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Moving Forward in 2012: The Year of Stability

January 2, 2012

Now as they were traveling along, He entered a village; and a woman named Martha welcomed Him into her home. She had a sister called Mary, who was seated at the Lord’s feet, listening to His word. But Martha was distracted with all her preparations; and she came up to Him and said, “Lord, do You not care that my sister has left me to do all the serving alone? Then tell her to help me.”

But the Lord answered and said to her, “Martha, Martha, you are worried and bothered about so many things; but only one thing is necessary, for Mary has chosen the good part, which shall not be taken away from her.” Luke 10:38-42

God is calling you to carry joy to a fallen world, but the devil wants you to become so preoccupied with the issues in your own life that you stay in the constant cycle of maintaining and trying to overcome discouragement and distraction instead of being what God has called you to be.


Sing to the Lord a new song, sing His praise from the end of the earth!
Isaiah 42:10a

Choose the good part like Mary did: “sitting at the Lord’s feet, listening to His word.” Don’t wait for the worship team or for an inspirational moment. Thank God in the morning, thank God in the noontime, thank God in the night. Enter into His gates with thanksgiving every day (Psalm 100:4).

You are still here. Whatever highs and lows you’ve had in 2011, you didn’t get alienated and cynical, you didn’t cave in to self pity, you didn’t throw in the towel, you didn’t let the devil run you off, and you didn’t negotiate with him when he was terrorizing you. Even if you feel meager and feeble in your faith, at any time, day or night, you can cry out to the Lord and He will respond. Don’t fear the future. If God has called you to a task, you will have grace and blessing equal to the task. As you take time to seek God and listen to His word, He will show you what to do.

Forward ever; backward, never!
–C.T. Studd, Missionary to China, India, and Africa

God bless you this New Year!
Pastor Jeff

Copyright © 2012 St. Louis Family Church. All rights reserved. No part of this article may be reprinted or distributed in any form without prior written permission of St. Louis Family Church. Unless otherwise noted, all Scripture references are from the New American Standard Bible (NASB) Copyright © 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation.