Daily Devotional

As we have just completed another year, I would like to wish you and your family a blessed and joyous New Year.  Looking back over the past 365-days, I marvel at how quickly the year has gone.  A lot of things have happened in our world over the past twelve months.  Our country has chosen a new president…there is a huge political divide…nations are at odds with each other…tensions in the world seem to be at a breaking point.  Terrorism is often front-page news, as those who oppose freedom seek to instill fear into our lives.  It is reassuring to know that with all the events in life, God is the sure foundation upon which we can rest.  

Isaiah writes in Isaiah 26:3-4, “You will keep in perfect peace all who trust in you, all whose thoughts are fixed on you!  Trust in the Lord always, for the Lord God is the eternal Rock.” (New Living Translation) No matter what the New Year brings, we have the assurance that our faith in the Lord is the one sure foundation that will never be shaken.  We can have complete confidence in Him.  This is a constant reminder to the reality that the only way our world will ever experience peace is when the Prince of Peace returns to this earth to establish His kingdom.

Each New Year comes with the hope that this may be the year of the Lord’s return.  As we look around us, it is easy to fixate on all the problems.  Jesus told us things in our world will continue to deteriorate until His return.  Our hope is not in this world but in the person of our Savior, so we must choose to keep our eyes on Christ.  That is sometimes easier said than done as this world is so tangible and touches us in so many ways.  God is faithfully working in our lives and will continue that process until He comes.  “And I am certain that God, who began the good work within you, will continue his work until it is finally finished on the day when Christ Jesus returns.” (Philippians 1:6 New Living Translation)

No matter what the New Year brings, we have the assurance that we will never be separated from God’s love and protection.  He will care for us and meet each need in His perfect timing.  Paul wrote in Romans 8:35-39 these great words of encouragement, “Can anything ever separate us from Christ’s love? Does it mean he no longer loves us if we have trouble or calamity, or are persecuted, or hungry, or destitute, or in danger, or threatened with death?...No, despite all these things, overwhelming victory is ours through Christ, who loves us.” (New Living Translation)

I pray that this year will bring into your life God’s blessings and encouragement as we fix our eyes on Him.  Even when things happen in our lives that we do not understand, it does not mean that God doesn’t love us.  The God who is all-powerful, knows all things and never changes, has promised to never leave us or forsake us.  He will always love us.  He is totally trustworthy, and we can always depend on Him.

Prayer:  Lord, as I start this New Year, I want to yield my life and all that I am to You.  You are my life, my hope and my strength.  All that I need is found in You.  Help me to always focus on You and Your desires for my life.  Thank you, Lord, for Your love for me and that You will never leave or forsake me.  Amen

"New King James Version (NKJV)
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved."