Three Questions and a Prayer to Begin the New Year

As we begin 2022, I have three questions for us. First, are our best days behind us or in front of us? Second, what if we leveraged everything we had to be a positive influence for Jesus? Third, what if we prayed the Wesley Covenant Prayer and meant every word!

Question # 1 - Are our best days ahead of us or behind us? A great question for us to begin 2022. Let me share with hope and positivity; I believe the best days for Shalimar United Methodist Church are ahead of us. Jesus Christ is always doing a new work in His congregation. Our choice is to join in with Jesus and bring positivity in every word and action for Jesus!

Question #2 - What if we leveraged everything we had to be a daily positive influence for Jesus? And a follow-up question what simple positive things can I do in the name of Jesus every day? What would our church look like if everyone in our congregation committed to lifting the positive message of Jesus in word and deed every day?

Question #3.- What if we all prayed the Wesley Covenant Prayer and lived it out each day? The Wesley Covenant prayer has long been used to start the words, and the structure has helped generations find traction in the quest to transform into the person God has in mind. The Covenant Prayer is as follows:

 I am no longer my own but yours.
 Put me to what you will rank me with whom you will;
 put me to doing, put me to suffering;
 let me be employed for you, or laid aside for you,
 exalted for you, or brought low for you;
 let me be full,
 let me be empty,
 let me have all things,
 let me have nothing:
 I freely and wholeheartedly yield all things
 to your pleasure and disposal.
 And now, glorious and blessed God,
 Father, Son, and Holy Spirit,
 you are mine, and I am yours. So be it.
 And the covenant now made on earth, let it be ratified in heaven.
 Amen.

What a PRAYER! To remain hopeful and positive for Jesus, we need the Fuel of PRAYER. Prayer will help us stay hopeful through the highs and lows of the New Year. So what are our answers to the three questions?

I look forward to sharing the positive work of Jesus in our congregation this year!

Shalom,
Philip