It's a New Day

Here we are at the close of another year with so many things which have happened. I'm sure we all can go over a laundry list of the highs and the lows. Some really fond memories, and others which we would gladly lay to rest, never to remember. Regardless of what your year has been like, the truth of who our Father in Heaven is, remains unchanged. His mercy, grace, faithfulness, power, love, kindness, and the fullness of His character continues without ceasing year after year, generation after generation. Realizing this, what we ought to strive for as we close the chapter of one year to begin yet another is to walk faithful as our Father does each day.

If this year has been great as far as personal goals and accomplishment or whether you fell short in these areas, your main goal should still be to emulate the faithfulness of our Heavenly Father. The writer of Hebrews encourages us in chapter 4 that 'Today, if you will hear His voice, do not harden your hearts' (Heb. 4:7; Psalm 95:7-8 - NKJV). There is a fresh opportunity each day to either continue in faithfulness or repent and get on the road of faithfulness. Yahweh our God is the epitome of a Father, in that He desires what is best for us and will provide us with every resource we need to succeed in His plan (not our plan). In Him we live and move and have our being and His divine nature has already been deposited in us by the Holy Spirit (Acts 17:28-29 - NKJV). Considering this, let's embrace the ability that God has given us to become more and more like Him in all we do. Don't limit yourself to the calendar year as a new beginning in these things, but realize that each day the mercy and grace of God is new. Remember the word declares 'now is the day of salvation' (2 Corinthians 6:1-2). Everyday is a new and fresh opportunity to walk in the fullness of God's purpose for us as individuals and the corporate destiny that He has established for His church.

Entering into a new year is a great and wonderful experience, but never feel as if you're limited to what you can accomplish within a calendar year, but realize that every day is a fresh opportunity to know the Father, obey His word and accomplish His plan. So as we wrap of 2008, let's make the decision to not limit God's plans for us to the calendar year of 2009, but let's allow His purpose to consume us every day of our lives and not just during a certain time period. Set goals and have aspirations for 2009, but let those pale in comparison to the way in which you embrace the wisdom and instruction of the Lord and live by every word that proceeds from His mouth each day (Deut. 8:3; Matt. 4:4). Make it your aim to live every moment realizing that truly, it's a new day!