Has it been just an okay year. . .and you’re so ready for something new?

Are you ready to leave the pains and hurts of 2024 in the rearview mirror?

Are you ready to move to a spiritual place you’ve never been before?

Do you remember ever driving to a place you’ve never been before . . .found yourself not knowing if you were heading in the right direction but you still continued on?

I think this is particularly true. . .of most men. . .there is a hesitancy to stop and ask for directions. . .until it’s clearly obvious that you’re headed in the wrong direction.

There is an amazing parallel in life where some people know they’re headed in the wrong direction but they keep hesitating to make the decision to turn things around.

Jeremiah 8:4 in the Contemporary English Version says:

“[The People Took the Wrong Road ] The LORD said: People of Jerusalem, when you stumble and fall, you get back up, and if you take a wrong road, you turn around and go back.”

The lifestyle turnaround begins with asking for forgiveness for our sins and returning to God.

Acts 3:19 in the Amplified Bible says:

Have you ever wondered how to get a fresh start?

Over the years. . .we’ve heard that expression so many times.

“Brother Harold and Sister Bev, I just want a fresh start.  How can I make that happen?”

Truthfully, you can have a fresh start. . .with God’s help. . .and guess what. . .He’s ready to help you. . .get going.

1 Corinthians 1:26 MSG

“. . .Everything that we have—right thinking and right living, a clean slate and a fresh start—comes from God by way of Jesus Christ. . .”

Romans 8:11 MSG

“When God lives and breathes in you (and he does, as surely as he did in Jesus), you are delivered from that dead life. With his Spirit living in you, your body will be as alive as Christ's!”

Why does God want you to have a fresh start?

Exodus 9:16 in the New Living Translation says:

“But I have spared you for a purpose—to show you my power and to spread my fame throughout the earth.”

Have you ever wondered how to get noticed?

Have you ever desired to be noticed at work. . .as an employee of value. . .with good ideas?

Have you ever wanted to be noticed in a social setting?

Have you ever just wanted to be noticed by anybody for anything?

One more thing. . .before we go any further.

The One you should want most to notice you. . .is Jesus.

As you read this teaching, think about what you have to do to be noticed by Him.

Here are the seven ways to get noticed... in the right ways.

1.         Obeying His Word

Do you love God?  Of course you do or you wouldn’t be right here right now.

But how do you know if you really love God?

John 14:15 in the Amplified Bible, Classic Edition says:

Have you ever been in a serious thunderstorm. . .or maybe even a hurricane or tornado?

I’ve never been in a tornado but I have been through a couple of hurricanes and many serious thunderstorms.

During our time in Texas. . .it was not unusual to have thunderstorms with 60-70 mile an hour winds and frequent lightning strikes.  I remember one storm where there were over 1,000 lighting strikes in an hour.

When serious storms come up. . .we’re looking for a safe place. 

How would you react if you were in the middle of the sea when a violent storm arose?

Mark 4:37 in the Classic Amplified Bible says:

“And a furious storm of wind [of hurricane proportions] arose, and the waves kept beating into the boat, so that it was already becoming filled.”

The disciples and Jesus were crossing the Sea of Galilee when a violent storm began to rage.  The disciples were frightened, fearful and faithless in the midst of what they perceived to be a potentially, deadly situation.

Here are seven things we should do when facing the storms of our lives.

1.       When trouble is headed your way. . .always do what Jesus did.

Would you like to have spiritual boldness?

You don’t need an expensive seminar or weekend conference to gain spiritual boldness.

There have been some good books written on developing boldness and confidence but the best book on the subject. . .was written thousands of years ago.

Developing spiritual boldness is not an outside job. . .but rather. . .an inside work.

Ephesians 3:12 in the Classic Amplified Bible says:

“In Whom, because of our faith in Him, we dare to have the boldness (courage and confidence) of free access (an unreserved approach to God with freedom and without fear).”

Our 24/7 access to our Heavenly Father. . .was made possible by the blood of Jesus on Calvary’s cross.

2 Corinthians 3:12 in the Classic Amplified Bible says:

“Since we have such [glorious] hope (such joyful and confident expectation), we speak very freely and openly and fearlessly.”

Confidence in God and His Word. . .gives us a boldness to be about Kingdom business.

Acts 28:31 in the Classic Amplified Bible says:

“Preaching to them the kingdom of God and teaching them about the Lord Jesus Christ with boldness and quite openly, and without being molested or hindered.”

One of the things that should give you spiritual boldness is knowing that God has chosen you for a divine assignment.