By the time you have read this another year may have gone into eternity and a new year may have taken its place. A new year represents a new beginning, new chances and opportunities, a clean slate, a new life. That is the appeal of a brand new year. How will you begin the year? Will you begin it prayerfully reminiscing of last years failings and weaknesses and a resolve to walk more closely with Jesus or will it be, as someone once said, a new start on old habits?
(1) Retrospect – God’s goodness and our thankfulness
Ps 65:11 Thou crownest the year with thy goodness; and thy paths drop fatness.
One writer said “Praise God! As I see what the Lord has wrought, I am filled with astonishment, and with confidence in Christ as leader. We have nothing to fear for the future, except as we shall forget the way the Lord has led us, and His teaching in our past history.”
Psa. 68:19 says “Blessed be the Lord, who daily loadeth us with benefits, even the God of our salvation. Selah.” We need to acknowledge that it is not by our own strength and prowess that we have gotten thus far. Psa. 75:6 tells us “For promotion cometh neither from the east, nor from the west, nor from the south.”
Where does it come from? Deut.8:18 aanswers “But thou shalt remember the LORD thy God: for it is he that giveth thee power to get wealth ….”.
God’s mercy has been great to us over the past year. We can say with the psalmist in Psa. 136:1 “O give thanks unto the LORD; for he is good: for his mercy endureth for ever.”
Nine times we see that text with the very same words in the Bible! (See 1 Chron. 16:34, Psa. 106:1, Psa. 107:1, Psa. 118:1, Psa. 118:29, Psa. 136:1, Psa. 136:2, Psa. 136:3, Psa. 136:26). No doubt God’s mercy and our resultant thankfulness are indispensable themes in the Word of God.
Not only should we br thankful to God on Thanksgiving day. We are pilgrim’s ourselves in this world and every day we should lift up our hearts in thankfulness to God. Even in a church setting we can “Enter into his gates with thanksgiving, and into his courts with praise: be thankful unto him, and bless his name.” (See Psa. 100:4).
Let us not be like nine of the ten lepers who, when Jesus healed them, did not return to thank Him. Jesus had to tell the one grateful former leper in Luke 17:17 “…Were there not ten cleansed? but where are the nine?”
(2) Retrospect – Our failings
Have we been true to God this past year? Have we been worthy of the name Christian? Have we cursed like Peter and refused to be identified with Jesus when things got tough? Have we betrayed the Lord like Judas, perhaps even over money? Have we doubted Jesus’ very existence like Thomas, a disciple? Have we vowed to do something for God like Ananias and Sapphira and then gone back on our promise and even lied to God?
(3) Looking ahead
Whatever has been our failing or weakness God can fix things and make everything alright. Satan may have bruised our heel but Jesus will heal our bruise. We may not be worthy but thank God “Worthy is the Lamb that was slain to receive power, and riches, and wisdom, and strength, and honour, and glory, and blessing.” The blood of the lamb on Calvary can give us life. It can give us power. You see, the blood of others may give us aids but the blood of Jesus aids us in the trials of life. It empowers us. It shields us. It comforts us.
So let 1/1/11 (one one one one) be wonderful come what may. Each day from 1/1/11 remember that Jesus is “THE ONE.” The Holy Bible in Isa 45:21 says “… there is no God else beside me; a just God and a Saviour; there is none beside me.” Yes, Jesus is THE ONE.
See these other articles:
The First Countries to Enter The New Year 2011 | Socyberty
Kiribati The First Country to Enter The New Year 2011 | Socyberty
Top Ten Bible Promises to Have a Happy New Year | Relijournal
Top Ten Interesting Ways to Say Happy New Year (Different Languages) | Socyberty
God Knows All About Your Situation | Relijournal
For Those Who Need Comfort at This Time | Relijournal
Mnemonic – Remembering The Promises of God to Comfort Us in Our Trials | Relijournal
Mnemonic to Remember Bible Promises on Guidance | Relijournal
God Saw The Chilean Miners | Relijournal
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Happy New Year to you, have a wonderful year.
And a very happy and blessed New Year to you and your family indeed..thanks for always sharing inspiring posts
Happy New Year, and very nice verses to reflect on.
Happy New Year to you all as well!
Very interesting share.