Lord, I surrender my life to YOU, King of Kings and Lord of Lords. Would you help me to reset and reorient in the many facets of my life, so that the YOU are the center of it all? What you did for me draws me to give my best laid plans to you. I lay them on the altar and ask YOU Lord to lead the way. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

For many a new year signifies New Year’s resolutions.

With it being already a week into the new year, it is easy to think we have already let the “reset” period pass. Might I suggest a shift to that mindset and recommend you adjust your lens. We all KNOW what we should be doing. We all KNOW where we are failing. It’s easy to think that a resolution will set us up for success. For the 8-12% who follow through and make new habits, it is a win, it is, but for the rest of us…

How about a RECALIBRATE, REALIGN, REFOCUS? Adjust your lens to see, to truly see and right your lives on the ONE whose name is above all others.

But first and most importantly seek (aim at, strive after) His kingdom and His righteousness [His way of doing and being right—the attitude and character of God], and all these things will be given to you also. Mt 6:33 AMP

Many believers in Christ will ask the Lord for a word for the year. In essence, this will adjust the right lens on which to allow all our decisions to pass through. We hold this word up to whatever opportunities are placed in front of us and determine whether it aligns or not, with the word God has spoken.

THE PROCESS

Let me give you insight into my process for this year. It began before the end of the year and I imagine the process will take me through the next few weeks – allowing TIME and my Shepherd’s voice to speak truth, clarity and vision for my life in this 2022.

First off, I am not starting over. This year is not a redo, but instead this is a time to make minor tweaks and adjustments to get back to:

“For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.” Jer 29:11

HIS plans, not mine. This may be the first place to wrap your mind around.

Many are the plans in a man’s heart…

A person may have many ideas concerning God’s plan for his life, but only the designs of God’s purpose will succeed in the end. Pr 19:21 TPT

HIS plans, HIS priorities, HIS focus, HIS agenda…because I am HIS, my family is HIS, my marriage is HIS, my finances are HIS, my time is HIS.

Apart from Him, I can do no good thing (Jn 15:5). I am prone to wander.

We like to assume we know best and make our plans accordingly; but we don’t have the complete picture.

Trust in the Lord completely, and do not rely on your own opinions. With all your heart rely on him to guide you, and he will lead you in every decision you make. Become intimate with him in whatever you do, and he will lead you wherever you go. Don’t think for a moment that you know it all, for wisdom comes when you adore him with undivided devotion and avoid everything that’s wrong. Pr. 3:5-7 TPT

THE QUESTIONS

What are my present commitments/responsibilities?

What do I want to do? What do I feel a call to or a burden for?

This is the most important step/question: Lord, would you give me a scripture, a WORD, a direction…? I need to hear Your voice and Your lead. I don’t want to do what “I want to do”. I want YOU to be the CENTER of my life and step into YOUR purposes and plans for my life.

Take this time to pause. This part will most likely take time – even weeks. Consider fasting. The point is to allow space to hear the Lord’s voice and not all our best laid plans. I find it helpful to get “me” out of the way; others of you will find starting with this question to be the best starting point.

Meditate on the Word:

Direct me, Yahweh, throughout my journey so I can experience your plans for my life. Reveal the life-paths that are pleasing to you. Ps 25:4 TPT

I hear the Lord saying, “I will stay close to you, instructing and guiding you along the pathway for your life. I will advise you along the way and lead you forth with my eyes as your guide. So don’t make it difficult; don’t be stubborn when I take you where you’ve not been before. Don’t make me tug you and pull you along. Just come with me!” Ps 32:9 TPT

Oh yes, you shaped me first inside, then out; you formed me in my mother’s womb. I thank you, High God—you’re breathtaking! Body and soul, I am marvelously made! I worship in adoration—what a creation! You know me inside and out, you know every bone in my body; You know exactly how I was made, bit by bit, how I was sculpted from nothing into something. Like an open book, you watched me grow from conception to birth; all the stages of my life were spread out before you, The days of my life all prepared before I’d even lived one day. Ps 139:13-16 MSG

What are YOU asking of me Lord? Where are you directing me to in this new year? How do I best invest my time and my talents?

SURRENDER

Friends, our lives belong to Him. We were created to be an instrument of praise, to bring Him glory and honor. We have received the greatest gift this world will ever know – salvation through Jesus Christ. Will you choose to surrender not only this year, but also your purposes and plans to Him?

So here’s what I want you to do, God helping you: Take your everyday, ordinary life—your sleeping, eating, going-to-work, and walking-around life—and place it before God as an offering. Embracing what God does for you is the best thing you can do for him. Don’t become so well-adjusted to your culture that you fit into it without even thinking. Instead, fix your attention on God. You’ll be changed from the inside out. Readily recognize what he wants from you, and quickly respond to it. Unlike the culture around you, always dragging you down to its level of immaturity, God brings the best out of you, develops well-formed maturity in you. Rom 12:1-2 MSG

Beloved friends, what should be our proper response to God’s marvelous mercies? To surrender yourselves to God to be his sacred, living sacrifices. And live in holiness, experiencing all that delights his heart. For this becomes your genuine expression of worship. Stop imitating the ideals and opinions of the culture around you, but be inwardly transformed by the Holy Spirit through a total reformation of how you think. This will empower you to discern God’s will as you live a beautiful life, satisfying and perfect in his eyes. Rom 12:1-2 TPT

Have you forgotten that your body is now the sacred temple of the Spirit of Holiness, who lives in you? You don’t belong to yourself any longer, for the gift of God, the Holy Spirit, lives inside your sanctuary. You were God’s expensive purchase, paid for with tears of blood, so by all means, then, use your body to bring glory to God! 1 Cor 6:19-20 TPT

Commit your works to the Lord [submit and trust them to Him], And your plans will succeed [if you respond to His will and guidance]. Pr 16:3 AMP

Remember He who has bought and paid for your LIFE with His own. Will you lay down your own life and allow HIM to lead this new year? Share any word or leading that God has laid on your heart, in the comments below. Let’s recalibrate and reorient so the main thing remains the main thing.