January 30, 2012
Today’s Text:  Read Psalm 139:16, Psalm 119:73
Today’s Key Thought:  God made every person according to His plan.

Think about the word “accident.”  When you think about that word does it bring up a positive image or a negative image?  Generally speaking we don’t think of “accidents” as good things.  “I was in an accident.”  “I’m sorry.  It was an accident.”  The word isn’t necessarily negative.  You can do something positive on accident, but generally when things aren’t done on purpose it leads to negative results.

Today, I’ve got great news to tell you.  Our God has never done anything on accident.  We serve a very purposeful and intentional God.   And here is some great news for you as well:  YOU ARE NOT AN ACCIDENT.  God made you on purpose.  God created you and has a plan for your life.  You may feel like your life has no meaning or worth, but with God this is not the case.  He loves you, and He created you on purpose!

Application:
Since God created you on purpose that also means He owns you!  Your life really does belong to Him, but He allows you to make the choices that you do.  The right response to knowing that He created you is to submit to what He wants you to do in every area of your life.  Think about this:  God created you on purpose.   Are you living for Him according to His purposes for you?

 I will praise thee, O Lord, with my whole heart; I will shew forth all thy marvellous works.
Psalm 9:1

Wherewithal shall a young man cleanse his way? by taking heed thereto according to thy word. With my whole heart have I sought thee: O let me not wander from thy commandments. Thy word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against thee. Blessed art thou, O Lord: teach me thy statutes.
Psalm 119:9-12

When it comes to having a new heart in the new year, we’ve got to be all in.  When it comes to having a relationship with God, He wants 100% of our hearts, not just part of it.

The problem is that our hearts are often only partially in because other things compete with God for our hearts.  Sometimes these things are good things, but anything that comes before God becomes bad.

When it comes to your relationship with God, is your heart all in?

When thou saidst, Seek ye my face; my heart said unto thee, Thy face, Lord, will I seek. Hide not thy face far from me; put not thy servant away in anger: thou hast been my help; leave me not, neither forsake me, O God of my salvation.
Psalm 27:8-9

A heart that seeks after God is a heart that prays.  When we pray we begin to open up our heart to God.  When we pray we are seeking God.  We believe that He hears us and that He wants us to talk to Him.

If we desire to have a heart in this new year, we’ve got to be in communication with God.  Prayer helps us to talk to God and to align our desires with God’s desires for us.

;[‘My soul longeth, yea, even fainteth for the courts of the Lord: my heart and my flesh crieth out for the living God.  Psalm 84:2

What is it that you are really passionate for?  What do you desire more than anything else?  In Psalm 84:2, the author tells us that His passion is for God Himself.  He had a longing and a passion for God.  The “courts of the Lord” speaks of the temple courts found in Jerusalem.  It was the place where God met with the people of Israel, and the people of God worshiped Him together.

During this new year, we’ve got to ask these very important questions:

Do I have a heart that longs for God?

Do I have a heart that has a passion for those who love God?

Do I long to be with people who love God?