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A New Year:
Planning, Progress, Success
Imagine that it is a year from now. What new
undertaking in your life would you like to have accomplished by then? Be
specific. Describe something new or a very dramatic change to something that
already exists.
Planning: What
is your plan to take your idea and turn it into reality? What role does God play
in your plan? How does James 4:13-16 help you with your planning?
13 Now listen, you who say,
"Today or tomorrow we will go to this or that city, spend a year
there, carry on business and make money." 14 Why, you do not even
know what will happen tomorrow. What is your life? You are a mist that
appears for a little while and then vanishes. 15 Instead, you ought to
say, "If it is the Lord's will, we will live and do this or
that."
Progress:
How can you be certain of making progress towards your undertaking? Describe
some specific things you must do to assure success. In what way does Philippians
1:6 assure you of success?
1 Paul and Timothy, servants of Christ
Jesus, To all the saints in Christ Jesus at Philippi, together with
the overseers and deacons: 2 Grace and peace to you from God our
Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. 3 I thank my God every time I
remember you. 4 In all my prayers for all of you, I always pray with
joy 5 because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day
until now, 6 being confident of this, that he
who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the
day of Christ Jesus.
Success:
In Joshua 1:7-8, what does God say must be done
for success? In what ways do God’s laws, given to Moses thousands of years
ago, apply today?
6 Be strong and courageous, because you
will lead these people to inherit the land I swore to their
forefathers to give them. 7 Be strong and very courageous. Be careful
to obey all the law my servant Moses gave you; do
not turn from it to the right or to the left, that you may be
successful wherever you go. 8 Do not let this Book of the Law depart
from your mouth; meditate on it day and night, so that you may be
careful to do everything written in it. Then you will be prosperous
and successful.
What does Psalm 1:3 & 6 reveal to you in terms
your potential success?
2 . . . But his delight is in the law of
the LORD, and on his law he meditates day and night. 3 He is like a
tree planted by streams of water, which yields its fruit in season and
whose leaf does not wither. Whatever he does prospers. 4 Not so
the wicked! They are like chaff that the wind blows away. 5 Therefore
the wicked will not stand in the judgment, nor sinners in the assembly
of the righteous. 6 For the LORD watches over the way of the
righteous, but the way of the wicked will perish.
How does Jesus’ words in John 13:34-35 help you
plan for, progress toward, and measure success?
34 A new command I give you: Love one
another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. 35 By
this all men will know that you are my disciples; if you love one
another.
- During the next few weeks, reconsider all
your resolutions and plans for this year.
- Consider each of them in light of God’s
word. Are there things you should change or accelerate?
- What must you do to assure that by this time
next year you will have accomplished your plans?
- Are there new plans should you consider in
light of this study? What are they?
- WWJHYD? (What Would Jesus Have You Do?)
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