LOOKING FORWARD TO THE NEW YEAR

 

 

The current year is closing; a new one is dawning! How has the current one been; were your expectations met? Were you so disappointed that you can't wait to see the New Year? What are your expectations and hopes for the coming year? It is natural to expect improvement when difficult, rough, or painful.

Looking back on the past twelve months: what didn't go well? What were some of your frustrations and challenges? How do you plan to turn things around? If you expect things to change, you must know what went wrong and why. Only then can you start to look for the right solutions.

Before you think about what to put on your list, I'll remind you that some of the issues you might consider problems are actually the standard of the Christian life. For example, Jesus told His disciples, "Here on earth you will have many trials and sorrows" (John 16:33). Trials and sorrows are, therefore, to be expected, though we don't know how or when they'll show up. This doesn't mean we should constantly worry and look over our shoulders to see what is coming down the pike. We must remember the Lord's admonition - and the next part of the verse above - "Take heart, because I have overcome the world" (John 16:33).

The following will help us cope effectively with the coming year's challenges.

BE ON THE ALERT

The children of God should be watchful, not living carelessly. We should be on the defensive! The apostle Peter explains, "Stay alert! Watch out for your great enemy, the devil. He prowls around like a roaring lion, looking for someone to devour. Stand firm against him, and be strong in your faith" (1 Peter 5:9).   

While being watchful, we should also be ready 24/7 to engage the devil at a moment's notice. "Put on all of God's armor so that you can stand firm against all strategies of the devil. Therefore, put on every piece of God's armor so you can resist the enemy in time of evil. Then after the battle you will still be standing firm" (Ephesians 6:11, 13). For the list of the complete armor, see verses 14-18. For example, if you were faced with a gossip situation, the Word of God about gossip you've already hidden in your heart should jog your memory to excuse yourself from the situation and not get caught up in it.

Jesus told Peter, James, and John in the Garden of Gethsemane, "Keep watch and pray, so that you will not give in to temptation. For the spirit is willing, but the body is weak" (Matthew 26:41). Why? Because if we stay asleep (not knowing what's happening around us) and neglect to pray for strength and courage, we become very vulnerable to the devil's attack. Again, on the Mount of Olives, Jesus told the disciples, "Pray that you will not give in to temptation" (Luke 22:40). When we pray, we demonstrate faith, which intercepts the devil's fiery arrows. As we face a new year, let's prepare to stay on the defensive, always ready to engage the enemy of our souls.

THANKFULNESS

Trials will come; it's only a matter of when and how. We need to be prepared to give thanks for them, no matter how painful, because they serve a good purpose. First, we learn that we should give thanks in all things because it is the will of God for us (see 1 Thessalonians 5:18). Second, we should give thanks because none of our experiences are ever wasted; God uses every single one of them in the process of developing our character to line up with His own. Through our experiences, He gets our attention, rebukes, disciplines, encourages or teaches us (or others), or tests (not tempts) us. Third, the end results of our experiences (godliness) bring Him glory (see Romans 8:28).

REPENTANCE

Sometimes, our sufferings are the result of our sins. When unsure of the cause of our sufferings, we should start with a soul search and repent as needed (see 1 John 1:9). Even if our suffering results from sin, God still teaches us valuable lessons through it. As stated above, no experience is wasted.

TRUST GOD

We cannot overcome trials on our own; Jesus clearly said, "Apart from me, you can do nothing" (John 15:5). We need Him and should rely on His promises; He never goes back on His Word. He means exactly that when He says, "I am with you always, even to the end of the age" (Matthew 28:29). If we believe and claim that promise, nothing in the coming year should frighten us. That assurance should enable us to wholly lean on Him. And if we wonder why we should trust Him, He says, all power in heaven and on earth has been given to Him, and He has overcome the world. What beautiful promises!

The New Year is only a few days away. Have you learned anything from your failures from last year? Don't lose heart; the Lord Himself will be your strength and carry you through the next one. Trust His Word, put on the whole armor of God, and watch and pray. Wishing you a happy and victorious New Year.