… and so it Begins-In His
Word 12-29-14
In
the beginning God
created the heavens and the earth. The earth was without form, and void; and
darkness was on the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God was
hovering over the face of the waters. Then God said, “Let there be light”; and
there was light. ... Genesis 1:1
Each of us has a beginning,
and of course and end; it’s what goes on in-between these two that really
matters in our lives. After all we were all obviously born into the world, not
always the most ideal of situations but we can all rest assured that God had a
purpose in our beginnings.
Jeremiah 29 tells us that He
knows the plans for us, that they are indeed for us to prosper, in some way.
So, why is it that so many do not receive the blessings of God upon their lives?
After all in various places throughout the Bible God talks to us through His
people and their stories; over and over again we read of people coming to God
and Him answering their prayers and blessing them.
Time and time again God’s
people mess up things by making selfish choices, following the crowd or just
not caring what God thinks and making dumb decisions.
Even today we see people in
churches and out that choose to follow man instead of God; even in the very
sermon they hear they take time ‘dissecting the voice’ instead of hearing the
Word of God.
I
will multiply upon you man and beast; and they shall increase and bear young; I
will make you inhabited as in former times, and do better for you than
at your beginnings. Then you shall know that I am the Lord. Ezekiel 36:11
Sometimes
I wonder when I see people chatting away through half the service if they will
receive from God what He is handing them.
He
said He would bless us and keep us.
If
we are not paying attention will we receive it?
This
time of year my kids generally get together with friends and celebrate the fact
they can stay up all night and shout “Happy New Year”.
If
they chose to fall asleep before the Midnight hour it would not stop the change
in the calendar dates, they just would not experience the joy and excitement of
making it through the night.
In
the beginning God created the heavens and the earth and everything else
followed suit. He did not randomly choose to create it, but He planned to do
so.
When
we flip the calendar at the new year date do we plan out our new year or do we
simply exist in it? Is there a reason to celebrate a new day? Sure, why not?
Celebrations
go back to the dawn of time when God chose to celebrate the completion of the
World with a break in his days. He celebrated by resting.
Now
in our country, and many around the world it seems, we celebrate the beginning
of a new year. It gives us a chance to set goals and attempt to complete them
in that year’s time frame.
So
this year as we plan out our goals let us remember God; ask Him what we should
be completing this year; ask Him what we should start. Begin your year as God
did… in the beginning was God.
So
start your year in prayer, communicating with Him.
Ask
Him to create in you a clean heart as you begin your year ahead. Set the goals
you know you will achieve when you put your focus, trust and time in His plans
for you.
Then
you will not need to worry when you hear bad news, you will not have to be
troubled by rumors you hear and you will be walking in Faith believing for the
God of Glory, the God of new beginnings to bless you and keep you.
“The Lord bless you and keep you;
the Lord make His face shine upon
you, and be gracious to you; the Lord lift up His countenance
upon you, and give you peace.”’ Numbers 6:23-26
That
is my prayer for this year. That we would all be kept in peace, blessed of God
in His manner and in His graciousness. That as we walk in our days His countenance
would shine upon and through each of us and others would see Him in us and give
Him the glory.
Also,
that we would indeed be a blessing to Him and pleasing in His sight.
But when
you hear of wars and rumors of wars, do not be troubled; for such things must happen, but the end is not yet. For nation will rise
against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. And there will be earthquakes in
various places, and there will be famines and troubles. These are the beginnings of sorrows.
Mark 13:7-8
Dear Heavenly Father, thank You for blessing us this year,
guide and direct us as we go through the
next and help us to be fearlessly following you and faithful in your sight. In
Jesus name, amen.
Suggested reading Mark 12:1-34, Mark 13:1-37, Nehemiah 6:1-27
Psalm 37:1-40