Good morning my friends! I feel a bit like using Arnold Schwarzenegger’s voice and saying, “I’m back!” this morning…but it’s true! I am back after a pretty lengthy hiatus. And I’m so excited for a new year! A new year to grow together with you in Christ…a new year to do what I love doing….a new year to wait in breathless anticipation of what God has in store. Because trust me, God has great things in store!
December 31. What a great day both to reflect on the past and to look ahead into the future. I’m being totally honest here when I say that 2021 was not one of my favorite years. My family experienced a pretty significant loss- my father-in-law passed away in August of pancreatic cancer. Several of my co-workers and friends suffered (and continue to battle) significant health issues. And the world just kept dealing out Covid cards right and left. And none of that even begins to take into account the political and economic turmoil wreaking havoc on this nation and the world. Yet, through it all, God has remained constant and steadfast. He has not slept nor slumbered (Psalm 121:4). He has not left His throne, not one single time. And He has not left or abandoned me (or you)…NOT ONE SINGLE TIME (Deuteronomy 31:8).
Today, as we prepare to launch out into the deep of 2022, let me encourage you with the same words that have encouraged me.
First, let’s visit Deuteronomy 31. In this portion of scripture, Moses is addressing the nation of Israel as they prepare to cross over into the Promised Land, encouraging the people with these words: “The Lord your God Himself crosses over before you…Be strong and of good courage, do not fear nor be afraid of them [your enemies]; for the Lord your God, He is the One who goes with you. He will not leave you nor forsake you” (Deuteronomy 31:3, 6). Then, Moses repeats those words to Joshua before all the people: “And the Lord, He is the One who goes before you. He will be with you, He will not leave you nor forsake you; do not fear nor be dismayed” (Deuteronomy 31:8). Wow. Seriously WOW! Look at that and apply those words to your life today as you step foot into 2022. The Lord is crossing over BEFORE you! The Lord is going WITH you! So don’t be afraid! Don’t be dismayed! Instead, be strong and courageous! Enter this new year following the Lord, filled with His strength and His courage, trusting implicitly that He will not leave you or abandon you, that He will be with you every step of the way!
Next, let’s join with David as he issues “An Exuberant Declaration of Faith” in Psalm 27. Join with me and exuberantly declare these words in your head and heart: “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?…Though an army may encamp against me, my heart shall not fear; Though war may rise against me, in this I will be confident…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” (Psalm 27: 1, 3, 5).
Do you see what David calls Him? He refers to the Lord as his light, his salvation, his strength, his courage, his confidence, his hiding place. Those words bring me so much joy! Because, just like David, I need God to be each of those things for me.
And finally, let’s join with the author of Psalm 121, as he extols his Lord, calling Him “God the Help of Those Who Seek Him”:
“I will lift up my eyes to the hills—from whence comes my help? My help comes from the Lord, who made heaven and earth. He will not allow your foot to be moved; He who keeps you will not slumber. Behold, He who keeps Israel shall neither slumber nor sleep. The Lord is your keeper; The Lord is your shade at your right hand. The sun shall not strike you by day, nor the moon by night. The Lord shall preserve you from all evil; He shall preserve your soul. The Lord shall preserve your going out and your coming in from this time forth, and even forevermore” (Psalm 121).
Notice that the psalmist calls God his HELP, his KEEPER, his PRESERVER, even his SHADE from the sun.
What beautiful and encouraging words today! What a glorious and exciting way to enter the new year! What hope and promise surrounds us! So my friend, I encourage you to commit with me to following the God who goes before us…and the God who goes with us. The God who never sleeps nor slumbers. The God who will never leave us nor forsake us. The God who saves us and strengthens us and hides us and helps us and keeps us and preserves us and shades us! The God who has “loved [me…and you] with an everlasting love” (Jeremiah 31:3).
Happy New Year! God bless!
Enjoy this song from Hillsong United. It reminds me of Psalm 127.