Happy New Year!
I know, I know. Some of us are thinking, “Yeal, yeal, yeal. What’s so great about another new year? It’s another year of bills, another year of rebellious kids or cranky spouse, another year in a disastrous job (or no job), another year of never ending health issues...” Yada, yada, yada.
But hark, I bring you good news of yes - great joy. God is in control! Not me. Not you. The Creator of the entire universe has our agenda set for 2010. And more good news - His plans are to prosper us and bring a hope for our future. His goals for this year are not to harm us, destroy us, sorrow us, or cause us to consume a gallon of ice cream before the day’s over. His plans are - in fact - perfect.
We feeble human beings, however, just don’t have a clue what God has planned for us this year. You see, we’re a bit in the dark on this, but we can confidently trust that God will shine the light on the precise steps we are to take. I mean really - would you make horrible, dreadful plans for your child this year? Nope. Yet God loves you MORE than you love your child (wayward or not), grandchild, or favorite sweater. His desire is for us to love Him - TRUST Him. We may not trust ourselves, but we can trust our loving, all-knowing Heavenly Father.
And just because we aren’t aware of all the great things God has planned for us doesn’t mean they don’t exist. Paul told us (Remember Paul? Think - prison, shipwrecked, beaten, cold, hungry, stoned and left for dead!) in 1 Corinthians 2:9, “However, as it is written: ‘No eye has seen, no ear has heard, no mind has conceived what God has prepared for those who love him…’”
For who? For those who work their tail off, worry like no tomorrow, bite their fingernails and get ulcers in the process? No. For those who LOVE Him. That’s it. Love Him.
So on this first day of a fresh, new year I urge you to ask yourself, “Where do I want to be at the end of these 365 days? God has us hanging-out on this earth for a distinct purpose. Therefore, we all have a responsibility to discover our purpose, put feet on our faith, and aim for our goals. What are your goals? What are your dreams? And most importantly, what are you doing to make them happen?
First and foremost, ask God to open the doors - to bless you with the opportunities, situations, and relationships you need to succeed in accomplishing all He has planned for you. Remember, His plans are for our enjoyment so that we can live an abundant life. However, Satan wants to steal, kill, and destroy those plans. Who will you listen to?
Start today – break a bad habit, improve your health, learn a new skill, spend more time in the Word, be a blessing, encourage someone, and enjoy your life to the max. Granted, the situations may not change overnight, but we’ll certainly enjoy the process and defeat the enemy’s schemes to make our days as dreadful as possible.
Decide on this day – a new year – a new decade – a new proclamation – this WILL be my best year ever. That doesn’t mean there will be no financial problems, rebellious kids, difficult jobs, health issues, or expanding thighs (a direct result of consuming that gallon of ice cream), but it does mean that we will have victory over all things when we trust in God’s sovereign, perfect, and loving plans for us.
May we all choose to know God and experience a “Happy New Year” all year long. Yada, yada, Yahweh!
