A Helping Hand in the New Year
On the eve of the new year facing England was the threat of World War II King George VI in his address to the nation quoted Minnie Louise Haskins: “I said to the man who stood at the gate of the year, ‘Give me a light that I may tread safely into the unknown.’ And he replied, ‘Go out into the darkness and put your hand into the hand of God. That shall be to you better than light and safer than a known way.’”
The Lord wants to meet you at the gate of this new year in order to guide, govern, and guard you all through it. That will make it a happy new year regardless of circumstances.
This is an appeal on behalf of our loving Lord who stands with hand outstretched for you to put your hand in His and let Him guide you into the unknown. He sees around the curve in life’s road and offers guiding help.
Twelve months ago another new year was set before you. It has rolled into eternity and carried with it broken hearts, shattered dreams, personal losses, and unanticipated anguish. It is as much ancient history as 1492. It is too late to win victories where there were losses, to unsay unkind words, to show strength instead of weakness, and to be loyal to the Lord in times you compromise.
However, here it is another new year. New Year’s Day is God’s way of saying, “OK now, we are going to keep doing this over until we get it right.”
There is something new and fresh about the inaugural days of another year. It is a time to review and resolve. May the dawning of 2025 find you having given 2024 your best. Every challenge awaiting you is an opportunity for excellence.
The words of Longfellow challenge us as we face a new year: “Look not mournfully into the past; it comes not back again. Wisely improve on the present; it is yours. Go forth to meet the shadowy future without fear and with a manly heart.”
That can only be done with the Lord as guide.
The dawning of a new year causes most of us to think about our habits; good and bad.
We first make a habit and then the habit makes us.
The principal character in Og Mandino’s The Greatest Salesman in the World, said, “I will make good habits and become their slave.”
The choice is yours. We are creatures of habit. You can either be a slave to good or bad habits.
Make good habits; they are as difficult to break as bad ones.
Make habit number one the submission to the Lord and all other habits will be governed by that superior habit. Habitually, daily, submit to Him as your Lord.
In death John Wesley said, “The best of all is God is with us.”
With hellish forces unleashed in our society and predictions of unprecedented problems and perplexities, we need a prophetic word of encouragement and our Lord has not left us without it. The Prophet Isaiah spoke to the people of his day words applicable to us.
“Fear not, for I am with you; Be not dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you, Yes, I will help you, I will uphold you with My righteous right hand” (Isaiah 41: 10).