With 2016 coming to a close, take a moment to reflect on the past year. Praise God for all the blessings and seek His comfort for all the rest. Realize the mind tends to overshadow the gains with the losses. Allow Him to heal those painful areas and make you new.

“And I will give you a new heart, and a new spirit I will put within you. And I will remove the heart of stone from your flesh and give you a heart of flesh.”  – Ezekiel 36:26, ESV

With a new year comes new ideas and resolutions, desires for growth and improvement, and plans for change. I encourage you to consider a new kind of resolution in 2017… one that will result in more growth and change than you [and Pinterest] can ever imagine! Spend time with God every day in scripture and prayer. Resolve to make Him a part of your everyday life. Be intentional. Seek Him with a genuine heart and an open mind. He welcomes us all, whether we come mourning with heavy hearts, dancing with light hearts, or flaming with angry hearts.

“Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth.”  – Colossians 3:2, ESV 

Lifeway Women has developed a plan to help us be present in the Word and spend quiet time daily in God’s presence. 40 Days of Prayer is a guide with daily readings from the book of Psalms along with prayer and time / space for your personal reflection.

Just think of the power of women around the world praying and reading the beautiful Psalms together for 40 days! Think of  just a few of the magnificent stories in the Bible of those who obediently accepted God’s invitation to be in His presence for 40 days:

• Noah built a boat in the desert and then spent 40 days and nights with his family and animals aboard. He survived a devastating flood! (Genesis 7-8)
• Moses entered God’s presence on Mount Sinai and neither ate nor drank for 40 days and nights, then received the Ten Commandments. He maybe lost weight and watched a miracle take place! (Exodus 34)
• The giant Philistine stood ominously before Israel for 40 days and nights before young David slayed him with a sling and stones. David became king! (1 Samuel 17)
• Jesus spent 40 days and nights fasting in the wilderness, with wild animals and Satan’s temptations. Angels ministered to him during that time! (Mark 13)

This series starts January 1st! Follow the link below to sign up online. You may choose to receive your daily lessons via email or download a PDF version for viewing or printing.

2017. A new year full of new possibilities! A new space with time for God. A new heart to desire and seek God. Start the year off right. Seek God joyfully each and every day! I hope you find this resource from Lifeway Women inspiring and inviting!!

“I will extol you, my God and King, and bless your name forever and ever. Every day I will bless you and praise your name forever and ever. Great is the LORD, and greatly to be praised, and his greatness is unsearchable.” – Psalm 145:1-3, ESV (David’s song of praise)

 

Source: Start 2017 with 40 Days of Prayer Scripture – LifeWay Women All Access