"For the Word of God is alive and powerful. It is sharper than the sharpest two-edged sword, cutting between soul and spirit, between joint and marrow. It exposes our innermost thoughts and desires." Hebrews 4:12 (NLT)

The first day of each New Year carries with it a myriad of emotions that often lead to promises and resolutions. Some commit to lose weight. Some commit to exercise more. Some desire a more disciplined walk with the Lord. And some want to be better wives and mothers. We all want God's highest and best for the New Year.

But God knows too that these promises and resolutions are often grounded not in His Word but in our flesh. We focus on the end result and not on the process. There is nothing wrong with wanting to lose weight and exercise. It is a wonderful goal to be a "better" wife and mother. It is admirable to commit to daily Bible reading and quiet time. But we must be aware of making these things a daily duty we check off.

Committing to a New Year's Resolution will not necessarily bring profound lasting life change. Committing your heart to God...studying, learning, and praying His Word...that is what will bring eternal, lasting life transformation.

I invite you to join me this year in writing a New Year's Prayer. To begin, examine your New Year's Resolution and prayerfully ask the Lord to reveal the heart issue behind it. Ask Him to lead you through His Word to verses that directly address what you hear.

Listen to the power of God’s promise in our key verse today: "For the Word of God is alive and powerful. It is sharper than the sharpest two-edged sword, cutting between soul and spirit, between joint and marrow. It exposes our innermost thoughts and desires" (Hebrews 4:12, NLT).

Perhaps you want to lose weight because you feel unworthy of love due to your past, your present, or choices you have made. Find verses on God's great love for you. Believe and trust His promises that He created you just the way you are because He has a great plan and purpose for your life that only you can accomplish.

Perhaps you want to spend more time in the Word but you are too busy...you just can't fit it into your day. Find Scriptures on God's wisdom and priorities. Proverbs is a great place to start.

Perhaps you want to be a better wife and mother, but you have a temper that flares or a tongue that cuts like a knife. Open God's Word and find verses addressing speech, self-control, and patience. Proverbs and James are great places to start.

Once you have found your verses, take each one and personalize it. Then join them together, along with your own words to make a prayer. Copy your prayer into a journal or notebook.

Listen to God's promise in Isaiah 55:10-11 (NLT):

The rain and snow come down from the heavens
and stay on the ground to water the earth.
They cause the grain to grow,
producing seed for the farmer
and bread for the hungry.

It is the same with my Word.
I send it out, and it always produces fruit.
It will accomplish all I want it to,
and it will prosper everywhere I send it.

Friend, Isaiah 55 is God's PROMISE to you. If you pray His Word over your life...over your heart...over your home, He will be FAITHFUL to prosper it and make it bear fruit!
Heavenly Father, invade my heart as I seek to surrender my life to You in 2011.  Lead me through Your Word, show me the truths and promises You have for me.  Help me to write them into a prayer for You today.  I love You, Lord, and desire nothing more than to live a life fully surrendered to You. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

***

Related Resources:

Do You Know Him?

Visit Wendy's blog to read her New Year's prayer for you

Enter to win a "Living Truth" New Year’s Gift Pack! From your comments on her blog, Wendy will choose two women to receive a New Year's Gift Pack including: The One Year Chronological Bible, a copy of her Bible Study e-book, All Things Wise and Wonderful: Applying God's Wisdom in Everyday Life, and a Starbucks gift card so you can escape to a quiet place to spend time in the Word with Him.

Hidden Joy in a Dark Corner: The Transforming Power of God's Story by Wendy Blight

All Things Wise and Wonderful: Applying God's Wisdom in Everyday Life (E-Book) by Wendy Blight

When you purchase resources through Proverbs 31 Ministries, you touch eternity
because your purchase supports the many areas of hope-giving ministry we provide
at no cost. We wish we could, but we simply can't compete with prices offered by
huge online warehouses. Therefore, we are extremely grateful for each and
every purchase you make with us. Thank you!

Application Steps:
Write your New Year's prayer, print it out, tuck it away in your Bible, and pray it often.

Reflections:
Read Psalm 139. This is the very Word of God written for me. I believe what it says. My Father created me, and He loves me greatly!

Power Verses:

Psalm 139:16b, "...all the days ordained for me were written in your book before one of them came to be." (NIV)
© 2010 by Wendy Blight. All rights reserved.