12/31/2022
It is the final day of the year and a good time to look back on all that God has done for us, and with us, during it. There will be memories of the wonderful moments, disappointments, celebrations, and mourning, but in all of these remembrances, and more, God is evident and has been helping us. This is a time to look at the victories we have experienced together, the rescues we have received, the healing of our hearts, and the comforting of our spirits. Then, let’s set up an Ebenezer stone (stone of help) in our lives as a way of remembering Him for all His help.
“Then Samuel took a stone and set it up between Mizpah and Shen and called its name Ebenezer; for he said, “Till now the Lord has helped us.””
1 Samuel 7:12 ESV
Today is also and a time to rest, and lean back in the arms of the Lord while thanking Him for the comfort we have received when the hard times came, when we suffered, mourned, and received His merciful love, grace, and help in such times. To only remember the good times, and yet ignore the bad, does our Lord a great disservice because He is with us through them both.
“In the day of prosperity be joyful, and in the day of adversity consider: God has made the one as well as the other, so that man may not find out anything that will be after him.”
Ecclesiastes 7:14 ESV
It is easy to celebrate the good times, but sometimes we carry the scars or even the open wounds of our miseries for quite some time, especially is we don’t trust the Lord in these times of need to help us, or hold Him accountable for them as we clutch them tearfully to our breast. Today is a day to put our disappointment, bitterness, and doubt in God away. Let’s end this year on our knees in prayer as we humble ourselves before Him, and allow Him to draw out the fever of our angst with His cool hand of mercy and grace.
“Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.”
Hebrews 4:16 ESV
But now that we have celebrated His help in the good and the bad, let’s turn our attention to those things that we will carry over from this year to the next. Not all the work we have begun together with Him will be finished, and it is a good time to listen as He instructs us regarding any of this unfinished business that we have begun together. We have left much behind, but there are certain things we will carry forth into the morrow, into the future… into the New Year. We take with us the cross we picked up when we first followed Jesus, the fruit we bear that has not ripened on our vine, and those things we wait on in faith. So what of these things?
This year’s unfinished business becomes the business of tomorrow, so don’t fret over it today, nor borrow against it. Those are the paths we will walk down with God, and Jesus Christ when we awaken renewed and refreshed in the morning of the New Year. Are we ready to set our Ebenezer Stone in remembrance of God’s help in this passing year, and to trust in Him for all the New Year will bring?
““Therefore do not be anxious about tomorrow, for tomorrow will be anxious for itself. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble.”
Matthew 6:34 ESV
Prayer:
Father, thank you for presence, and all your help this past year. Thank you Lord for the good and bad times, the victories and the suffering defeats that have led us to a closer walk with you. Thank you for your Son Jesus who abides in us, and your Holy Spirit that brings to us the remembrance of your Word, your promises, and every moment when you have been a help to us throughout this year. Holy, Holy, Holy, are you our God who was, and is, and is to come. Praised be your name for helping us in ways seen and unseen, and for reassuring us through your Spirit who reminds us of all the help you are to us, and how much you love us Year by year, and into eternity. Hear our prayers Holy Father, and forgive us our sins through the cleansing blood of Jesus. Transform us Lord into His image as we increase in our belief, and become more deeply rooted in faith with each passing minute, day, and year. Judge us not by how strong we have been over the years, but by how readily we have accepted your help, offered our prayers of thanksgiving, sought your forgiveness, and leaned into our dependence on the cross of Jesus. Call us worthy Lord, and help us in every way as we seek out your help in obtaining our salvation, and eternity in your presence.
Thank you for this past year and all of your help as we have reveled in our faith, struggled in our suffering, found healing in your arms, been comforted by your touch, and given you all the glory throughout.
“You crown the year with your bounty; your wagon tracks overflow with abundance. The pastures of the wilderness overflow, the hills gird themselves with joy, the meadows clothe themselves with flocks, the valleys deck themselves with grain, they shout and sing together for joy.”
Psalm 65:11-13 ESV
Rich Forbes