Happy New Year, continued

We closed yesterday with a reminder to prayerfully lay our plans at our heavenly Father's feet. We noted that He will guide us and that we will have peace in His will.

Spending time in prayer each day is not only to seek direction, but to ask HOW to do what we need to do! Remember how we have discussed our spiritual gifts, and how we can use them for His glory? Perhaps we don't think we have any gifts. Or that we only have one . . . did you know we can ask for more? We have each been given a purpose, and we are layered with talents and gifts! All we need to do is ask Him to show us!

Tucked away in a chapter that doesn't get read very often (I Chronicles 4) is a clue on how God can expand our "territory." Remember some years back when the "prayer of Jabez" was a popular topic? We find his prayer in the middle of a list of genealogy . . . this one begat that one, and so forth.
Well, ole Jabez' name was given him by his mom, who must have had a very difficult time delivering her baby boy! Check it out here in this paraphrase (The Voice):

Jabez, whose name commemorates his mother’s labor pains, was more honorable than his brothers. 10 He asked the God of Israel, “Please bless me and extend my territory. Let Your hand be with me and guard me from harm so I will not experience pain as my mother did.” And God did just that. (I Chronicles 4:9-10)

This man lived his life here on earth; he had many experiences; he had his ups and his downs. One verse is given for his entire life -- kinda puts our time here on earth in perspective, no? (Grin) In spite of his difficult birth, Jabez was honored because of his relationship with God.
He asked.
He received.
A valuable lesson for us as we ask God for guidance in this new year.
God's will for our lives is "lit up," so to speak, by our search in His Word.

Your word is a lamp for my feet,    a light on my path. (Psalm 119:105)

The sun will no more be your light by day,    nor will the brightness of the moon shine on you,for the Lord will be your everlasting light,    and your God will be your glory. Your sun will never set again,    and your moon will wane no more;the Lord will be your everlasting light,    and your days of sorrow will end. (Isaiah 60:19-20)

God's will is also "lit up" by our relationship with Him, through our prayer life. When we ask for His guidance:

People of Zion, who live in Jerusalem, you will weep no more. How gracious he will be when you cry for help! As soon as he hears, he will answer you. 21 Whether you turn to the right or to the left, your ears will hear a voice behind you, saying, “This is the way; walk in it.” (Isaiah 30:19, 21)

The Lord will guide you always;    he will satisfy your needs in a sun-scorched land
    and will strengthen your frame.You will be like a well-watered garden,    like a spring whose waters never fail. (Isaiah 58:11)

Truly, this new year will be a joyful one if we are resting and trusting in His guidance, so that we can stay in His will.

Another one of the most joyful things in a believer's life is that we know that God seeks a relationship with us! It's hard to get our heads around it -- why would an all-powerful, sovereign God pay attention to the sinful people that inhabit this earth? But it's true!!
Jesus was born on earth in a human skin, because of His compassion for us.

 For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. 17 For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him.  (John 3:16-17)

Remember that last verse we read in I Chronicles?

And God did just that. (I Chronicles 4:10)

We see a peek into the heart of our Father God; it brings Him joy to bless us with fulfilled prayer requests, when we ask according to His will. Let's remember in this new year that His heart is moved by faithful prayer.