Last year, during our end of the year retreat, we took Frances Ridely Havergal's (1836-1879) hymn of consecration during our meeting, it is the popular "Take My Life And Let It Be". That hymn ministered to me like never before and my eyes opened to see the areas where you and me need to up our commitment to Christ.

The first thing Frances Ridely offered to God in her hymn was her life. The hymn began with: "Take My Life...". You and I need to start the year consecrating our lives to Christ again. Our deepest cry at this point should not be "Lord, give me a car this year" or "Lord, give me a better Life". As good as they are, nothing beats a life taken over by the master.

On a crucial day such as this, we need to evaluate our Christian journey in the previous year and re consecrate our lives to Christ once again. There is a dearth of sound and Christlike believers by the day. Hardly can we find reliable brethren from the pulpit to the pew.

Men and women who profess the faith are living for themselves instead of living for the master. Paul says: *"He died for everyone so that those who receive his new life will no longer live for themselves. INSTEAD, THEY WILL LIVE FOR CHRIST, who died and was raised for them ( 2 Corinthians 5:15 NLT)

At this time of the year, most of the counsel we'll get will be centred around goal setting, vision casting, re organizing our lives and those things that makes for a better life. They are good but we must not forget our commitment to Christ as we pursue other things. Gradually, as the world gets older, there is a decline in commitment to Christ and consecration to the things of the Lord.

You may have been giving your time, money and talent to God but If He hasn't taken hold of your life for himself, other offerings will make no meaning to him.

As you have been privileged to enter the new year, decide to live for Christ alone. Ask the Lord to take your life and let it be consecrated to him. You have wasted time in previous years in consecration to other things apart from the Lord. Turn a new leaf.