Prepare Yourself Spiritually for the New Year

August 12th, 2024

Every August, we ramp up for a new year—a new year full of expectations in the classroom or athletically, in our competitions, performances, and clubs. We each have hopes and dreams about what the year might bring us through friendships and memories, and even if we’re doing it last minute, we’re preparing ourselves for a great year ahead.

 

Today I want to call our attention to preparing ourselves spiritually for the new year. At Shiloh Christian, we have the unique privilege and honor of inviting God into every aspect of our work and seeking Him weekly through chapel and various activities. 

 

So how do we prepare ourselves to ensure we don’t miss God’s work in our lives? Here are three quick tips.

 

  1. Ask God for a soft heart

 

A person with a soft heart is always ready to receive God’s Word. In fact, when they receive God’s Word, it produces much fruit. If we want to be people who see a God sized work in our lives in this upcoming year, we need to be people with soft hearts. How do we get a soft heart? 

 

  • We ask Him for it daily

  • We confess sin daily

  • We ask for more sensitivity to His presence

 

These are the types of prayers that God is sure to answer.

 

  1. Ask God for vision to see Him at work

 

We so often don’t join God because we don’t know what He’s doing. We're often like Elisha's servant, who joined Elisha to fight the battle against an enemy; we forget that God is with us. In a moment of crisis, Elisha was confident because he could see God, and his servant was ready to run back home because he couldn't see God. 

 

After Elisha prays, “O Lord, please open his eyes that he may see.” The servant sees the vast angel army all around, ready to fight the battle with them. Elisha and his servant then see an impossible victory. (2 Kings 6)

 

If we’re going to see impossible victory in our lives this year, it will be because we see God at work around us and join Him. 

 

  1. Ask God for the courage to obey Him

 

Finally, we need to ask God for courage. When Jesus was in the garden, about to go to the cross, He prayed a vulnerable prayer. “My Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me; nevertheless, not as I will, but as you will.” (Matthew 26:39)

 

What’s He doing there? He’s preparing Himself to be courageous in obedience despite how difficult that obedience will be for Him. 

 

Throughout the year, there will be many moments of choice. We will either choose to be courageous and obey or passive and disobey. We need to start praying now for the courage to obey in moments of difficulty. 

 

 

Thanks for reading along. If you're a student, make it a point to pray those three prayers before you step on campus this Tuesday morning. If you're a parent, let these three prayers guide your prayer life over the course of this semester for yourself and your family. 

 

I’m excited about the opportunity to get to know you, and I'm looking forward to a fantastic year at Shiloh Christian.

 

– Brandon Moore, Dean of Spiritual Development/10th Grade Bible Teacher