A Year of Big Faith

Today, some of us are reflecting on a year that has passed and the New Year that lye’s before us. I’m sure that last year brought laughter and tears, successes and failures, and maybe victories and defeats. For me, 2014 was full of different challenges and changes, but overall, I reflect very fondly on all of God’s blessings during this last year. God accomplished many things in my life, my family, and in our church. I’m thankful for how God worked in and through me. There is only one question that is lingering on my mind and weighing on me as I look forward to a new year. Were there areas or instances in my life where my faith was too small? I wonder if there were miracles that I missed, and victories that I could have experienced, had I fully trusted God with every area and every instance.
We read in the book of Mathew, chapter 17 about a man who begged Jesus to help his son. Apparently, the son was demon possessed and would often experience bodily harm after falling into fires and into water. The man had already approached Jesus’ disciples, and asked them to heal his son, but they were unable to heal the boy. Jesus agreed to help. Jesus spoke and, the text says, “the demon came out of him, and the boy was healed instantly” When Jesus spoke, the healing was instantaneous! Can you imagine the relief that this brought to the boy, the boy’s father, and the boy’s family?
Was my faith to small? That’s a question that I’m not even going to entertain. I’m not going to let this question keep me from joyfully entering into a new year .it’s not healthy to live in the past, but I am going to let it challenge me.
I want this New Year to be a year of ‘BIG faith’ A year of miracles and, undeniable God sized victories. I want every day, every moment, every decision, and every relationship to reflect a Big God who is graciously leading my life. There is nothing impossible for my God, and I’m asking God to help me live like I believe that. I hope and pray that this coming year is even more fruitful as God continues to grow my faith.
So are you with me?? Do you want this New Year, 2015 to be your year of “Big Faith”? Remember the man with the possessed son, well he wanted his son healed, and changed, and drastically different than the way he currently was ,that encounter with Jesus brought a dramatic change in their lives, in essence a “new year” was about to begin in their lives.
The Bible tells us that when a person truly encounters Christ, their life changes. Christ changes our identity and character. He also changes our values, priorities, plans, and direction. If your life doesn’t experience a change when Christ becomes a part of it, then you really need to carefully consider if you’ve truly given your life to Christ.
Some people seem pretty happy with their lives apart from Christ, and they are ok with Jesus as long as they don’t have to change much. Unfortunately Jesus is in the business of making all things new! Your life will never be the same when Jesus takes His proper place in your heart, and why would you even want it to remain the same? What Jesus has to offer is so much better than anything the world offers to us apart from Him. If you are not a Christian, then I want to warn you that making Christ the King of your life will lead to some dramatic and positive changes. If you are a Christian, embrace the change and live your new life to the glory of God!
So lets make 2015 the year of Big Faith, the year that we remember because we let God fully direct our paths, the year we get out of the way, take God by the hand and fully embrace all and everything that he wants us to have ,sound like a plan? Well it is my friend. Its Gods plan and its free,and its for you ,and for those that ask.
Blessings Tim ;-)