Day 4 - January 11th | "Investment" by Pastor Jeremy Burnett

One important thing to consider when reflecting on life as a new year starts is INVESTMENTS. I’m not necessarily talking about stocks and bonds, but they say you can learn a lot about a person from looking at their checking account register. If someone looked at yours, what would they assume about you by what you are investing your finances in? The same could be said about your time. Are you investing on things that will help you become the person that you want to become? Are you giving more time to your loved ones, your church, and other things you care about or is your life filled with work, stress, and the next project? Luke 16:10a says, “If you are faithful in little things, you will be faithful in large ones.” Being wise and faithful with the way you invest now prepares you for the future that God has planned for you.

It is so important to take care of yourself, and this is a great time to make changes that will help. I want to encourage you to invest in YOU! Identify things you want to be, and make and follow a plan to get there. Spend time in the Word, in prayer, and worshiping God (both at church and on our own.) Next, invest in your FAMILY! If you are married, invest in your marriage. Take time to regularly date your spouse (even if that means getting a babysitter.) Schedule family fun with your kids before the calendar gets filled up with the busyness of life! Spend time praying together and leading family devotionals. Finally, spend time investing in OTHERS! That might be your friends, or your neighbors, or the cashier at Wal-Mart! Ask God to help you identify people in your community that you can focus on. Show them God’s love. That might mean inviting them over, just listening to how they are doing, or it might mean sharing your testimony or praying for them. God will help you to be Christ’s ambassador if you are willing to be used. You are uniquely qualified for the position as God made you just the way you are and placed you purposefully in the lives of those you interact with regularly. Are you willing to make an investment in yourself and others this year?