There isn’t really anything special about the first day of a new year. However, we need to make space for special times in our lives to reconsider, restart, renew, and restore. God ordained the sabbath for us because he knew we needed times of rest on a regular basis. He established the yearly cycle of festivals for the Israelites so that they would have regular times of remembrance of his love and mercy. In general, we don’t follow that cycle anymore, but we do celebrate New Year. I’m not a big proponent of resolutions because I’m honestly not very good at them, but God has some awesome promises for us that I think could help us start 2021 on the right foot. I’ve picked two passages to meditate on this week.
Anyone tired or weary? Anyone need strength? God promises to renew us in Isaiah 40. It is a wonderful chapter, but the part I want to highlight is verse 28-31.
28 Do you not know?
Have you not heard?
The Lord is the everlasting God,
the Creator of the ends of the earth.
He will not grow tired or weary,
and his understanding no one can fathom.
29 He gives strength to the weary
and increases the power of the weak.
30 Even youths grow tired and weary,
and young men stumble and fall;
31 but those who hope in the Lord
will renew their strength.
They will soar on wings like eagles;
they will run and not grow weary,
they will walk and not be faint.
The second passage I chose is Psalm 51. Here we get the promise of steadiness, the presence of God via the Holy Spirit, joy, and sustenance. Who couldn’t use a bit of those right now? These are great verses to use as your theme for the year and pray them over your life each day before you get out of bed.
10 Create in me a pure heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me.
11 Do not cast me from your presence or take your Holy Spirit from me.
12 Restore to me the joy of your salvation and grant me a willing spirit, to sustain me.
Active Love Church will be studying the New Heavens and the New Earth in our service on Thursday at 7. Right after that we will be praying in the new year (and after that we are having a little party until midnight). Even if you can’t join us, we will pray these passages over you. Make 2021 the year to trust in God. These promises are yours to claim. God is love and love renews!
