The End and The Beginning

In just a few hours the new calendar year will be upon us.  We’ve seen lots of challenges during the past year and felt the pain of issues that remain unresolved in our communities, and for some of us, even in our personal lives.  On what basis do we hope to have a better year? 

It’s not uncommon to feel overwhelmed at the start of a new year because we have so much stuff to wade through, so many unanswered questions in our minds, and so many painful things in our hearts.  The season ahead is unknown and that includes what we know of our ability to maintain peace and joy for any length of time. 

God has a path forward for us that is safe and successful but there are two things required of us.  First, Repent! Turn away from self will and from the worry that God cannot be trusted to show us a good way.

Turn away from all your offenses; then sin will not be your downfall. Rid yourselves of all the offenses you have committed and get a new heart and a new spirit. Ezekiel 18:30b-31

Secondly, we need to believe that God deals with whatever was in our past and gives us a brand new life. 

Anyone who belongs to Christ has become a new person. The old life is gone; a new life has begun! He who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion

2 Corinthians 5:17, Philippians 1:6b

This coming year is a fresh opportunity to improve our conscious contact with our powerful God who can give us a better life than we could ever imagine.  We may not trust our own ability to carry through positive change to completion but God certainly can, and as we so often say , “God could and would if He were sought.”  This is our New Year’s hope. 

Loving God, As we enter this new year, we choose to commit ourselves to You.  We lay down our fears and resentments.  We receive Your comfort, Your forgiveness, and Your healing. 

We allow You to fill us with hope and confidence in Your assurance that You will complete the good work you have begun in us.  Amen

We have all sorts of reasons to expect to have a good year next year, don’t we?  Have a great day today as a good start.