“Happy New Year”

Have you made your goals for the New Year yet? The typical ones would be to exercise more, lose weight, live life to its fullest, be a better husband, be wiser with your money, get organized, live healthier. There is one more goal that would be beneficial and that would be to draw closer to God. To set a goal is great, but you need a game plan on how to accomplish that goal.

So how do you grow closer to God? Just like in any relationship, your relationship with God must be nurtured. In a typical relationship it is nurtured by spending time with them — talking with them, listening to them, sharing your concerns with each other, and even helping them when they need our help. And the same is true with God. When we read or hear His Word, the Bible, He speaks to us. When we pray, we speak to him.

So, one of my goals for the New Year is to start each day spending more time with God. The game plan is to start each day with quiet time with God. When we are quiet it gives us a chance to be still and listen to what God has to say. In a world where there is so much conflict, we need to acknowledge who God is and be in awe of who our Lord and Savior is.

Psalm 46:10

He says, “Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth.”

Listen to His Word and what He has to say to us. Hebrews 4:12 tells us God’s Word is alive.

Hebrews 4:12

12 For the word of God is alive and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart.

Quiet time also gives us a chance to talk with God. Having that one-on-one time to talk to God is vital. It’s a time to present your needs, ask for guidance and express gratefulness. Prayer is the easiest and most convenient way to building your relationship with Christ. The bible tells us that we can go to God in confidence and pray about any situation.

Philippians 4:6

6 Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.

1 john 5:14

14 This is the confidence we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything according to his will, he hears us.'

So, no matter how crazy or scary last year was, we can find comfort in God. God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.

Psalm 46:1

God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble.

This year let’s draw closer to God.

Message in Chinese

“Happy New Year” 的中文是：新年快乐

——以下为全文中文翻译（简体中文）——

你已经为新的一年制定目标了吗？常见的目标包括：多锻炼、减肥、活得更充实、做一个更好的丈夫、更理智地管理金钱、变得更有条理、生活得更健康。还有一个同样非常有益的目标，那就是更加亲近上帝。设定目标固然很好，但你还需要一个实现目标的行动计划。

那么，如何与上帝更加亲近呢？就像任何一段关系一样，你与上帝的关系也需要用心培养。在一般的人际关系中，这种培养来自于花时间在一起——与对方交谈、倾听彼此、分享各自的忧虑，甚至在对方需要帮助时伸出援手。与上帝的关系也是如此。当我们阅读或聆听祂的话语——圣经时，是上帝在对我们说话；当我们祷告时，是我们在对祂说话。

因此，我新年的目标之一，就是每天开始时花更多时间亲近上帝。我的行动计划是：每天以与上帝的安静时刻开始。当我们安静下来，就能有机会静默，聆听上帝要对我们说的话。在这个充满冲突的世界里，我们需要承认上帝是谁，并对我们的主和救主心怀敬畏。

诗篇 46:10祂说：“你们要安静，要知道我是上帝；我必在万国中被尊崇，我必在全地上被尊崇。”

要聆听祂的话语，留心祂对我们所说的一切。希伯来书 4:12 告诉我们，上帝的话语是活的。

希伯来书 4:1212 上帝的道是活泼的，是有功效的，比一切两刃的剑更锋利，甚至能刺入、剖开灵与魂、骨节与骨髓，并能辨明人心中的思想和意念。

安静时刻也让我们有机会与上帝交谈。与上帝一对一交流的时间至关重要。这是一个向祂陈明需要、寻求引导、并表达感恩的时刻。祷告是建立与基督关系最简单、最方便的方式。圣经告诉我们，我们可以坦然无惧地来到上帝面前，为任何事情祷告。

腓立比书 4:66 应当一无挂虑，只要凡事借着祷告、祈求和感谢，将你们所要的告诉上帝。

约翰一书 5:1414 我们若照祂的旨意求什么，祂就听我们，这是我们向祂所存坦然无惧的心。

Happy New Year