“So don’t lose a minute in building on what you’ve been given, complementing your basic faith with good character, spiritual understanding, alert discipline, passionate patience, reverent wonder, warm friendliness, and generous love, each dimension fitting into and developing the others. With these qualities active and growing in your lives, no grass will grow under your feet, no day will pass without its reward as you mature in your experience of our Master Jesus.”

2 Peter 1:5-9 MSG

It’s that time of year! Decorations are coming down. Families are going home. Resolutions are being made. And Black-eyed Peas are simmering, promising prosperity and blessings for the New Year!

Now, I’m not sure what you add to your Black-Eyed peas, but I don’t really have a recipe. I just add a little bit of this and little bit of that, and sometimes just a lot of nothing. But it’s often the next few days when they really begin to take character. Since I always have a boat load of peas, I must create new and different ways to break the monotony of leftovers by adding new spices, meats, or veggies. It’s those peas that I look forward to the most!

But even though it’s tradition, and I do love my Black-Eyed peas, I am keenly aware that the only blessing that really comes from my left-over peas is a full tummy and creative dinner making skills.

Peter reminds us that “Everything we could ever need for life and godliness has already been deposited in us by his divine power. For all this was lavished upon us through the rich experience of knowing him and he has given you magnificent promises that are beyond all price, so that through these promises we can experience partnership with his divine nature” (2 Peter 1:3-4 TPT paraphrased).

Many people confuse prosperity and blessings with being economically well off but let us realize that our prosperity and blessings come from our belief in, relationship with, and transformation through, our Lord Jesus Christ. When we accept His invitation to know Him, He enables us and empowers us to grow strong as Christ honoring individuals. And as we experience transformation and growth, we begin to flourish and mature and accomplish greater things.

So, as we move into this new year being thankful that we are not who we used to be, let us not just simmer in the knowledge we have already obtained, but find ways to complement and spice up what’s left over. Let us trust in the grace and peace of the One with Whom we partner, build new recipes, and look forward to who we are becoming.

Happy New Year my friends! May you be blessed with fresh vision, bold expectancy, powerful transformation, and amazing left over black-eyed peas!