THE GIFT OF A NEW YEAR
THE GIFT OF A NEW YEAR.
The year 2021, given to us by the Lord, is coming to a close. And just as years gone by, this year has been a gift. When we receive a gift we normally find a use or purpose for it. How did we use the gift of 2021? Did we take it for granted? Everybody did not get the gift you know. Some never made it to 2021. And some only got a part of it before they were called away home to be with the Lord.
There is a popular Christmas hymn that says in one of its verses: “How silently, How silently, the wonderous gift is given”; gift here referring to Jesus Christ as He was born, Saviour and Redeemer of mankind.
Just as the birth of Jesus came on that Holy night as a gift to mankind, the gift of each new day or each new year is given to us by God and He alone owns and knows the plan for how the gift is to be used. “The LORD advises those who fear him. He reveals to them the intent of his promise.” Psalms 25:14 God’s Word Translation
Right now it might not really matter what we did with the gift of 2021. It’s almost all gone now. But what should matter to us, is how to use the gift of 2022 that has been packaged for us. The word “fear” in the above scripture means to worship, to reverence or to obey God. Therefore it is clear that for God to reveal His plans to us we must constantly be in the place of worship, the place of intimacy with Him. And that is how we can unwrap the gift of the year 2022. It is not a once and for all unwrapping. I assure you that each time we peel off a layer of the wrap, there are more layers hidden beneath. Unwrapping 2022 is much more than praying our way into the year. It is more than making sure our very first expense in the new year is in a church. It will be more than attending all the Sunday and midweek services in the year. It will require our own personal, intimate time with God through Jesus Christ our Saviour.
Every promise of God has an intention. They are not random or empty. And to get the full benefits of God’s promises He expects us to come close to Him. If we stand afar off, how can we hear? If we distance ourselves from Him, how can we hear the “still small voice”?
The year 2021 might have been fraught with all kinds of unprecedented and sometimes painful events and experiences. For the most part COVID 19 kept unravelling into new variants. Prices of goods and services had no ceiling. But God is still God. He encourages us today to come to him even when it seems trouble is on the horizon. He will take care of us.
“But whenever they were in trouble and turned to the LORD, the God of Israel, and sought him out, they found him. 2 Chronicles 15:4 NLT
Dear friends, 2022 is a gift being set before us. Please let us not take it for granted. Let us unwrap it with every care. First let us accept it with gratitude. And then let us make up our minds to know what the purpose of the gift is for each one of us. As we draw near to God, in praise, prayer, worship and Bible study, He will surely draw near to us and reveal His plans for us for the new year. “Some things are hidden. They belong to the LORD our God. But the things that have been revealed in these teachings belong to us and to our children forever. We must obey every word of these teachings.” Deuteronomy 29:29 God’s Word Translation We must therefore spend time in the word of God for revelations for the new year.
Everyone of us will have a different plan, so let us do well to seek out our plans individually. Let us seek God, He will be found. “If you look for me wholeheartedly, you will find me.” Jeremiah 29: 13 NLT
I pray we all receive “THE GIFT OF THE NEW YEAR.”
See you next year.
OLUYINKA EGO-MARTINS ©