What's Up for the New Year?

Photo by: Idea go

I always wonder, at the beginning of a new year, what’s in store?

• What’s the world going to be like?
• Are we going to lose freedoms?
• Will the church be persecuted?
• Will the Lord come this year?
• Will we suffer pain, sickness, or death? 

And then, I notice that a lot of what I wonder about—except the Lord’s imminent coming—is negative. Not a good sign.

I should be wondering what’s in store, more like this:

• What opportunities for friendships and outreach will God give me this year?
• How can I better my Christian influence and testimony this year?
• What will I be learning through my private Bible study and prayer?
• How can I encourage those God has put around me, in my church and in my circle of friends?
• How can I be a more effective wife, mother, grandmother, and friend?
• How can I be more efficient in my home and in ministry? Where do I need to streamline? Where do I need to organize better? How can I best use my time?
• How can I be a better giver?

God’s will is for us not to be anxious about tomorrow.

• Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God. And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus (Philippians 4:6-7).
• Therefore I say unto you, Take no thought for your life, what ye shall eat, or what ye shall drink; nor yet for your body, what ye shall put on. Is not the life more than meat, and the body than raiment? (Matthew 6:25, also in Luke 12:22).
• But when they shall lead you, and deliver you up, take no thought beforehand what ye shall speak, neither do ye premeditate: but whatsoever shall be given you in that hour, that speak ye: for it is not ye that speak, but the Holy Ghost (Matthew 13:11).
• Take therefore no thought for the morrow: for the morrow shall take thought for the things of itself. Sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof (Matthew 6:34). 

God’s will is that we trust Him to guide us each step. It is hard to look forward to a whole year of unknowns. But it’s easy to trust God for today. It’s easy to trust Him tomorrow for tomorrow, and the next day for the next day. I think it’s cool that the Lord knows this. Look at this verse: Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path (Psalm 119:105). There are two really great teachings in it:

1. God’s Word—the Bible—is like a little lamp. (Think flashlight.)
2. God’s Word lights right where our feet are supposed to go. It’s a spotlight for our path. 

With Psalm 119:105 (above) in mind, read Proverbs 3:5-6: Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths. Here are a few more concepts for the New Year:

1. Trusting the Lord—Jehovah God, the One who has always existed—with all our heart is important to our spiritual success.
2. Don’t depend on ourselves. It’s human to look to our own intellect, emotions, or even just to stubbornly follow our own goals and plans. Sometimes, God’s plans are very different from our own. We need to look to Him for the best outcome, every time, all the time.
3. Look to God in all our ways. Look to Him first—following His Word, and praying for direction.
4. When we do these three things, God will direct our paths. 

Going back to the Word of God lighting our path (Psalm 119:105), we notice that God didn’t compare His Word or His guidance to the sun. God knows everything and is all-powerful, yet He has chosen to light our feet only, one step at a time.

A new year is upon us.

May we follow God’s Word, trust Him to guide our paths, and may we walk each step of the way according to His holy will.

Now the God of peace, that brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus, that great shepherd of the sheep, through the blood of the everlasting covenant, Make you perfect in every good work to do his will, working in you that which is wellpleasing in his sight, through Jesus Christ; to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen (Hebrews 13:20-21).

God bless you!

Happy New Year 2014!