IMPACT Recap

Better Habits Better Year

January 1, 2024 · 0:53:11

ObedienceFaithBlessings

Recap

Pastor Lee McFarland opened the New Year's Eve service with a humorous story about a parking lot encounter to introduce the theme of 'Better Habits, Better Year.' He emphasized that the two key habits for 2024 are to 'Trust and Obey.' Pastor Lee clarified that Christian obedience is not about earning God's favor for salvation, which is a free gift through faith in Jesus, but is a loving response to that acceptance. He shared a personal story of a career setback that God used for a greater blessing, illustrating that frustrating circumstances can be God's setup for future opportunities. The sermon centered on the story of Naaman from 2 Kings 5, using his leprosy as a symbol of sin and his healing as a picture of God's grace. Pastor Lee outlined five key responses: trusting that Jesus has the answer, praying for discernment, resisting anger when God doesn't follow our plans, obeying God's voice even when it defies logic, and expecting Jesus to exceed our wildest dreams. He challenged the congregation to start the year with practical steps of obedience, including tithing as a test of putting God first, and encouraged everyone to choose celebration over bracing for the unknown because God is with us.

Main Points

  • Trust and obey God as a response of love, not as a way to earn salvation or favor.
  • God's plans often defy our logic, but small acts of obedience lead to big blessings and open doors we cannot foresee.
  • Choose to celebrate God's presence and trust His hand in the coming year, rather than bracing for difficulty.

Verses Mentioned

  • Deuteronomy 28:2 - "All these blessings will come on you and accompany you if you obey the Lord your God." (NIV)
  • Isaiah 30:21 - "Whether you turn to the right or to the left, your ears will hear a voice behind you, saying, "This is the way; walk in it."" (NIV)
  • 2 Kings 5:1 - "Now Naaman was commander of the army of the king of Aram. He was a great man in the sight of his master and highly regarded, because through him the Lord had given victory to Aram. He was a valiant soldier, but he had leprosy." (NIV)
  • 2 Kings 5:2-3 - "Now bands of raiders from Aram had gone out and had taken captive a young girl from Israel, and she served Naaman’s wife. She said to her mistress, “If only my master would see the prophet who is in Samaria! He would cure him of his leprosy.”" (NIV)
  • Psalm 146:3 - "Do not put your trust in princes, in human beings, who cannot save." (NIV)
  • 2 Kings 5:9-12 - "So Naaman went with his horses and chariots and stopped at the door of Elisha’s house. Elisha sent a messenger to say to him, “Go, wash yourself seven times in the Jordan, and your flesh will be restored and you will be cleansed.” But Naaman went away angry and said, “I thought that he would surely come out to me and stand and call on the name of the Lord his God, wave his hand over the spot and cure me of my leprosy. Are not Abana and Pharpar, the rivers of Damascus, better than all the waters of Israel? Couldn’t I wash in them and be cleansed?” So he turned and went off in a rage." (NIV)
  • 2 Kings 5:13-14 - "Naaman’s servants went to him and said, “My father, if the prophet had told you to do some great thing, would you not have done it? How much more, then, when he tells you, ‘Wash and be cleansed’!” So he went down and dipped himself in the Jordan seven times, as the man of God had told him, and his flesh was restored and became clean like that of a young boy." (NIV)
  • Deuteronomy 14:23 - "Eat the tithe of your grain, new wine and olive oil, and the firstborn of your herds and flocks in the presence of the Lord your God at the place he will choose as a dwelling for his Name, so that you may learn to revere the Lord your God always." (NIV)

Daily Action Plan

Monday

Scripture Reflection: Deuteronomy 28:2 (NIV) - "All these blessings will come on you and accompany you if you obey the Lord your God."

Focus Point: The connection between obedience and blessing.

Action Plan: Identify one area where you know God is asking for your obedience. Commit to taking the first step today.

Deep Prayer: Lord, open my ears to hear Your voice clearly. Give me the courage to obey, trusting that Your ways lead to blessing.

Tuesday

Scripture Reflection: Isaiah 30:21 (NIV) - "Whether you turn to the right or to the left, your ears will hear a voice behind you, saying, 'This is the way; walk in it.'"

Focus Point: Cultivating spiritual discernment.

Action Plan: Spend the first 10 minutes of your day in quiet, asking God for guidance. Write down any promptings you sense.

Deep Prayer: Father, thank You for guiding me. Sharpen my spiritual hearing today so I can recognize and follow Your gentle voice.

Wednesday

Scripture Reflection: 2 Kings 5:13-14 (NIV) - "So he went down and dipped himself in the Jordan seven times... and his flesh was restored..."

Focus Point: Obedience in the face of illogical instructions.

Action Plan: Is there a 'Jordan River' in your life—something God is asking that seems foolish or small? Choose to obey it fully, step by step.

Deep Prayer: Jesus, I surrender my need for everything to make sense. I choose to trust Your wisdom and obey, even when I don't understand.

Thursday

Scripture Reflection: Psalm 146:3 (NIV) - "Do not put your trust in princes, in human beings, who cannot save."

Focus Point: Placing ultimate trust in God alone.

Action Plan: Reflect on where you might be placing too much hope in human solutions (government, finances, people). Intentionally redirect that hope to God in prayer.

Deep Prayer: God, I declare that my ultimate trust is in You. Forgive me for looking to others to save me. You are my hope and my salvation.

Friday

Scripture Reflection: Deuteronomy 14:23 (NIV) - "...so that you may learn to revere the Lord your God always."

Focus Point: Putting God first through practical surrender.

Action Plan: Evaluate your finances. If you are not tithing, take a step of faith today, whether it's starting or catching up, as an act of putting God first.

Deep Prayer: Lord, all I have is Yours. I put You first with my resources. Teach me to revere You in every area of my life, starting here.

Saturday

Scripture Reflection: 2 Kings 5:1-3 (NIV) - "...a young girl from Israel... said, 'If only my master would see the prophet...! He would cure him...'"

Focus Point: God using unexpected people and moments.

Action Plan: Be open to being used by God in a simple way today. Look for an opportunity to offer a word of hope or kindness to someone, as the servant girl did.

Deep Prayer: Holy Spirit, make me sensitive and available today. Use me as Your instrument to point someone toward the hope and healing found in Jesus.

2026© Powered by jocal AI

All Rights Reserved by jocal.dev