Dear Friends
As we begin the New Year, it is useful to take a moment to reflect on our lives – where we have been, where we are, and where we are going. Reflecting is important not only for matters of physical fitness and finance, but also for matters of faith. Because, above all, we must realise and recognise who we are in relationship to our Creator. Biblically speaking, time is not marked by the days on a calendar, but by the acts of God. What matters about the New Year is not that we have transitioned from 2023 to 2024, but what God has done for us in the past and will continue to do for us into the future. I love the way Tom Wright describes the time in which we live: ‘We live between resurrection and resurrection, that of Jesus and that of ourselves; between the victory over death at Easter and the final victory when Jesus “appears” again.’ This is what makes 2024 special: we are another year closer to the return of Christ and the salvation of our souls. And that sure hope makes this year worth celebrating.
I’d like to commend to you this ‘New Year Prayer for Victory’ written by Rebecca Barlow Jordan:
‘Lord Jesus, I come to you in this brand new year with a desire to move forward, not backward. Last year is gone, and with it all the foolish mistakes I made. I’m eager to put the past behind and to press on toward the mark of knowing you, loving you, serving you, and making your name known in this coming year. You gave everything for me, so I could have a new beginning – every day of every year. Thank you for your underserved favour and unlimited mercy – and your grace that keeps on giving … I need you, Lord. Without you, I can’t meet the heavy demands of life or the unrelenting pressures that I’ll face this coming year. I am making a new commitment today – not a New Year’s resolution – but a new desire to place you where you always belong, first place in my life. Make the “I will’s” of Scripture become my affirmation: “I will trust you; I will praise you; I will follow You.” And with you on my side, it will be a victorious New Year. Amen.’
May God be with you and may you all have a happy and blessed New Year.
In Christ
Deo
