We find ourselves on the threshold of a new year. How do you intend to enter this new year before us? When we are going somewhere unfamiliar, we often like to make plans. We may give thought to what will do to prepare and how we will approach a new experience or a new setting. If we follow the teaching of Jesus, we can find instruction to assist us in our anticipation of a New Year and new blessings and challenges that it will bring. The words of Jesus are recorded in Matthew 18:3 where He maintains, “I tell you the truth, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. Therefore whoever humbles themselves like a child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven.” Over these Christmas holidays, we had a family gathering with a chance to meet our new little great niece in person for the first time. I observed how drawn she was to her parents and how confident of their love and care for her. Although in an unfamiliar place with unfamiliar people, she felt safe with her Mom and Dad who have shown her their constant love and attention. The dependence of this wee girl on her parents demonstrates how we can choose to enter this new year. In this journey of life, the trusting and faith filled attitude of a child is what Jesus advocates. This is the kind of humble outlook we will need for entering the year ahead and ultimately this is what makes it possible to enter the kingdom of heaven. There can be no better way to enter another new year than to pray and commit everything to our loving Father in heaven who has always shown us His constant love and attention. You are invited to join for our WEDNESDAY PRAYER TOGETHER tomorrow December 28th at 1 pm.
Trusting God to continue to love and care for us as we look to Him with child like faith for this New Year ahead, Pastor Lola
O God our help in ages past our hope for years to come. Be our Guide while life shall last and our eternal home. Yes God, we do recognize and thank You for accompanying us in the years that are past and for being our hope for years to come. We come to You now as little children. Our prayer is for You to deepen our trust in You. Forgive us for the times that we have become stubborn and have attempted to manage life in our own ways and on our own terms. Please remind us of all the times that You have provided the help that we have needed. Draw us close to enter this new year with the expectancy that our help does come from You our Lord. When we read in Scripture about changing and becoming like little children, show us what this means for us. What outlooks do we have that You want to change? Where we have become cynical and skeptical please soften our hearts. We want our God to be honest in our observations of what goes on around us and in us. We do not want to deny the truth of what is happening. Everything that is occurring confirms again how much we need to depend on You. We have been in unfamiliar territory and we know that going forward the challenges of the unfamiliar that we face will require Your wise discernment. How do You want us to humble ourselves rather than pretending that we have things all figured out. Thank You God for being able to admit what we do not know. Thank You Lord that You do know all things. You know each of us completely. How will Who You are and who we are be necessary for what is to come? When fears rise up in us around what lies ahead, restore our trust in You to show us the way. And God we think of little children who show concern for their friends. We ask that we will be like that in seeking Your Presence for our companions on this journey. We do not want to overlook what You offer to sustain us. We pray our God and commit ourselves and this year ahead into Your hands. We reach out for the assurance of You holding us by the hand and leading us forward in the ways of Your kingdom. Heavenly Father, we as Your children even dare to expect that there will be blessings on the road ahead. When Your blessings come and our prayers are answered, remind us to acknowledge You and to thank You. We rest in safety in the shadow of Your wings our loving God. Allow us, we pray, to grow deeper in our faith in You as we find You and Your grace at every turn. In Jesus’ Name. AMEN