1. Make the New Year Better Many people will come to the end of a year, with the hope and expectation of a New Year that will be BETTER. David writes, “So teach us to number our days, that we may apply our hears unto wisdom”, Ps. 90:12. Moses reflected on his faith in God, the meaning of life, and the passing of time. We profit by marking time. Gen. 1:14; Ex. 20:8-11; Acts 20:7; Eph. 5:15-16. Let’s reflect a moment with Moses:

2. Psalm We must reflect and understand the difference between man and God. Man is temporal, God is eternal! Vs. 1-6. We must reflect and understand that God’s anger is against sin, and those who commit sin. Vs. 7-11. With this in mind, IF we are to please God, we must pray and seek God’s favor! Vs. 12-17. Make the New Year better by these: – Seek cleansing of sin – Determine to learn & grow. – Study God’s Word more diligently. – Draw nearer to God in prayer. – Strive for a godly home.

3. Seek Cleaning from Sin. We should earnestly and urgently seek God’s forgiveness without excuses or delay. – Accept responsibility for sin, plead for pardon. Ps. 51:1-4. – Start with the new birth, with a new beginning, Jn. 3:3-5. Change the heart and start a relationship with God. Ie. From kingdom of Satan – Kingdom of God, from guilt to innocence, from despair to hope!

4. The Land of Beginning Again! I wish that there were some wonderful place Called the Land of Beginning Again. Where all our mistakes and all our heartaches And all our poor selfish grief Could be dropped, like a shabby old coat, at the door And never put on again. (Excerpt from Louisa Fletcher, The Land of Beginning Again.)

5. Seek Cleaning from Sin. We should earnestly and urgently seek God’s forgiveness without excuses or delay. – Accept responsibility for sin, plead for pardon. Ps. 51:1-4. – Start with the new birth, with a new beginning, Jn. 3:3-5. Change the heart and start a relationship with God. Ie. From kingdom of Satan – Kingdom of God, from guilt to innocence, from despair to hope! – Keep a tender conscience to correct and resist sin! We need to seek cleansing, and not persist, Ps. 19:12-13. Simon sought cleansing, Acts 8:21-24. Jesus invites the sinner to come to Him, Mt. 11;28- 30.

6. Determine to Learn & Grow Those who wish to be Disciples of Christ are learners! We have much to learn. Mt. 28:19-20 God expects us to bear the fruits of the Spirit. Gal. 5:22-23, taught by the Holy Spirit. We must mature and grow with “Christian Graces”. 2 Pet. 1:5-11. This is the Christian’s pathway to Heaven!

7. Study God’s Word More Diligently! Bible study is essential to our learning and growth. – As an infant craves milk. 1 Pet. 2:1-3; Heb. 5:8-14; 1 Cor. 3:2. Where should you be in your maturity? – We should always be eager to search for truth! Acts 11:17 – The Bible is an inexhaustible treasure mine. Ps. 19:7- 11

8. Draw Near to God in Prayer Jesus taught His disciples (and us)how to pray. Mt. 6:9-13. The who, what, and why. The Psalmist writer teaches us to pray in every situation of life. To offer prayer and praise both day and night. Ps. 42:1-3,7-8, 11. Prayer reminds us that God is ever present with us, and mindful of us.

9. Strive for a Godly Home God established the 1 st home with Adam and Eve, Gen. 2. God’s intent was marriage for life, 1 Cor. 7; Rom. 7. He commands love between the husband for the wife, and submission from the wife to the husband. Thus an unselfish mutual love. Eph. 5:23-25. We are to unite in love, and cooperate together, with the man as the head. Fathers are the spiritual leaders, Eph. 6:4; Acts 2:42; 20:7; Heb. 10:25. Spiritual leadership includes private & public worship. Emulate men of faith like Abraham. Gen. 18:19.