7 I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. ~ 2 Timothy 4:7CSB
This is Paul’s final letter to Timothy. Matter-a-fact, this is believed to have been Paul’s last letter. Imagine that. What a statement to make. There was no doubt in Paul’s mind that he had finished the race set before him. He had fulfilled his God-given call. He had overcome trial after trial. Obstacle after obstacle. Persecution after persecution. He had faithfully followed the path God had laid before him.
This is the last day of the year. I want you to really be honest with yourself and with God. Can you truthfully say, without a shadow of a doubt in your mind that you have lived this year following the path God has for your life? Have you spent this year, that ends tonight at 11:59, fulfilling your God-given call? So many of us get so caught up in everything else. We get so busy with life, that the year comes and goes and we’re still in the same spiritual place we were at the beginning of the year.
Today is New Year’s Eve and I want you to think about this past year. What did you waste time doing? What could you have done better? Did you achieve anything? Did you grow spiritually? Did you backslide? Be honest with yourself and God. Then prepare for next year. A new start. Ask yourself, if you knew this coming year 2025 was your last year on this earth, how would you live it?
Dear LORD, I’m sorry for every moment I wasted and every opportunity You gave me that I didn’t take. I’m sorry for each time I backed away from Your call or fell short of Your desires for me. Please help me not to spend another year going through the motions not going anywhere. Please LORD, help me to spiritually grow this coming year. Help me to fast more. To pray more. To worship more. To read my Bible more. To spend more time with You. Please help me not to be distracted or tripped up by the world, but that I might overcome the world through You. In Jesus’ name, I pray, amen.