So, we're nearly a week into 2012 already, but there's still time to consider the year ahead.  Socrates said, "The unexamined life is not worth living."  Have you examined your life at the head of another new year?  Have you stopped as we have been doing this week to examine your commitments, to consider what easy ways you may have been taking that won't lead to the life Jesus promises, to reflect on the future and hope God has for you, and  to think about what may be the next right thing for you?  I've taken this week to point us all in the direction of living a meaningful year.  Of course living a meaningful year starts with living a meaningful day, and then adding another and another and... 

But even before living those meaningful days one at a time, living a meaningful year means taking some time to pray and reflect on the big picture of life.  The reason the unexamined life is not worth living is because it's like a piece of driftwood in a river: while it may be afloat and moving, it has no clue where it's going or why.  The chief difference between you and me and a piece of driftwood is God gave us the ability to think and reflect.  We can consider our steps, knowing that as we do God will direct our paths.  Perhaps one of the best, single pieces of advice is found in Proverbs 3:5-6:  ⁵Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding;    
⁶in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight.  (Proverbs 3:5-6 NIV)  There's a lot of leaning on our own understanding these days, and also a lot of just letting things happen, without trusting in the Lord.  When King Solomon penned these words, he wasn't saying just hang loose and do whatever comes to your mind.  He was saying--as you make your plans TRUST the Lord with ALL your heart, and don't think your understanding will be enough.  Put God first in everything and He will make your direction clear. 

I don't know exactly where God is going to lead me this year, or year.  What I do know is He knows the way.  He has given us Jesus who told us that He is THE Way, THE Truth and THE Life and that no one comes to the Father--to our eternal destination!--except through Him.  While much of the world drifts through life, and another portion seeks to control every detail of life (without long-term success, I may add!) God calls us to lean into Him, to TRUST Him and LOVE Him, which means to OBEY Him.  As we do those things 2012 will not only be productive, it will be significant.  My prayer for each of us is we will take the time NOW to plan the year ahead, to consider the ways God wants to work in us and to guide us.  I pray we will all be filled with the Holy Spirit so we will love God fully and obey Him faithfully.

Let's pray:  Heavenly Father, Thank You for being worthy of all our trust.  Fill us with Your Holy Spirit so we may live significant lives to Your glory in 2012.  This we pray in Jesus'  name.  Amen.