James 4:8

Come near to God, and God will come near to you. You sinners, clean sin out of your lives. You who are trying to follow God and the world at the same time, make your thinking pure. This morning this is the scripture that God put before me. It asked me to "consider what you have done to draw closer to God over the past year then think about what tangible way you feel God has drawn closer to you." It also said: "First, you choose to do the right thing. When you love others, you honor them by treating them the way they deserve. You make sure your actions reflect the sincerity of your love. Second, you also need to maintain a right attitude along with right actions. When you choose to follow God, you make a U-turn from following the way much of the rest the world lives. Returning to a mind-set of greed, lust, and pride, instead of one based on generosity, love and humility, is like focusing on an old, abusive relationship when you are involved in a new, healthy one." Dear Jesus, I come before you this morning with praise for what you alone have revealed to me~ for the many persons you have put into my life that have spoken your truth into my life this past year~ I thank you for this incredible year drawing closer to you than I have ever felt before in my life. I ask a special covering over all of the Pastors and their families this morning~ I ask a special blessing over all my brothers and sisters in Christ this morning~ I ask a special blessing over my family~ I wake up this morning with expectancy of another year to follow YOU and focus on your glory and I rebuke Satan from allowing the past unhealthy thoughts to creep into my life~and into the lives of all those who call you Lord~ I ask Father that all those who call upon you this moment would remember your sacrifice, claim your divinity and turn their hearts, minds and actions away from what the world has to offer and take your hand into their lives. I thank you JESUS for your sacrifice, for your shed blood which purifies our minds, our bodies and leads our souls into eternity. Come Lord JESUS and allow your miracles to be known in this world! Let there be no more attention be given to Satan~ let your love flow and let us choose YOU every morning and not what the world has to offer. Fill us up to overflowing that we would seek your kingdom first and that our words, actions and lives would bring others closer to a relationship to YOU. My prayer, in JESUS name, the name above all names, AMEN.