What's most important this new year?

When a new year starts, I mentally start taking note of what I want to accomplish. Which usually turns into a month by month list of what I hope to accomplish. Admittedly, by the time December rolls around, some items will be completed, others totally scrapped and many new ones added.

But as I was thinking of those things I want to do this year, I was reminded last Sunday of what needs to be my first and foremost goal as 2011 starts--to glorify Christ with my words and actions. As Pastor Kirk challenged us to fight the good fight of faith, he made mention of several things which stood out to me.

--Understand who you are in Jesus Christ. God has created me in His image. He loves me. He knew me before I was ever born. Jesus Christ has offered a way of salvation and forgiven me. As I was writing these notes in church Sunday morning, Dad elbowed me and showed me his own scribblings. What did he write down? "Remember who you are." I laughed silently and smiled. How many, many times do I remember leaving home (no matter where or when, no matter how far) and Dad telling my sisters and I, "Remember who you are. You are a child of God." Ahhhh, yes. So true.

--Walk in the good works that God has for you. He created me to be a servant for His purposes. To serve others. To minister to others. My goal here on earth is to serve Christ. To be willing to follow what He would have me to do. As I glanced at Dad's notes, I knew I would find the second half of the phrase that Dad has continually told us girls, "Remember what your purpose is. It is to serve Christ." Yes, that's exactly what he had written down. :) Ephesians 2:10 - "For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand so that we would walk in them.

--Make disciples. Not only is God working and growing in my life, but I'm also supposed to pass that knowledge that He's teaching me onto others. Part of that is praying for opportunities and open doors and taking advantages of those situations that He puts in my path to share the Gospel, teaching His Word or be an encouragement in the lives of others.

--Glorify God in your life. Yes. In my words. In my actions. In my thoughts. In EVERYTHING I do. No matter how small or large, how simple or complex, how temporal or eternal...I'm to glorify Him. Colossians 3:17 - "And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus..."

--Excel still more. No matter where I am and what I'm currently doing or involved in, I should be pushing myself, setting goals to achieve to increase my knowledge and understanding of Jesus Christ even more. Never staying at a plateau, but aspiring to continue in the work and ministry which He's given me the ability to do. I Thess. 4:1 - "...we urge and exhort in the Lord Jesus that you should abound more and more, just as you received from us how you ought to walk and to please God."

--Present your life as a living sacrifice to the Lord. God has richly given to me and in return, I should render myself; all I am, all I have, all I can do to Him. Keeping in mind that I am to die to sin day after day and live to righteousness more and more. Continually. Romans 12: 1-2 - "...present your bodies a living and holy sacrifice, acceptable to God, which is your spiritual service of worship. And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect."

--Deny self. So easy to say and know, but oh so hard to do! My example to follow? Jesus Christ. He willingly laid down His life for me. He willingly obeyed God the Father, even when His human nature fought it. I should have a willingness to obey His commands, serve others, do what He's called me to do, follow His ways and not the ways of the world. Not just once. Daily. Hour by hour. Luke 9:23 - "If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow Me."

--Servants of Christ. I am a servant of Christ. What's the definition of a servant? One who serves. Willingly. One who exerts himself for the benefit of another. Again, who is my example? Jesus Christ. And what was Jesus Christ? A humble and willing servant. Matthew 20:28 - "Just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.”

--Must have a discerning spirit. What I see, hear and do should be aligned with God's Word. His Word is the ultimate source of Truth and the basis of what I do should be compared with His Word. God's Word is living and powerful and needs to be in my heart and mind for It is the true discernment of truth versus falsehood.

--Strive to become like Christ. Jesus Christ is my ultimate example. My eyes should be fixed on Him. Unwavering. Unmovable. Just like driving and following that white line in the road. Gluing my eyes to Him and not allowing anything to deter me from that line of sight. Nothing. Ephesians 5:1 - "Therefore be imitators of God, as beloved children."

What should be my most important goal for 2011? Exactly what is written above. In fact, I want to be reminded of that everyday. I want that to be my challenge week after week; all fifty-two weeks of this year. Right now this list is hanging on my mirror in my room where I see it every morning. Where as I'm getting dressed, putting on my makeup and doing my hair, God can use those words in my heart and mind to remind me what's most important in life.

Last year brought many changes into my life that weren't on my original set of goals for 2010. And this year will bring some changes I'm planning and others that I'm unaware of, but through it all my purpose must remain the same -- to glorify Christ in whatever I do, whatever situation I'm in.

Just like my Dad says, "Remember who you are. You are a child of God. Remember what your purpose is. It is to serve Christ."