community outreaches and events periodically throughout the year.  I intend to work with a newly formed foundation this year in their efforts to provide services to youths and the elderly which I have always had a heart for.  b.    Physical                                                            

i.      I have weight goals that I am attempting to reach through “eating right” and working out.  Currently I worked out 5 days a week for an hour Monday-Friday.                                                           

ii.      Time for ME-   Sometimes I just shut away and maybe eat dinner by myself or go to a movie or get by the water.  I love the water.  It allows me to focus inward and my goal is to make sure I am bringing balance in my life.   Take time for YOU!!!!!!!!!   In this life, people pull on us from so many areas.  The needs are as diverse as the people and if we allow them, they can drain us and we will end up in a depression.   Even Jesus teaches that we must love our neighbor as ourself.  In other words, don’t take care of someone else’s needs and problems at the expense of neglecting yours. 

c.    Financial                                                            

 i.      Debt Free Living- 3 years ago, my husband set us out on a journey to get out of debt.   I am so happy to announce that this past December 31, was the third year.   My husband and I are personally debt free except for a mortgage and utilities bills.   Our trucks and cars are paid for, our credit card debt is gone, our student loans are gone, etc.   We are practicing living debt free.  If we cannot buy it cash or pay the whole balance when the credit card bill comes, we do not purchase it.     It feels so good to know that those bills will no longer be coming.                                                         

ii.      Savings-   We always put a little aside for saving.  According to some of the financial experts that we have learned from, we are currently taking their advice and now that we are debt free, we are accumulating in our savings enough money to handle one years expenses which includes mortgage and utilities just “in case.” 

    iii.      Investments-  In our economy, we are not investing in the stock market though we do have investments there that we are holding on to waiting for them to recover, but now that we are out of debt, we will start back contributing to  our retirement fund. Some of you may say I can’t afford to do any of this.  These steps came from years of work.  Just begin your journey this year.   For some of us, it will just be working on getting out of debt.  We can all stop excess spending.  Even if we can’t pay a lot off of our debt right now because of the economy, you will be surprised how just cutting back on things as eating out, bringing lunch, conserving energy at home to cut utilities bills, etc.  It all adds up and that extra money saved can be used to pay towards existing debt.    Okay, I’m sure I’m going to get a lot of questions.   So email me and I’ll address some more things that I am doing on tomorrow.  Just think about what I have written.  Each one of us has to do what works for us.  What I do know is that at the end of the year, seeing these goals accomplished and come true is phenomenal.   

Stay encouraged!!!! 

All is well, everything is safe, and everything is as it should be.

 Don’t forget to pray and read God’s word daily. 

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