Stop. Listen. Learn.

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This week the daily devotions will focus on how we approach the new year that we have been gifted.  We'll wrestle with what we will do differently, what we will improve, what we'll pick up and what we'll leave behind.  

 I'm not huge on new year's resolutions, to be honest.  While I have had some success in the past, I typically end up breaking my new year's resolutions within the first few weeks, which makes me feel poorly about myself.  

 Since I don't need any new reasons to feel poorly, I decided some years ago to not really do the whole resolutions thing.  

 But this year, I thought I would actually give it a try--with a bit of a twist.  I have some things I want to leave behind as I step forward into the new year and I have some things I want to pick up.  

 One of the things I want to pick up is a spiritual discipline that I believe will help better prepare me to experience all that God has in store for me in the coming year: The discipline to stop, listen and learn. 

 If you want to experience all that God has in store for you in the coming new year, you need to be able to stop, listen and learn.  

 First, stop trying to do everything yourself.  When you finally have the courage to let go of the controls of your life and surrender your outcomes to God, you'll begin to experience more of God's abundance. 

 Second, listen to where God is speaking to you.  God speaks through people in our lives, through circumstances, in times of intense prayer... and also through nature, beauty, art, music and so much more.  Pay attention to God's words being spoken all around you. 

 Finally, learn from what you're experiencing.  Learn from your past mistakes... your triumphs and successes... Learn from the wisdom of those who have travelled farther and seen more... learn from what God is doing in your life.  

 Stop. Listen. Learn. 

 If you want to join with me in this spiritual discipline in 2018, I invite you to begin right now by simply praying a short prayer to God:  

 God, help me to stop my need for control and give you the wheel of my life.  God, give me the ability to hear your voice all around me, all the time.  God, grant me the courage to learn as you lead me this coming year. Amen. 

 And may the grace and peace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you now and always. Amen. 





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