Happy New Year

My husband and I stopped doing the New Year’s Eve party thing long ago.  We generally make it an early evening – No silly hats or parties to greet the New Year – we get tired too early (and, funny thing, each new year has come in without us greeting it – it didn’t need our help.)

But, if we were celebrating anything on New Year’s Eve – these are the things I’d think about – things I’d remember – things I’d want to celebrate. 

I’d remember and celebrate certain things about last year.

·         Each day I was loved by our almighty Father God

·         There wasn’t a day when I really needed to worry - because I found that God was walking in each one of those days with me.

·         I had 365 days to use for his glory

·         And I discovered that, even with all the trials of the year, God was working things out for good.

So, let’s talk about each of these

We – each one of us, everyone is loved by the almighty God, and because He loves us, it doesn’t matter if anyone else does.  Sometimes we really don’t feel loved, do we?  Or sometimes the people who loved us deeply are on longer there.  But there is one who is there, who has always been there, one who does love us with a perfect love.

Because God is perfect, His love is perfect.  If you think of people in your past who have spoken words of love and that love was nothing but words, then you can see the difference in the love that comes from God. 

It’s a true love, a faithful love, a love that never fails. It never ends with just words. 

The Bible tells us in Lamentations 3:22 (ESV) – “The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases; his mercies never come to an end;”

That’s a beautiful thing to think about at the beginning of the year, isn’t it?

Next, let’s think about worry.  Well to begin with, worry is just a waste of time.

Do you remember the times when you’ve worried in the past and it did nothing to change the situation?  If you do, you’ll realize that worry is fruitless. – it does no good.  I’ll bet you can’t think of a single time that worrying helped 😊

Do you remember the times in the past that you’ve worried, and because of that worry you made yourself and your loved ones unhappy?  If you do, you know that worry is also destructive. 

Do you remember the times that you’ve worried, and that worrying caused you to lose sleep?  If you do, then you’ll know that worry is unhealthy. 

So why would we do something that is fruitless, destructive and unhealthy?  Especially when we don’t have to; especially when there is someone who can actually do something about the things we worry about.

That someone is God.  If we have faith in Him and His love, we can be sure that He has our worries in His almighty hand. 

Okey, next let’s think about all the days God has given us?  How have we used them?  Well - let’s not worry about how we used them last year because -

We have today. God has given us today.  The sun has risen.  Our eyes have opened.  We have breath and life.  That’s something to celebrate.  Now, how will we celebrate this gift - this day. 

What would it look like if we decided to give this day over to glorifying God?  Let’s think about what that could mean.   

The Bible tells us this in 2 Corinthians 5:17 (KJV)

 Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come.

So, giving this day over to glorifying God could mean that a bunch of the old useless stuff filling our lives, our thoughts, and our hearts would be thrown out and filled with something wonderful – righteousness.

And lastly, today let’s celebrate by remembering that God is able – He continues to prove it.

That’s huge!  It wouldn’t be much use to depend upon a God who wasn’t any bigger or more able than we are, would it? 

Sometimes, we question whether God cares when things don’t go as we wish.  We question whether he is in control when our world seems out of control.  We question whether He is near when we don’t bother to even look for Him. And we question whether He is able, when we don’t understand His ways.

2 Timothy 1:12 (KJV) tells us. . .  for I know in whom I have believed and am persuaded that he is able to keep that which I have committed unto him against that day.

Have you ever heard the song – He is able.  It goes this way.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uhJlCJ8jkec

The New Year is just beginning – it’s a good time to remember that -

·         Our Almighty God loves us
·         There’s no need to worry – because God has those worries in his hands.
·         God has given us this day to use for His glory
·         God is able to do far more than we could ever ask or think.