A new year is a time for individuals to reflect on the previous 12 months, make resolutions for the upcoming year, and in some cases, make decisions that can have a lasting impact.

The second week of a new year is usually when we change what we were going to do. Our plans evaporate into nothing, or morph into something more manageable. Or, we discover that some of them are so much easier to achieve than we imagined. We maybe even learn that it's not the time of year, but the attitude of the resolver than makes the difference between success and failure.

In the spiritual arena, it's not much different, except it is the leading of the Holy Spirit that should make the difference in where we hold on, and where we let go. I look back over the past 12 months and see great points, and low points. I see what I believe to be my successes and fails. I see where I got tired and bogged down, but I also see growth, passion kindled and hunger growing.

I'm sure all of us can see the same things if we reflect on our own lives the past 12 months.

So it is with a congregation. We have a time of reflection, and a time of looking forward. As we look forward, in prayer, we ask God for his guidance and direction.

It has been on my heart for some time regarding vision. Either a fresh vision, or a confirmation of our current direction in our ministry. Yeah, that sounds a little scary, or maybe ominous. It's not meant to be. It's a simple statement of how I believe we all need to be; both as a community and as individuals, coming before God regularly for His guidance and specifics as we work toward the "Great Commission" of reaching others with the Gospel of Jesus Christ, expressing ourselves in love for God and love of our fellow man.

So, as we head into 2019, may we seek God's specific plan for us, asking boldly, "God, what does the upcoming year of ministry for Open Door Community Church look like?", and the followup prayer "God, show me my part in Your plan for this ministry".

I believe He will answer. The only question remains - will we faithfully walk in that plan.