JAN. 3, 2013
Help
From His Spirit
Read: Micah
6:3-8
What does the Lord require of you but to do justly, to love mercy, and
to walk humbly with your God? —Micah
6:8
Many
of us make promises to ourselves to mark the beginning of a new year. We make
pledges such as I’m going to save more, exercise more, or spend less time on
the Internet. We begin the year with good intentions, but before long old
habits tempt us to take up our old ways. We slip up occasionally, then more
frequently, and then all the time. Finally, it’s as if our resolution never
existed.
Instead
of choosing our own self-improvement goals, a better approach might be to ask
ourselves: “What does the Lord desire of me?” Through the prophet Micah, God
has revealed that He wants us to do what is right, to be merciful, and to walk
humbly with Him (Mic. 6:8). All of these things relate to soul-improvement
rather than self-improvement.
Thankfully,
we don’t have to rely on our own strength. The Holy Spirit has the power to
help us as believers in our spiritual growth. God’s Word says, He is able to “strengthen
you with power through his Spirit in your inner being” (Eph. 3:16 niv).
So
as we begin a new year, let’s resolve to be more Christlike. The Spirit will
help us as we seek to walk humbly with God.
Truthful Spirit, dwell with me;
I myself would truthful be;
And with wisdom kind and clear
Let Thy life in mine appear. —Lynch
He who has the Holy Spirit as his resource has already won the
victory.
Source:
Our Daily Bread 2012
