New Beginnings (Part 1)
“I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.” Philippians 3:14 NASB
The 2022 journey has begun! Regardless of what victories or defeats you experienced in 2021, they are now past and fall into the category we call history and memories. Some were blessings that we will relish and remember gratefully. Some were the losses and discouragements that have left their mark on us. But now, they, too, are past.
We tend to see life through time. We move from day to day, week to week, month to month, year to year and so on. That is normal since we live in a time-driven world. We operate on schedules and deadlines. As time moves, we move. Time also causes some of us to see life through stages. We move from childhood to adolescence to college to young adulthood to marriage to parenting to empty nest and eventually to retirement.
Regardless of how we measure life, we are on a journey! For those of us that are Christ-followers, that journey has an important mark. That mark occurred when we trusted Christ by faith and turned from our sins in repentance. For the Jesus-follower, that is when the journey really began! That is not to say that life before Christ is not part of your life’s journey; it most certainly is. However, when salvation occurred, the journey took on new meaning, new hope, new challenges and new objectives.
It also gives us new adventures. And that is exactly what today is for Gina and me. Today begins a new adventure in ministry. For the last six years we have served Jesus through the ministry of First Baptist Church, Alpharetta, GA. We have led the staff, worked with lay leaders, taught scripture, counseled those hurting and mentored some along the way.
However, as the year began nearing an end, we sensed God leading us in a new direction. So today marks that new beginning. Today we launch David Smith Ministry where I will be coaching pastors and staff members, consulting with lay leaders and churches, and preaching and teaching God’s Word all with the intention of broadening and strengthening the local church. By the very description of the phrase, new adventure, we know it will be filled with opportunities for faith, hope and blessing, as well as opportunities to trust God to overcome obstacles and discouragements.
What can you do? First pray for us to have God’s wisdom and guidance. Second, pray for God’s blessings on us so that we might bless others. Lastly, pray for a deeper faith for us. We are ready to step out to walk by faith, not by sight.
What new adventure is God calling you to this year? What new opportunities and faith options has God laid on your heart? Let’s purpose to “walk by faith” in total obedience to Christ.
And so the 2022 journey begins! I pray that you will allow Philippians 3:12 – 16 to guide you on your journey in Christ.
Scriptures for the journey: I Corinthians 9:24 – 27, Hebrews 12:1 – 3, Hebrews 12: 12 - 17