HOPE FOR A NEW YEAR

What are your hopes for this new year of 2011? Are you anxious about the future may hold?  We do live in troubled times, and we do not know what the year ahead holds for us individually, for our nation or for our world.

There are many fears we can address in these times of depressed economy and the fear of terrorists and their threats.   You may fear losing your job, your home and your security.  You may be facing great physical challenges this year, or the death of loved ones.  All these things can cause us to be anxious, but we do know that our God is in the heavens, and He is in control.  We can be sure of His precious promises, and He never fails.  “Great is His faithfulness!”

God pays attention to His people.  Whether God offers escape from trouble or help in times of trouble, He always hears and acts for those who love Him.  Praise the Lord! And He calms our fears and brings us peace.

“He frees us to be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be known to God.  And the peace of God, which surpasses all comprehension, shall guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus” Philippians 4:6-7.

It is very easy to worry and to fret about the economy or if we will even have a job to support our families.  God is perfectly capable to supplying everything we need.  If He takes care of the birds, then surely He will take care of us, since we are more precious to Him than the birds.  See Matthew 6:25-34.

Worry never accomplishes anything, and we all worry about little things, big things.  But Jesus tells us in Matthew 6:27 that we cannot add a single day to our lives by worrying, nor can we make ourselves more secure or happier or happier by worrying. 

Constant worry indicates that we don’t really believe in the sovereignty of God; we don’t trust His power and His care for us.  If we are in God’s hands, then what can really harm us?  “What then shall we say to these things?  If God is for us, who can be against us” Romans 8:31.  We also need to ask if we have our priorities straight.  Jesus tells us in Matthew 6:33: “Seek ye first the kingdom of God and His righteousness; and all these things shall be added to you.”  If we fill our minds with thoughts of God’s grace revealed in our Lord Jesus Christ, there won’t be any room for worry.

Live one day at a time.  Don’t borrow trouble by worrying about tomorrow, when we do not know if we will even have a tomorrow.  Today is a present, God’s gift to us.  Use it, cherish it.  It is okay to look ahead and plan, just so long as we remember to follow the counsel of James 4:15: “Instead, you ought to say, ‘if the Lord wills, we will live and also do this or that.”

What is the cure for worry and our anxious thoughts, PRAY!  This is what Paul tells us in Philippians 4:6:

“and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Jesus Christ.”

                                              MY NEW YEAR’S PRAYER FOR YOU

Our Heavenly Father in Heaven, as the old year ends and the New Year begins forgive us for the failures of vanished days.  Keep us from worry and fear, and let us face forward with a hope and great expectation for the coming year.

You, Oh God, are from everlasting to everlasting, and you are granting us a new beginning of days, and let us walk those days knowing that You are there to lead and guide in every situation that we may face.

Oh, Lord, help us to abound in whatever is pleasing to You.  May we know that without You we can do nothing, and that in You all things are possible.

And Oh Lord, as the days pass over us, teach us to be thankful for past mercies and ever ready to serve You in the days ahead.  In Jesus’ Name, Amen

Happy New Year!

Pastor Sharon