Every New Year is an opportunity to start afresh, to renew our vision, and to dream big for our future. Yet, along with its optimism, the New Year can also bring us uncertainty and fear of the unknown. What if my company downsizes? What if I gain weight instead of losing it? What if my spouse gets cancer? Each of us faces the temptation to choose fear instead of faith. Yet, as God challenged Joshua thousands of years ago, He is challenging you and me to walk by faith.
“Be strong and of a good courage, fear not, nor be afraid of them: for the Lord thy God, he it is that doth go with thee; he will not fail thee, nor forsake thee.” (Deuteronomy 31:6)
Here are 3 fear-shattering truths to remember in the New Year.
1) God is faithful.
Moses told the children of Israel, “Know therefore that the Lord thy God, he is God, the faithful God, which keepeth covenant and mercy with them that love him and keep his commandments to a thousand generations;” (Deuteronomy 7:9)
Because God never changes, He is as faithful today as He ever was. Many of the people we work with in our prison ministries can point to addictions He helped them overcome and tough circumstances He carried them through. Take a moment to consider how God has been faithful to you.
If you’ve accepted Him as your Saviour, He has kept His promise by forgiving your sins. He has never left you or forsaken you (Hebrews 13:5). He has given you strength and grace (Isaiah 41:10). He has shown you great mercy, which lasts forever (Lamentations 3:22-23). He has provided for your material needs (Matthew 6:33). And He is preparing a place for you in Heaven (John 14:2-3). When you and I look at our lives, we can see God’s faithfulness to us.
Because God is faithful, we can trust Him.
2) God is strong.
Unlike our strength, His strength is boundless—He is never tired or worn out. As Isaiah wrote, “Hast thou not known? hast thou not heard, that the everlasting God, the Lord, the Creator of the ends of the earth, fainteth not, neither is weary? there is no searching of his understanding.” (Isaiah 40:28)
As humans, we grow weary and tired. Our strength has definite limits. Yet, when we depend on God, He will renew our strength. God promises, “But they that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint.” (Isaiah 40:31)
When we lean on God’s strength, He will enable us to go further and, most importantly, stay faithful to Him. In our prison ministries, we teach people to depend on God for strength.
Because God is strong, we can lean on Him.
3) God is good.
Our view of God colours our attitude toward life. If we believe that God is unfair (not true), our view will be shaped by suspicion and bitterness. If we believe that God is untrustworthy (not true), we will worry about the days ahead. If we believe that God is not really good, we will make excuses for going our own way.
Yet the truth is that God is good. And He is good all the time. He is not just good when paycheques arrive on time and children get good marks in school. He is still good when tears fall, when storms hit, and when friends say goodbye. God loves us so much that He can bring good fruit even out of negative circumstances in our lives.
If you are a child of God, remember this. God loves you, and His plans for you are always good. Look forward to what He is going to do in your life this year.
Because God is good, we can joyfully look forward to His work in our lives.
Let’s make 2018 a year of trusting God, leaning on His strength, and rejoicing in His guidance. #HappyNewYear!
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Are you searching? Jesus has the answers for addictions and stubborn habits. For more information, send the Crossmans a private message here on Facebook or come to a church service at Prince Albert Baptist Church. Take the first step in a walk of freedom!
For more information, call (306) 940-9554 or email anchorofhopeheb@gmail.com
