2009, A new year has begun for each one of us. We will be faced with
new challenges and opportunities as we work our way through the next 360
+ days. We will have opportunities to shine our light on people everyday
through our walk with Christ. We will form new relationships that will
change the way we look at life. We can change other people’s lives if
our walk is in harmony with the teachings of Christ. We will face many
challenges but will get thought those challenges if we trust God to be
in control. If we place the only thing that we have and God wants, our
trust, then we will put Him in control. By demonstrating our trust, by
placing Christ in the center of all decisions, then we will shine that
light for others to see. He has your back. In fact, He will see you
through! I am reminded in Jeremiah that the Lord has plans for my life
if I place my trust in him.

“For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to
prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.
Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to
you.” -Jeremiah 29:11-12(NIV)

I was reading something about the biggest problem people have with their
trust in God is their own self- esteem. People, especially men struggle
with self-esteem problems. Projecting outwardly who they want people to
think they are but feeling differently about themselves on the inside.
We need to understand that God only want the very best for us, he has
plans for us and our future.

Shopping Mall Theology– First popularized by Josh McDowell:

“You are special because you are of great value and worth to God. …
The value or worth of an object is usually determined by the price one
is willing to pay to purchase or redeem it. It couldn’t be more true for
you and me … I am worth the price God paid for me, which was
‘Jesus’ … the real basis for a healthy self-image is to understand and
accept the value God has placed on you. …Christ’s loving actions on
your behalf have demonstrated and documented forever the great value you
have to God”

This “shopping mall” theology — that the value of an object is equal to
the price paid for it — has become quite a popular concept among many
people in today’s professing church. This “theology” goes something like
this: “The death of Christ on the cross is God’s price tag on the human
soul; it means we really are somebodies, that we are of great value to
God. After all, why would God pay such a great price if we’re not worth
it?” On the contrary, the Bible teaches that Christ didn’t die for
somebodies but for sinners. The price He paid on the cross does not
establish my personal worth, but instead was required to meet the claims
of divine justice. In fact, the greater the price the costlier my sin,
not the greater my worth! That the sinless Son of God had to die upon
the cross to redeem me is not anything that should make me feel good
about myself, but instead humbled and ashamed, for it was my sins that
nailed Him there. How could that fact possibly build up my self-esteem?
I don’t think that when we hear about our sin it help to improve our
self-esteem. But, I know for sure that God loves me so much He planned
and sent His son to earth and through grace I am redeemed. This does
help with my self-esteem. I want to trust him with my life decisions
because of my value to Him.

2009, is going to be a good year for me because I am surrounded by
friends that love me and want to help me to be the best person God wants
me to be. Friends that pray for me and my family each day. They lift my
name up to God to find favor, peace and healing in my life each day.
They are the mortar and Christ is the rock that I will build my
foundation in this new year. Faith in the world will bring low
self-esteem but faith in God will bring joy and understanding. My
friends will help me bridge the gap in my inner self.

I hope for your new year of 2009, you will surround yourselves with
friends that will support you through prayer, love and understanding.
They will help you bridge the gaps in your lives to be the best person
that God wants you to be. That you will finds ways to serve, to find
hope, to trust and make Christ the center of all of your decisions. That
your light will shine for others to see and that you will have Happy New
Year 2009…

- STEVE RUSK

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