New Year, New Day

Well here we find ourselves in a new year, a new day, thinking about what it will bring and what last year left behind. The new year is a time of new beginnings, and sometimes bitter ends.

I think about this time last year, and how I had so many hopes for the year, so much ambition. Many of those things came to fruition, and many of those slipped silently into the forgotten places of life. There were a lot of things last year that happened unexpectedly.  No matter how I might have planned for the year, I wouldn't have guessed certain things, both good & bad.  I put together some resolutions, and stuck with them for the most part....but this year I've come to a new "resolution" of sorts.

I'm not going to make a resolution, since most of them get broken anyway. What I do want to do though, is to live each day. That's it. Simply try to be present to each moment that presents itself. "Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God." (Philippians 4:6) I'm going to try not to be anxious about what is up ahead.  

"...As I was with Moses, so I will be with you; I will never leave you nor forsake you." (Joshua 1:5b) I will try to remember that God is with me, even when it seems like I'm alone.  

"You know when I sit and when I rise; you perceive my thoughts from afar. You discern my going out and my lying down; you are familiar with all my ways. Before a word is on my tongue you, LORD, know it completely. You hem me in behind and before, and you lay your hand upon me." (Psalm 139:2-5) I will try to rest in the knowledge that each moment is held by my Father above. 

"There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under the heavens: a time to be born and a time to die, a time to plant and a time to uproot, a time to kill and a time to heal, a time to tear down and a time to build,  a time to weep and a time to laugh, a time to mourn and a time to dance, a time to scatter stones and a time to gather them, a time to embrace and a time to refrain from embracing, a time to search and a time to give up, a time to keep and a time to throw away, a time to tear and a time to mend, a time to be silent and a time to speak,  a time to love and a time to hate, a time for war and a time for peace." (Ecclesiastes 3:1-8) I will try to understand that everything will come in time.

This year above all, I need to learn to rest in Him. Take each and every day in itself, seeking how I can best serve God, seeking ways that I can honor Him and make choices to lead others closer to knowing Him.  As I try to grow closer in that relationship this year, I want to keep His words close to my heart.  Hudson Taylor said it well...read this & remember that while we continue to walk this life, do not forget to rest. For it is by Christ's power that we will survive this year....."But how to get faith strengthened? Not by striving after faith, but by resting on the Faithful one: As i read, I saw it all! 'If we believe not, he abideth faithful!' I looked to Jesus and saw (and when I saw, oh, how joy flowed!) that He has said, 'I will never leave Thee!' 'Ah, there is rest!' I thought. I have striven in vain to rest in Him.  I'll strive no more. For has not He promised to abide with me--never to leave me, never to fail me?"