​New Year Anticipation

​by Patty Morwood

Do you plan spiritually for your new year; do you give thought to what could be your spiritual focus?
I do, and I begin by searching Scripture for a passage that says to me “spend time here”.  Though none of us knows what the New Year brings, we can prepare for the work the Lord Jesus will inevitably do in us by cultivating a submissive heart.
My Scripture choice illustrates where I want to grow in the coming months; they are lines I can meditate on and pray about … and then walk with the Lord learning to become. 
Below is a cascading thought-sentence that augments Galatians 5:22 - 23, my spiritual focus for 2017.  Every day I will meditate and pray and cooperate with the Holy Spirit… so these character qualities can be grown in me.   
Beginning January 1 and every morning following, I will rise early-early, when the sky is still deep and black, and make a cup of tea.  My Bible and prayer journal will be where I left them the day before… open and ready. 
And I will submit myself to the Lord and prayerfully choose ...
Love
                No occasion justifies hatred
                No injustice warrants bitterness
                I choose love because today I will live for God and love what He loves
Joy
                I refuse to nurture a critical spirit
                I refuse to blame or hurt
                ​I choose joy because today I will remember who I am in Christ
Peace
                Living every day cognizant that I am a forgiven woman changes everything
                Extending that same reconciliation and grace to others honors God’s name
                I choose to forgive so I may show what peace actually and truly is
Patience
                No failure is beyond God’s grace
                His patience with me shows me how to serve others
                I choose patience, for God has blessed me with His Holy Spirit
Kindness
                Cynicism and unkindness deny God’s desires for me, a woman of His own choosing
                Hypocrisy destroys my witness
                I will be kind for such is God’s treatment of me, His former bitter foe
Goodness
                I will be overlooked and even denigrated before I will boast
                I will confess before I accuse
                I choose the Godly strength of goodness
Faithfulness
                My husband will not question my love
                My family never fear I will not listen
                I choose faithfulness to this very household God has given me
Gentleness
                If I raise my voice may it be only in praise
                If I clench my fist may it be only in prayer
                If I make a demand may it be only of myself
                I choose God’s gentle way to grow Christlikeness in me
Self-control
                I am a spiritual being, thus one day my spirit will soar heavenward
                But while on this earth, I refuse to let self-indulgence rule
                I choose self-control physically, mentally and spiritually
LOVE, JOY, PEACE
                PATIENCE, KINDNESS
                                GOODNESS, FAITHFULNESS
                                                GENTLENESS, SELF-CONTROL
                                                                To these Fruits of the Spirit I commit my day
                                                                If my life exhibits them, I will give thanks
                                                                If not, I will seek His grace
And then, when the day is done, I will thank the Lord for the strength to give the good days and the more difficult days into His hand
Won’t you come along with me?