“Here is my advice: It would be good for you to finish what you started a year ago.”        2 Corinthians 8:10

As 2019 approaches, now is a good time to do a check-up on the goals You set out to accomplish and the aspirations you had when the year was fresh as a daisy and frigid as ice.

For those of us who take their cues by living life through the lens of Scripture, we have this mandate that Paul gave his friends from Corinth: Finish what you start. If we prayerfully established our goals in the first place, we won’t have to second guess ourselves. But it’s not a bad idea to re-submit these goals to the Lord in prayer, laying them at His feet and asking for affirmation concerning them.

How do we know what He is saying?

His peace is our guide.

Let the peace of Christ [the inner calm of one who walks daily with Him] be the controlling factor in your hearts [deciding and settling questions that arise]. To this peace indeed you were called as members in one body [of believers]. And be thankful [to God always]. Colossians 3: 15 Amplified Bible

The peace of Christ either confirms or challenges the decisions we have made, the priorities we have established, and the objectives of our lives. We have to sit at His feet long enough to let that peace settle in if it’s going to. We have to know what His peace feels like in the first place, so we can recognize its absence.

When peace has eluded us, we know we have stepped aside from His perspective in some way. We simply go to Him, repent if necessary, and set ourselves aright, back on His path of peace.

So let’s spend some time evaluating our 2018 New Year’s Resolutions and make them our 2019 Resolutions!

Perhaps life has gotten in the way of your plans. Maybe it’s time to move forward in spite of your set backs.

Ready to finish what you started? Pray this plain and simple prayer!

Father,

I started 2018 with great intentions; the year has rolled on and stuff has happened. I recognize that not everything that happens in this world is Your will, yet You have promised to turn it into something genuinely Good. I thank You that You are working to recycle the things that have held me back this year into things that will propel me forward even more.

I lay before You the goals I had hoped to achieve in 2018, and I ask that You prune those goals until they are a reflection of Your best for me at this time in my life. Confirm Your good plan with the peace Your Spirit gives me. 

With Your help, Lord, I am determined to dive deeper into my callings. Help me, Lord, to shut off distractions, to stop looking to the left and to the right, and to keep my focus straight ahead on the goals You’ve laid out for me. Give me boldness and confidence in these endeavors. 

Lord, I want to join with Your Spirit and accomplish Your will for my life. I know You won’t do it for me! But You will do it with me! So I employ the generous help of Your Spirit, and today I will roll up my sleeves and get cracking on the things You’ve called me to do!

In Jesus’ Name,
Amen!