The New Year

The New Year has just begun and who knows what is in store for us? The good news is that Someone does know: God. As much as I hope that this year will be an amazing year for all of you, life is never a walk in the park so we will all face some challenges throughout the year. As you meet the year of 2012, I want to challenge you to do something: keep Jesus central in your life this year.

I’m the kind of person who writes down goals that I would like to achieve in the year. But I’m not the kind of person who will go all out to achieve them. They are more like things I would like to be able to tick them all off the list at the end of the year, but that’s not always possible. You can’t plan your year and expect those things to happen. There are some things in this life that we can’t control and life will never cease to take us by surprise.

In a way though, these surprises are what makes life an adventure. The road won’t always be smooth but we can choose enjoy it nevertheless. I’ve heard people say that life’s what you make of it. In a way that’s true: you can see the cup half empty or half full; you can see only the bad things in your life or you can choose to see the blessings. I know this is so hard sometimes but it produces a healthy, positive attitude.

The year ahead may be a wonderful one for some and a tough one for others. But whatever kind of year you experience, you can learn from it and grow. God is with you in the hard times and the good times. He already knows what’s going to happen to each of us in the year to come. Take the year one day at a time; don’t worry about what tomorrow holds. God in control and He is the Creator of this Universe!

So as this year unfolds, remember that you are in the hands of a loving, Almighty God who says this: “For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “Plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you a hope and a future.” (Jeremiah 29:11). God loves you and wants the best for you. Even when bad things do happen, He can turn those bad things into good. Trust God with the year ahead and know that you are never alone. For God is with you!