1 Peter 1:15-16,  But just as He who called you is holy, so be holy in all you do; for it is written:  “Be holy because I am holy.”

As the New Year approaches so many people are determining what changes they will make in the New Year to improve their lives.  I think this year a lot of people are worried about what this year may bring into our lives after this last one.  May I suggest that the first thing that we should all be striving for in life all year round is to be more like Him?  If you want God’s blessing, favor, and peace in your life, it doesn’t just fall from Heaven because we want it, we must spend time with Him and walk with Him.  He is still God!  He is still holy and He still requires that we live lives that honor Him.  If you are a parent, you wouldn’t reward your children for their poor behavior and rebellion and God is a better parent than any of us are.  We reward good behavior so we can reinforce it and see more of it.  I am not saying that we have to work for our salvation or anything like that, but if we truly love God we should want to be more like Him, and His blessing is found in following and obeying Him.

God doesn’t want to be distant in your life.  He wants to walk closely with you and give you wisdom in all that you do.  He wants to be present in your life but He won’t force His way in, you must seek Him.  

As it says in Joshua 1:8,  “This Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate in it day and night, that you may observe to do according to all that is written in it.  For then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have good success.”  True success in all that you do will come from following Him and getting to know Him.  

I would like to encourage you to seek Him and determine that you will start now to spend more time getting to know Him and praying.  Don’t waste your time worrying about what this new year will bring, spend time in prayer about it.  Draw closer to Him and He will fill you with His peace, love, mercy, and wisdom.  You don’t have to face anything alone, He wants to be there with you for the good, the bad, and the ugly, so take it all to Him and trust that truly His best is yet to come when you are walking close by His side.