The Winds Of Change

“Relying on God has to start all over everyday, as if nothing has yet been done.”  –C. S. Lewis.

The final days of the year are one of my favorite times of the year for several reasons. One is Christmas, the indescribable wonder of God with us as well as spending extra time with family. The other reason that this time of the year has become one of my favorites is because it is a time of reflection and preparation for the new year.

If you have not already completed the task, the Christmas decorations you put up a few weeks ago, will soon make their way back in the closet as the Christmas holiday quickly starts to fill up the rearview mirror.  But before Christmas fades from view it transitions us to preparing for the new year and considering new goals. We, as Christians, have been given the greatest reason for living in the world. Yet, we so often live as directionless people because our attention is in the wrong direction. What I mean is that we may miss the direction God wants us to go in life and how He intends to help us get there because we are still dealing with where we’ve been. That is never been more true than moving from 2018 to 2019. 

Where we have been in 2018 is Hurricane Michael. Hurricane Michael is a reminder to those of us who like things predictable and under control that neither predictability nor manageability are promised to us. Wind speeds, rainfall totals, and storm surges can be measured, but they cannot be reined in no matter how many advances we make. It is hard to look forward when we are fighting with insurance companies, looking for contractors, looking for a place to live, or a place to work. But given all that, we need to look ahead to 2019 as a church and as individuals. Psalm 37:5 says, “Commit everything you do to the Lord. Trust him, and he will help you”

2018 is history and 2019 lies before us unwritten. We will determine what happens in 2019. If we want to make positive changes it will take some effort on our part. 2 Peter 1:5-8 says, “ In view of all this, make every effort to respond to God’s promises. Supplement your faith with a generous provision of moral excellence, and moral excellence with knowledge, and knowledge with self-control, and self-control with patient endurance, and patient endurance with godliness, and godliness with brotherly affection, and brotherly affection with love for everyone. The more you grow like this, the more productive and useful you will be in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.”

The message is obvious; it is not the same ole same ole. It will take intentional effort on our part to be everything God wants us to be next year and beyond. We simply need to remember His sovereignty, His power, and His presence as we move into a new year. And when we do, look out 2019.

Discussion Questions: 

1. Why is easier to focus on the obstacles in life rather than the possibilities?
2. Pray and ask God to provide you the wisdom to seize on the opportunities and possibilities He provides us in 2019.