Psalm 39:4 “Lord, make me to know my end,
And what is the measure of my days,
That I may know how frail I am.”
Coming out of the Christmas season, there seems to be a greater measure of silence. The hustle and bustle of the season along with the time we have with family and friends is part of what makes this time of year special. When the season comes to close and the people return to their lives, the silence seems to become more prevalent.
For those who are isolated from family and friends seem too far off, the silence might have been there all along.
As the calendar comes to a close, we are reminded that the year is coming to its end and yet another begins. Come January, 1st, the year 2021 will never exist again. The opportunities we had last year, the ones we might of taken advantage of and the ones missed, are left to that year forever–the victories and the mistakes are all left behind.
This is the time to look forward in anticipation of all the Lord has been doing in your life and all that He wants to accomplish. This is the time to look back on the mistakes we’ve learned from and prepare ourselves to not repeat those mistakes.
If we want to grow in the Lord, we must move forward in righteousness and walk in His Truth.
- Instead of cowering in fear–boldness.
- Rather than continuing in sin–walking in Truth.
- Instead of fear—hope can now be own moniker.
Psalm 27:1 “The Lord is my light and my salvation;
Whom shall I fear?
The Lord is the strength of my life;
Of whom shall I be afraid?”
New years can bring about resolutions or they can be the time to establish a different mindset for finishing well, completing the race that is set before us, and taking advantage of the opportunities the Lord gives us.
Resolutions
Many time resolutions are made in regards to health. How we eat or exercise becomes a prominent thought since the Christmas season lends itself to celebrations, poor diet, and weight gain.
Certainly good health must be taken into consideration, otherwise the effects of poor diet or poor habits eventually catch up with you. Remembering these bodies only last for a lifetime and that lifetime does not have a guarantee for longevity. The spirit of mankind continues on forever and therefore wisdom would lend itself to making a greater investment into spiritual health.
Fear of death is often times the motivation for many people but as believers in Christ and citizens of a Kingdom that is not of this world, that fear should dissipate the closer you draw near to Christ.
Psalm 27:2-3 “When the wicked came against me
To eat up my flesh,
My enemies and foes,
They stumbled and fell.
Though an army may encamp against me,
My heart shall not fear;
Though war may rise against me,
In this I will be confident.”
Where confidence rests makes the difference in boldness moving forward.
If our confidence is in our own flesh, then every time we are reminded of the frailty of life, our confidence is shaken.
If we lose a loved one the devastation of loss is much more damaging to those who find their solace in this world. A change in career or in location of where you live can pose a measure of uncertainty. The Lord has a purpose and direction by which He is accomplishing His will in your life. Sometimes to move forward, life must change dramatically and those changes can be stressful.
Change
Psalm 27:4-5 “One thing I have desired of the Lord,
That will I seek:
That I may dwell in the house of the Lord
All the days of my life,
To behold the beauty of the Lord,
And to inquire in His temple.
For in the time of trouble
He shall hide me in His pavilion;
In the secret place of His tabernacle
He shall hide me;
He shall set me high upon a rock.”
If our desires are aligned with God’s will, when changes occur the prospect of uncertainty becomes a manifestation of faith with strength and surety in God’s abiding love.
Knowing and understanding the nature of God’s love is the consistency that weathers the storms of life.
No matter what happens, God’s nature of love toward you never changes. God’s will cannot be thwarted by events that catch us by surprise.
We can rest assured that the Lord will be faithful even when others are not.
Psalm 27:6 “And now my head shall be lifted up above my enemies all around me;
Therefore I will offer sacrifices of joy in His tabernacle;
I will sing, yes, I will sing praises to the Lord.”
The changes of life that occur around us is like sitting on a massive rock at the ocean and watching the storm around us. The wind may blow, the waves will break and it seems like chaos is all around us, but that rock does not move.
If we allow our eyes to become transfixed upon the storm, fear follows. Keep your eyes on the rock, keep hold of it and rejoice in the love of God that He would place you there.
Solid Foundation
Psalm 27:7-10 “Hear, O Lord, when I cry with my voice!
Have mercy also upon me, and answer me.
When You said, “Seek My face,”
My heart said to You, “Your face, Lord, I will seek.”
Do not hide Your face from me;
Do not turn Your servant away in anger;
You have been my help;
Do not leave me nor forsake me,
O God of my salvation.
When my father and my mother forsake me,
Then the Lord will take care of me.”
What lies ahead for you in the coming year?
Maybe the Lord has given you glimpses of upcoming glory, or maybe your in a place where He is reminding you to trust.
Whatever the circumstances look like, remember, He is faithful.
Keep on the path of righteousness if your there—get on the path of righteousness if your not.
Know that all life and goodness are on the path of the Lord. Then, when the year starts out and the prospect of what is to come is brought to mind, you will go forth in peace, knowing He has lead you there all along.
U.T. 