He still hears prayers....New Year 2023 IV

Now it happened in the process of time that the king of Egypt died. Then the children of Israel groaned because of the bondage, and they cried out; and their cry came up to God because of the bondage. So God heard their groaning, and God remembered His covenant with Abraham, with Isaac, and with Jacob. And God looked upon the children of Israel, and God acknowledged them. ((Exodus 2:23-25)

Ever wonder if God is listening? I know, it is hard to realize that the God of creation listens to you and me. After all, are we that important to Him? The answer  is "yes" and "yes"! 

He still hears prayers! He still listens to our cries and we are all important to Him!

Moses was living in Midian, escaping from a murder charge, far from the luxury of Egypt. The Jewish people were in bondage back in Egypt. All seemed lost. Yet God heard . . . He remembered . . . and He acted. It took some time, but look what He did!

Keep speaking with God. Keep pleading. Keep obeying. Wait Him out. He still hears prayers  . . . yes, yours and mine!

He is still in control: New Year 2023 III

For many will come in My name [misusing it, and appropriating the strength of the name which belongs to Me], saying, ‘I am the Christ (the Messiah, the Anointed),’ and they will mislead many. You will continually hear of wars and rumors of wars. See that you are not frightened, for those things must take place, but that is not yet the end [of the age]. For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom, and there will be famines and earthquakes in various places. But all these things are merely the beginning of birth pangs [of the intolerable anguish and the time of unprecedented trouble]. (Matthew 24: 5-8 AMP)

A week into 2023 and where are we? Back to work . . . back to school . . . back to the routine. However, we still have some things to ponder . . . some things to plan . . . some things to go to God about today.

Bombs still landing in the Ukraine. Covid strains seem to be popping up. A football player actually died on the field and had to be resuscitated twice! Weather patterns are going crazy from monster blizzards on the East Coast to atmospheric river storms on the West Coast. A college student travelled across state lines just to murder four other college students; then ride cross country home with his dad. 

What is going on anyway? What do we make of it all God? I know one ting . . . He is still in control!

Anything really new?

“….assuming that you have heard about him and were taught in him, as the truth is in Jesus, to put off your old self, which belongs to your former manner of life and is corrupt through deceitful desires, and to be renewed in the spirit of your minds, and to put on the new self, created after the likeness of God in true righteousness and holiness.” (Ephesians 4:21-23)

So here we are, a few days into 2023 . . . anything really new? He is the same God . . . thankfully. We are still the same people we were in 2022. So what has really changed but the calendar?

If we really want to change, it must be our decision making! As Paul wrote in the passages above, we must do away with old habits! We must decide to follow God more closely . . . to spend quality time with Him rather than other activities and people. If our one resolution or goal in 2023 is to be a better me, than it has to include the One who made me!

So as we go into 2023, let's start with time with God. Decide to make it better . . . not necessarily longer, but better. Make it more personal. Make it real. Make it genuine. Treat God and especially the person of Holy Spirit, like a real person . . . because He is! 

Let's give God the time and attention He deserves and we need in 2023.