Weekly Devotional by Jim Kerner

“2021, a year for new beginnings. For me this will be a year of living each day with a renewed desire to begin the day in the spirit of the Lord and ask that His will for me, be done. In fact,His will for me was orchestrated before I was born … “Before I shaped you in the womb, I knew all about you. Before you saw the light of day, I had holy plans for you” (Jerimiah 1:5a)…. “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.” (Jeremiah 29:11)

If I trust in God and ask for His guidance, He will show me His will for me … “Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and you shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you: For every one that asks shall receive; and he that seeks shall find; and to him that knocks, it shall be opened.” (Matthew 7:7 & 8)

Each new day is an opportunity for me to start over, begin again, leaving behind what was yesterday, and focusing on the positive of today and being the best example of God’s creation that I can be. Remember that yesterday’s hold memories to learn from, not to dwell on, and God’s plan for tomorrow cannot be achieved until this day has passed. So, I ask God that I might live each day looking and listening for “Thy will be done”.

When I was a young boy growing up, my mom often woke me up with “Jimmy, rise and shine”, “This is the day the Lord has made:Rejoice and be glad in it.” (Psalm 118:24) and while I miss hearing that, it is embedded in my memory and I often repeat it in my mind when I awake, looking forward to this day and the discovery of God’s plan for me!

My prayer

Father, you give me each day my daily bread and for that I am eternally grateful. Let me be listening for you in all that I do today. In you, let me find the strength to carry out all of the plans you have for me. Let me be your hands and feet in all that I am able. In Jesus’ name I pray, Amen!”

– Jim Kerner