New Year/New Plan
All summer long I take notes about my garden. I write down the plants that I paired in containers and if they grew well together or if one dominated the other. I take note of pest or disease problems. If I used a new fertilizer or potting soil I jot down their pros or cons.
During the cold winter months I absorb myself in the new seed catalogs that are arriving. I get the same feeling reading them as I did as a child looking through the JC Penney and Sears Christmas catalogs. I take notes of all the plants I would like to try this year. After I have made a list; I slowly pick the top five. From there I begin planning my flower garden. I love to sit and sketch out the location of my new “babies” among the established perennials. I always leave room for my favorite annuals; Geraniums and white Alyssum.
There’s another type of list I make in the winter months. It is a tradition in our family. In January we make a list of prayer requests. Each person writes down the things they are believing God for in the new year. We compile the list onto one sheet of paper and make copies for everyone. These are the things that we agree together in prayer for our family throughout the year. (Matthew 18:19.) At Christmas time we look back on our list and praise God for the things that He has done in our lives. We cross off those things from the list that He has answered. We thank Him for those things that we continue to believe for because we are one year closer to their fulfillment.
“But He said, What is impossible with men is possible with God.” (Luke 18:27)
I have read that verse countless times over the years but the other day I saw it in a whole new light. The first two letters of the word, “impossible” is, ” i” and” m.” Think back with me for a moment to our grade school English class. What does the contraction, “ I’m” stand for? It stands for, “I am.”
“Jesus answered, ‘I tell you the truth, before Abraham was even born, I AM!” (John 8:58)
It occurred to me that many times in life I have looked at situations that seemed hopeless. All I could see was, “impossible” but, God was saying “I AM possible!”
“And you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.” (John 8:32)
I know what it is like to get medical facts from a doctor that says, “You will never recover from this.” I know what it is like to see the facts of a bank statement that says, “You are over drawn.” John 8:32 says, “Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.” God’s truth over comes mans facts. His truth is His Word. What does the Word say about our health, finances, peace, strength, wisdom?
When God appeared to Moses in the burning bush Moses asked Him, “…they will ask me, ‘What is his name? Then what should I tell them?” The next verse says, “God replied to Moses, ‘I AM WHO I AM, Say this to the people of Israel: I AM has sent me to you.” (Exodus 3:13, 14) God used the name, “I AM” because our human minds cannot comprehend all that He is. If we were to give Him a single name it would limit Him in our minds and thus, limit our ability to believe. “I AM” is everything we will ever need. I Am healing, I AM provision, I AM safety, I AM wisdom, I AM peace.
“By His divine power the Lord has given us everything we need for life and godliness through the knowledge of the one who called us by His own honor and glory.” (2 Peter 1:3)
What is it that is impossible in your life today? Whatever it is, I encourage you to take time in His Word today. Let the Holy Spirit guide you into His truth. Remove the, “im” and see the “possible” instead. Let’s start out this new year trusting Him and His Word more than ever before. When we do, this year will be the best year we have ever known.