A new year has begun. A new year means fresh beginnings, a chance to start over, an opportunity to try again. A new year to me means new opportunities, more possibilities and more exciting adventures waiting for me.

In the lead up to the new year I  began reading and meditating on the sermon on the mount found in the book of Matthew. It was a chance to reconnect and remind myself about what Jesus left for us to do. I really want the word that Jesus spoke to be tattooed on my heart and walked out in my every day life.

He called us to be meek and to hunger and thirst after righteousness. He wants us to be merciful. To not be angry with one another, to not seek out revenge but to show one another forgiveness and to be a peacemaker. To love and pray for those who may persecute you, or who persecute anyone for that matter.

He wants us to be salt and light to the world. For us to shine in the darkness so that those who surround you can see you displaying Gods great love and their hearts would turn to Him.

He wants us to give to the needy. To feed and clothe the hungry and the poor. To take care of the widow and the orphan. To show love unconditionally and to cast aside judgements.

He wants us to seek Him out, to pray to him in our secret place. He said that we can knock on his door, ask of him and seek him and He will always answer us.

He wants us to cast aside worry and to pick up His peace and walk in His freedom. He reminds us that only those who do the will of the Father will enter heaven and He leaves us with this “hear these words and put them into action”.

I guess this year for me is all about being more intentional about these things, to go after them more than I normally have in the past. To love unconditionally, to care for the orphan, to pray more for others to be a peacemaker and to show forgiveness.