Have you ever met anyone who desires a horrible New Year?  Ever met anyone who resolves to make the New Year one in which they experience new levels of misery, loneliness, poverty, and hopelessness?  Of course you haven't. 

Every sane and rationally thinking person on the planet wants a great '08.  They want their year to be prosperous and successful in all areas of life: physically, emotionally, spiritually, relationally, and financially.  Did you know that God wants that for you and me too!!  He used those words - "prosperous and success" - when speaking to Joshua about a new chapter in his life... a New Year, so to speak. 

HOW TO HAVE A GREAT YEAR

As with Joshua, prosperity and success are not automatic.  They are conditional blessings based on our relationship with one thing in particular...God's Word.  What is the key to a great '08?  The key is our response to the Word of God. 

1. Read His Word.  The Bible is the all time number one best seller... yet so many do not read it.  Many people who call themselves Christians can't find the Book of Matthew with a Seeing Eye Dog.  Well, that may be pushing it a little far, but you get the point.  If you want a great '08, read His Word everyday.  Get up 15 minutes early to spend time with God in His Word.

2. Meditate on His Word.  This comes when you take a verse of Scripture and mull it over in your mind.  Meditation is like a cow chewing the cud.  A cow eats the grass... and then regurgitates it to chew on it some more.  That is a good picture of meditating on God's Word.  Scripture is filled with the juice of truth and power.  When I meditate, I squeeze the juice out to get the full benefit.

3. Speak His Word.  God told Joshua that His Word was not to depart from his mouth.  Joshua was to speak it... he was to speak the very words of God.  This is so important and something we so often fail to do.  Whatever the situation, God has a Word for it.

            A. When troubles come into your life like a flood, speak His Word to the
        problem: "No weapon that is formed against me shall prosper" (Is. 54:17).

            B. When fear engulfs you, speak His Word to the fear:  "You will keep him in  
        perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on You: because he trusts in You" (Is.
        26:3).

            C. When discouragement fills your heart, speak His Word to that situation:   
       "Why are you in despair, O my soul? And why have you become disturbed     
         within me? Hope in God, for I shall yet praise Him, the help of my   
         countenance, and my God" (Ps. 42:11).  Weeping may last for the night, but
         a shout of joy comes in the morning" (Ps. 30:5). 

4. Obey His Word.  Do you know how God tests to see if you really love Him?  If you obey Him, that is how.  Talk is cheap.  Jesus said, "If you love Me, you will keep my commandments" (Jn. 14:15).  Remember, blessing from God is not in knowing His Word, it is in doing His Word - "If you know these things, you are blessed if you do them" (Jn. 13:17).      

Love,

Jeff Schreve
Pastor
www.fromhisheart.org
jeff@fromhisheart.org
1-800-985-1530