January 18, 2025
Written by First Lady Shanan C. Burress
With every new year, comes a renewed hope and a look toward what we pray will be a brighter and better year. By mid-year, we’ll check in, but how are you feeling today about the hope and expectation that the year 2025 will bring? Prayerfully, you are still feeling hopeful and excited, and settled about what God has promised to do for you in this new year.
Before we get too far into the year, consider what plans and commitments you are making to ensure that your hope in God’s promises remain at a high level. It’s great to start off the year with declarations and resolutions but by mid year, most of us have long forgotten about the declaration and have somehow slipped back into our old way of thinking that doesn’t consider our resolution at all. It’s not uncommon to start the year on a high note with God and then slowly become less focused on Jesus as the issues of life begin to pile up.
So, now what? We are almost at the end of the first month of the year and it’s time to put some action behind those faith statements that you declared and decreed on the last day of last year. James chapter 2 reminds us that faith without works is dead. Faith by itself is not enough. We can have the faith the size of a grain of a mustard seed but without works or actions, we can’t expect to accomplish all that God has purposed for our lives.
Although at this very moment, I feel unmotivated to do anything, my faith in God is reminding me by way of Romans chapter 12: “Don’t burn out; keep yourselves fueled and aflame. Be alert servants of the Master, cheerfully expectant. Don’t quit in hard times; pray all the harder.” (Romans 12:11-12 MSG). In other words, don’t be lazy, and keep working eagerly for the Lord.
I declared that this year would be different from last year and prior years and the only way it will change is if I stay close to God, listening for His voice and direction. But listening is not enough, I have to then act on what He’s leading me to do.
So, now what? What are you going to do right now that will set you up to receive the fullness of God’s joy, God’s peace that surpasses understanding, and God’s restoration in all areas of your life?
