In his sermon, Pastor J Spurling reflects on the common struggle of maintaining New Year’s resolutions and how this mirrors the experiences of the people in the book of Haggai. As many lose the initial excitement of their goals due to life's distractions, the Israelites, after returning from Babylonian exile, initially set out to rebuild the temple but allowed their busy lives and priorities to result in neglect. Pastor J emphasizes the importance of realigning our priorities to put God first, inviting the congregation to consider how life's pressures might distract us from our spiritual commitments and the need for deepening our relationship with God.Pastor J draws attention to three self-assessment tools to help the congregation make God a priority: recognizing misalignment in our lives, understanding God's purpose in discipline, and recommitting to God’s priorities. He points out that struggles and dissatisfaction often indicate misplaced priorities, and that God's loving discipline serves to redirect our focus back to Him. By responding to God's call, as the people of Haggai did, we can experience His blessings. The sermon concludes with a call to action for individuals to examine their lives and put God first in every aspect, trusting in His promise, "I am with you," as they seek to align their lives with His will.
