HOW TO PREPARE FOR A NEW YEAR OF LIFE AND MINISTRY?
Celebrating Last Year, Embracing the New Year!
As the holidays come to a close, we’ll be finishing up those leftovers from the past week. Turkey or stuffing with cranberry sauce and mayo on a dinner roll; almost as delicious as Christmas dinner!
As good as leftovers are, they’re never as good as the real thing!
2017 was an amazing year and we should savour the memories. Especially savour the great things God has done in our lives. Savour the blessings He’s bestowed upon us. But let’s not savour them too much!
Did that last sentence seem a bit off?
Let me explain.
Sometimes we can get so excited (or nostalgic) about the past. Specifically, about past ministry and what God has accomplished in days gone by. If we’re not careful, we start to look at the good ol’ days as the best days of life and ministry.
I catch myself doing this all the time.
Thankfully, one little passage in Isaiah 43 can help us refocus.
18 “Remember not the former things, nor consider the things of old. 19 Behold, I am doing a new thing; now it springs forth, do you not perceive it? I will make a way in the wilderness and rivers in the desert…to give drink to my chosen people, 21 the people whom I formed for myself that they might declare my praise. (Is. 43:18-21)
The best is yet to come!
We should be cautious not to savour the good ol’ days so much, that we miss what God is planning next. Remember that Christ’s return is the pinnacle, and that hasn’t happened yet!
By not expecting that God can and will do even greater things in the future, is kind of like enjoying leftovers over and over again. Let’s not savour the past so much, that we forget to embrace the New Year.
Let’s prepare for the next celebration. Let’s prepare for the future. As we celebrate last year, let’s not forget to embrace the new year, preparing for what God is going to accomplish next.
