Page 12 - Jan 2023 News On 7

INQUIRING GOD: PRIORITIES FOR THE NEW YEAR
BY REV. TRACY B RICHARDS
But he said to me ”My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore, I will
boast all the more glady about my weaknesses so that Christ’s power may rest on me. ~ 2 Corinthians 12:9
Do not conform to the patterns of this world but be transformed by the renewal of your mind. Then you will be
able to test and approve what God’s will is - His good, pleasing and perfect will. ~ Romans 12:2
It has been said that anything in the shadows that makes its way into the light can no longer be hidden. When we enter
Christ's presence, He shines a light on the areas in our hearts that we have not fully surrendered into his hands. As I look
forward to the New Year and reflect on the one before, God is showing me those things that I have yet to surrender to Him.
The verses above were actually ones I randomly chose to memorize this past month (or so I thought) but I see now that they
were selected by God in order for me to dig more deeply into the areas in which He wants me to develop and mature.
In 2 Corinthians, the apostle Paul is writing to the church in Corinth and correcting them for “idolozing” worldly things and
stepping away from Jesus’ teachings. By definition, an “idol” is something that is more important to you than God. It absorbs
your heart, consumes your imagination and engulfs your very existence. The worldly traditions of the Christmas season are a
perfect example of how easy it is to overlook the gift of Jesus and underappreciate what it means for our lives. I believe God
placed this verse on my heart to remind me to get my priorities straight, once and for all. It’s no longer okay for me to make
excuses for why I keep relying on my own strength to get through life. It’s time for me to fully embrace the true spirit of
humility and not only admit my weaknesses but “boast all the more gladly” about them because, in doing so, I am honouring
God and allowing myself to experience the fullness of His power in my life.
This awareness not only applies to my relationship with Him, but it also affects my relationship with the world around me.
When we attempt to derive “strength” or “power” from trying to do everything ourselves it creates competition with God and
others, but when we humble ourselves, embrace our weaknesses and allow God and others to step in, it creates community.

How beautiful is that?
So, if 2 Corinthians 12:9 describes “what” to prioritize, then Romans 12:2 is, most definitely, the “how”. Since I began spending
more time not just reading but actually studying the Bible, God has been imparting His wisdom to me on so many levels.
Through this verse, the apostle Paul is not only asking us to stop idolizing the things of this world, but when he says “be
transformed by the renewal of your mind” he is asking us to allow God to teach, develop, prune, refine and mature us through
His Word, which is alive and accessible in the form of the Holy Bible. Today, however, many people keep the Bible a closed
book. One reason is because we don’t realize how much we need it. If I suggested that you stop eating for a few months, you’d
ignore me—and rightly so. We need food in order to survive, and without food we’ll grow weak and eventually die. Yet many
Christians are spiritually starved and weak because they ignore the spiritual “food” God has provided in the Bible. The Bible is
not an option; it is a necessity. You cannot grow spiritually strong without it. Which is why I’m so grateful that God is
developing in me a real hunger for His Word and has provided me a loving community at Madoc Baptist Church with whom to
study it.
As I invite Jesus to shine the light on the areas that I still need to surrender in the coming year, I pray for Him to take away
any ego, pride or self dependence and exchange it for his anointing, wisdom, and insight. Going forward, I ask that He give me
continued guidance and the ongoing discipline to consult with Him about all things.
In the past, I have chosen a “word” to serve as inspiration for the year ahead but, beginning in 2023, I will also be selecting a
verse from scripture. It looks like 2 Corinthians 12:9 and Romans 12:2 will be the verses this year but I’m still awaiting
confirmation about what my “word” should be. I’m thinking it might be “contentment” because everything I have been
learning lately about receiving God’s peace ultimately points to surrendering, accepting and being content with what is.
My friends, please know that Jesus is familiar with our struggles, sufferings and weaknesses. I pray that you allow him to
comfort you today, as you release your worries, weariness and weaknesses into his hands. Surrender to Him and you will
surely experience the power of His Love and never-ending Grace.

I wish you and your loved ones all of God’s abundant blessings for 2023.
Happy New Year!
Tracy

I hope you enjoyed this post. If you would like more information on my coaching or mentoring services, please contact me at tracy@xolifecelebrations.com.

If you enjoyed this post, I encourage you to subscribe to my blog at tracybrichards.com/blog.
For Wedding or Life Celebrant inquiries visit xolifecelebrations.com
For Marriage Prep or Enrichment sessions visit https://www.xolifecelebrations.com/marriage-prep-enrichment-sessions
For information about The Genesis Process visit https://www.genesisprocess.org/
Listen to my Practical Ministry segments on the Born To Fly Podcast here