Acts 9:3-6, "As he neared Damascus on his journey, suddenly a light from heaven flashed around him. He fell to the ground and heard a voice say to him, ‘Saul, Saul, why do you persecute me?' ‘Who are you, Lord?' Saul asked. ‘I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting,' he replied. ‘Now get up and go into the city, and you will be told what you must do.'"

Think

Happy New Year! Few things bring anticipation, hope, and expectation for change like turning the page on a calendar. Each year, millions upon millions of people look ahead to the next 12 months ready to change for the better. The mantra is "New year, new me!" But have you ever reached the end of a year and looked back, only to see the same old routine, the same old experiences, the same old you? The reality is that all of us have. God, though, wants something better than the same old, same old. He wants us to experience the kind of change that lasts. Like Saul experienced in today's passage, sometimes that change is completely unexpected, yet exactly what we need. As you begin 2018, it's great to look forward with anticipation and expectation. Be hopeful for what is to come. But be ready to experience a completely different outcome than you may have expected. Because when you follow God and His plan in the coming year, there's no limit to what He can do!

Act

New Year's resolutions are great. Yet, they are often based on temporary satisfaction. Right now, write out a New Year's resolution that will bring lasting change. Make sure you include spending time praying, reading God's Word, and being part of His House, the local church. Then, post your resolution somewhere prominent in your apartment or house so that you can be reminded each day of the true Source of change you seek to experience this year.

Pray

Dear Heavenly Father, thank You for the start of a new year. Thank you for the opportunities and experiences You have set before me in 2018. Help me, now, to expect the unexpected as I follow You. In Jesus' name, Amen!