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Weekly Devotions

Happy New Year!-January 4, 2021

Whew! Goodbye 2020. Hello 2021. Here's hoping you have a wonderful year.

Monday Morning Devotion-January 4, 2021

Happy New Year

Don't remember the prior things; don't ponder ancient history.  Look!  I'm doing a new thing; now it sprouts up; don't you recognize it?  I'm making a way in the desert, paths in the wilderness.       Isaiah 43:18-19

 

      We can finally say something that we've been wanting to say for a while.  The year  2020 is behind us.  Yes!  Thank you, Lord.

            Is that your sentiment as we greet a New Year?  For most people, maybe everybody, that's the feeling.  No doubt about it...2020 was tough.  The coronavirus kept everyone on edge.  caused lots of fear and uncertainty and in many cases---grief.

            It almost seems that people are thinking that since 2020 with all its problems is over somehow, magically, all of those will now disappear.  With the New Year coming in all of that is behind us and we can start afresh and anew.

            Not so fast my friend.  We still have a way to go and some battles to be fought.  But the Good News is that the One who was there for us and brought us through the scary times in 2020 is there for us in 2021.  So, we don't want to get discouraged.

            As www.womansday.com  in its "25 New Year Bible Verses to Help You Start 2021 on a Faithful Note"  puts it: "The Good News: It's easy to get stuck in the past and be held back emotionally by what happened yesterday, but the only way to truly welcome a fresh start is to look forward, not back.  Take a deep breath, envision the future that you want, and take that first step."

            Wouldn't hurt to pray about that first step and where it should lead us.  God has a plan for each of us as my favorite verse says: "I know the plans I have in mind for you, declares the Lord; they are plans for peace, not disaster, plans to give you a future filled with hope."Jeremiah 29:11

            "The Good News: When life weighs us down, it can be hard to see the forest through the trees.  But take comfort in knowing that God always has a plan for us, and in time, we'll begin to see what that is."

            That "hope" strengthens us and sustains us.  Proverbs 23:18. "There is surely a future hope for you, and your hope will not be cut off."

            "The Good News:  It doesn't matter how we finished off 2020---2021and all future years to come are filled with hope, faith, and love from the Lord.  We just need to believe.

             Job 8:7 reads: "Although your former state was ordinary, your future will be extraordinary. " 

            "The Good News: "Keeping Christ close to our hearts isn't always easy, but as we continue to journey through life, carrying His lessons with us will open us up to infinite new possibilities."

            No matter how confident we feel that the worst is behind us and we are now on the right track there will be days that feel like a train wreck.  Don't get discouraged. Memorize this verse and use it as a daily reminder how you will get through this just like you have the hard times in the past.  "I can endure all these things through the power of the One who gives me strength."   Philippians 4:13.

            Still there will be moments of tension.  These uncertain times threaten your peace of mind because as we are reminded: "So much of our lives is spent worrying about what could happen, that we often lose sight of the here and now.  As we head into the New Year it is time to give all those anxious moments to God and release the chronic worry and fear." 

            "Don't be anxious about anything; rather, bring up all of your requests to God in your prayers and petitions, along with giving thanks.  Philippians 4:6

            As 2021 begins the hope we have in the Lord for better times is stronger than ever.  A vaccine to combat the virus has been developed and people are getting inoculated against the deadly virus.  That's a start and our faith tells us that even better times are ahead if we stay strong in our trust of the Lord.

            In closing let me share with you something that I am sharing with my Facebook friends.  I hope this will stimulate your thinking about the New Year in a positive manner and the good life that God will surely bless us with.

"A good life

is when you

assume nothing,

do more, need less,

smile often, dream big,

laugh a lot, and realize

how blessed you are.

 

HAPPY NEW YEAR, my friends.

 

Prayer:  May the Lord bless you and keep you and may His face shine upon yours in2021.      Amen!

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