A brand new year is here and I am excited to see what the Lord has for us.

Jesus addressed the church at Ephesus, in the book of Revelation chapter two, about how He was disappointed they had left their “first love,” and as we make plans for 2017, we are reminded that nothing is more important than staying close to God. 

He is warning us about the dangers of drifting away from the awareness of His presence. Keeping Christ at the center of our thoughts is the most important thing we can do, and it demonstrates how much we love Him and are devoted to Him. Whatever we become involved with, He simply wants to be our highest priority. If we stay under the shadow of His wings, we will walk in the peace and calmness of His Spirit. But if we allow ourselves to be distracted and drawn away, we are miserable and unhappy. 

“Jesus said unto him, thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. This is the first and great commandment” Matthew 22:37-38.

This is a perfect time to begin developing a stronger spiritual life. You notice I used the word developing because it’s much like losing weight, exercising or any other type of goal that requires sacrifice and willpower. Prayer is worth our time, as it is important to escape from the noise for just a few moments every day and find a place to talk with God. Daily Bible reading is another excellent area to focus our attention because the words of God are spiritual nourishment to our soul and will help fill our mind and heart with faith and strength. However, these two commitments will include words like discipline and determination, which we usually avoid because of the association with being uncomfortable.

As many of you know, staying close to God is a challenge because of the added resistance from the dark side. There are forces that try to prevent us from walking with Him, and it helps to read and listen to resources that can help us stay focused. I recently recorded a new CD where I narrate over 100 encouraging Bible passages. It also includes several worship songs I have written that are filled with hope, peace and joy. Contact me through my website and I would be honored to send you a free copy. May God, bless you in the coming year.

“Father, in the name of Jesus, we acknowledge you as the ultimate authority of all things. You created everything and you are in total control. We rest in your arms and trust you completely. Please give us the courage to discipline our flesh so that we might draw closer to you. Prepare and equip us for this coming year. Watch over us and protect those we love. We love you and worship you, amen.”

 Dr. Holland lives in Central Kentucky with his wife Cheryl, where he is a Christian author, outreach minister and community chaplain. To learn more visit: billyhollandministries.com