The New Year is here, Complimentary wishes are being exchanged and new resolutions being made. As the clock ticks and the days turn into weeks, we have indeed begun a new journey into another year.
For many, the year holds great expectations and some others do not know what to expect. It has been dubbed and tagged in countless and numerous ways ranging from ‘year of breakthrough’, ‘year of promotion’ to ‘year of years’.
Irrespective of the slogan you might have adopted for the year, permit me to draw your attention to one truth; though the Calendar may change, God remains the same throughout the ages. He never changes. The word of God says:
God does not change
(Malachi 3:6)–“For I, the Lord, do not change; therefore you, O sons of Jacob, are not consumed.”
Hebrews 13:8
‘Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.’
He does not change and his plans for your life remains the same.
For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. Then you will call on me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart. (Jeremiah 29:11-13 NIV)
You do not need a palm reader, neither do you need any crystal ball for you to know what the year holds for you. God’s intentions for you is revealed in His word. Both in the written word of God and in His revealed or spoken word to you. If you seek His face, he will reveal His plans to you. Best of all you just need to trust Him with your year.
You are not a surprise to God.
He knew you will still be alive today.
He planned out your life before you ever came into being.
God has not changed His mind about you. Through thick and thin, no matter the circumstances that you might face, you need to understand that the love of God over your life remains the same. God’s presence is your insurance.
In all you’re doing, I ask of you to make a decision; to be conscious of His presence this year.
I want to remain in His presence, I want to respect His presence and I want to spread His presence.
Psalm 16:11
‘You make known to me the path of life; you will fill me with joy in your presence, with eternal pleasures at your right hand.’
Lots of joy and blessings await you this New Year. And the year might definitely hold some challenges which you are already built to overcome.
More than Conquerors – Roman 8:31-37
31 What, then, shall we say in response to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? 32 He who did not spare his own Son, but gave him up for us all—how will he not also, along with him, graciously give us all things? 33 Who will bring any charge against those whom God has chosen? It is God who justifies. 34 Who then is the one who condemns? No one. Christ Jesus who died—more than that, who was raised to life—is at the right hand of God and is also interceding for us. 35 Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword? 36 As it is written:
“For your sake we face death all day long;
we are considered as sheep to be slaughtered.”[j]37 No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. 38 For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons,[k] neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, 39 neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.
You are from God – John 4:4
4 You, dear children, are from God and have overcome them, because the one who is in you is greater than the one who is in the world.
‘By my God I run through a troop – Psalm 18:29-36
29 With your help I can advance against a troop;
with my God I can scale a wall.30 As for God, his way is perfect:
The Lord’s word is flawless;
he shields all who take refuge in him.
31 For who is God besides the Lord?
And who is the Rock except our God?
32 It is God who arms me with strength
and keeps my way secure.
33 He makes my feet like the feet of a deer;
he causes me to stand on the heights.
34 He trains my hands for battle;
my arms can bend a bow of bronze.
35 You make your saving help my shield,
and your right hand sustains me;
your help has made me great.
36 You provide a broad path for my feet,
so that my ankles do not give way.
The lord will grant you victory on every side as He has always done over the ages.
Trust Him and enjoy a Happy New Year.
Shalom.
‘Laolu Oyeyemi.