Perhaps the holiday tapestry is down and put away for another ten months or so. One last look at the cards and holiday greetings from dear friends. Whether merry and bright or nostalgic and sad, the season is past. It is time to look forward to new things and new challenges.
For the Courage Today readers I pray: May 2010 be filled with blessings and joy that exceeds any sorrow. May you possess gratitude that overflows all regret. May your hope defeat all discouragement and despair. And may you live everyday in the strength of God’s Word, favor, and purpose.
“In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth. And the earth was without form, and void; and darkness was upon the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God moved upon the face of the waters” (Gen. 1:1-2 KJV).
This New Year spans before us without form and void because it has not yet taken shape for us. Many emotions and fears and questions about this year may form in our hearts. Yet, we may take confidence in the example of the One who created all things. His Spirit moved upon the formless void. He spoke to it and life sprang into being.
Of course, the point is not that you can speak creation into 2010, but rather that you can approach it with the same confidence that God approached the empty void. He was not afraid of the darkness. Instead, He came to it with a positive attitude. He considered the opportunity before him and acted to express himself and achieve his purpose.
Confident, unafraid, positive attitude, opportunity, purpose, and action. No matter what the future holds, we trust in the One who holds the future.
Dear Father, thank you for giving us this New Year to live and serve you. Grant us the strength to be faithful in all we say and do. This I ask in the name of Jesus. AMEN
Be encouraged today and all year long,